Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Learn how to prepare avocado for baby in 4 delicious and easy ways! As yummy superfoods, avocados are ideal as the first food for babies – 6 months and up. Serve them as a baby food puree, mashed, or as finger food for baby-led weaning.

A purple baby plate with avocado made as a puree and as a finger food for baby-led weaning sitting on my white kitchen counter.

Watch How to Make Avocado Baby Food

Avocado Baby Food

Avocados 🥑 are one of my all-time favorite foods for babies!

Whether you are making all of your baby food or have tapped out in life and only want to make one homemade recipe for your baby, avocados would be my first and only recommendation.

Besides being affordable and easy to find, avocados are among the healthiest foods for babies, if not the number one. You can easily blend them into a smooth puree, smash them into a chunky puree, slice them into finger food, or cut them into pieces with an easy-to-grip handle for baby-led weaning.

Avocados were one of the first foods I served my youngest, mainly because she kept trying to swipe a finger full of it off of the top of my avocado toast. Smart girl, lol! For her first meal with avocado, I served her both mashed avocado with banana, as well as a few thick slices of ripe avocado for her to self-feed herself. I’m not kidding when she finished off both of them before I could even sip my coffee, all while giving me the sign language for ‘more’ in a frantic manner. Since then, she’s been hooked, and avocados are still one of her favorite foods!

So, no matter what feeding style you are doing with your little one, avocados have got you covered. 👍

Plus, after making your baby an easy avocado meal, you can also slice some for your own snack! And in my opinion, every time avocado is involved in a meal, the day gets better.

5 stars (21 ratings)
“Okay… the avocado mixed with banana for my son is a HIT! My husband and I tried some with him. It’s so yummy. It tastes like a yummy green smoothie. ” -Cassidy
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Hand holding a cut open avocado.

Benefits of Avocado for Baby

Avocados are one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, and I’m not exaggerating!

  • Super Nutritious – Avocados are full of 20 different vitamins and minerals, most notably vitamin K, folate, vitamin C, potassium, vitamin E, magnesium, and vitamins B-5 and B-6, along with a good amount of fiber and heart-healthy fats.
  • Health Benefits – They improve heart health, support eye, skin, and hair health, fight cancer cell growth, enhance digestive health, boost one’s mood, keep the nervous system healthy, provide healthy fats for brain growth, and are good for gross motor skills.
  • Boosts Immunity – Avocados are loaded with antioxidants, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties, which help prevent your baby from getting sick.

Ingredients

  • Avocado: you will need half of ripe avocado for these recipes. Because avocados don’t keep well, I recommend making these recipes on-demand so the puree or solid food is fresh and free of any browning.
  • Spices or Herbs: you can certainly add in a pinch of spice or herbs to your avocado puree. A pinch of freshly chopped cilantro, chives, parlsey, or mint would be tasty or you could add in a pinch of garlic powder, cumin, paprika, mild chili powder or a squeeze of lemor or lime juice.

Avocado Picking Tip: when shopping for an avocado, you want one that is darker in color and yields to firm gentle pressure. A ripe avocado will feel soft to the touch but not “mushy” when you press on it. You can store unripened avocados in the fridge until you are ready for them. You will want to take them out of the fridge and place them on the counter 1-2 days before you need them.

spoon and fork for baby.

Tools Needed

First time making homemade baby food? Then, I would suggest that you start by reading my very in-depth Guide on how to Make Homemade Baby Food or if you are doing Baby-Led Weaning. And be sure to check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes!

Hand holding a wedge of avocado.
Small white bowl of pureed avocado puree
Smashed avocado in a small bowl with spoon resting next to it with puree on it.
3 slices of avocado coated in crunchy toppings.

How to Serve Avocado to Baby

There are a variety of ways to prepare avocados for your baby. Here are 4 of my favorite ways:

  • Mashed Avocado – This is a quick and easy way to make a chunky or smooth puree, ideal for babies 6+ months old. For baby-led weaning, I love to add this rich and thick puree to a slice of toast, pancake, or waffle for babies to self-feed. You can also serve it to them on a self-feeding spoon.
  • Sliced with Some Peel Left – When you leave the peel on half of a slice of avocado, you are making a little easy-to-hold handle for your baby. They can hold (or palmar grasp) the peel and then eat the peeled portion. It’s perfect for baby-led weaning (6+ months) or finger foods (9+ months).
  • Avocado Banana Smooth Puree – When blended with half of a banana, avocado becomes mouthwateringly smooth. This is great for babies 6+ months old who love smooth and creamy purees. Plus, it only takes 40 seconds to make.
  • Slices Rolled in a Coating – This is another excellent alternative for babies who want to eat with their fingers but need a little help getting a good grip on the avocado slices since avocados can be a little slippery. You can do this option with slices or diced avocados. They’re also ideal for baby-led weaning (6+ months) or finger foods (9+ months).

Looking for more easy baby-led weaning and puree recipes? Then check out my favorite ways to serve apples and bananas to babies!

A purple baby plate with avocado made as a puree and as a finger food for baby-led weaning sitting on my white kitchen counter.

Get the recipe: The Best Avocado Baby Food – Puree & BLW

5 stars (21 ratings)
Avocados are a superfood and great first food for babies 6 months and up. Serve them pureed, smashed, or as a finger food for baby-led weaning.
Yield: 1 serving
Prep: 3 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Baby Food
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Ingredients 

MASHED AVOCADO – SMOOTH OR CHUNKY

  • 1/4 avocado
  • 1 tsp breast milk, formula or water (optional)

AVOCADO FOR BABY-LED WEANING

AVOCADO PUREE WITH BANANA

COATED AVOCADO SLICES

  • 1/4 avocado, sliced and peeled
  • 2 tbsp hemp seeds, breadcrumbs or crushed baby puffs

Instructions 

MASHED AVOCADO – SMOOTH OR CHUNKY

  • Place the avocado on a cutting board, and taking the back of a fork, smash until you get your desired consistency. For a smooth puree, add in the liquid and smash until smooth.
    Smashed avocado in a small bowl with spoon resting next to it with puree on it.

AVOCADO FOR BABY-LED WEANING

  • There are several ways you can serve avocado to your baby if you are doing baby-led weaning depending on your baby's age.
    6-8 months: cut the avocado into thick slices and leave half of the peel on (see photo above) so your baby has an easy-to-grip handle.
    8-10 months: slice the avocado into thin slices without the peel.
    10-12 months: cut the avocado into small chunks so your baby can practice their pincer grasp.

AVOCADO PUREE WITH BANANA

  • Place the avocado and banana in a small blender or food processor. Puree for 1 minute or until smooth, adding in liquid if needed.
    Small white bowl of pureed avocado puree

COATED AVOCADO SLICES

  • Take the sliced and peeled avocado and roll in the hemp seeds, breadcrumbs or crushed baby puffs.
    3 slices of avocado coated in crunchy toppings.

Notes

Age: 6+ months for purees, 6+ months for baby-led weaning
Yield: 1 serving
Storage: If saving any leftover avocado or avocado puree, since it’s likely baby will not eat the entire avocado, squeeze a few drops of lemon or lime juice on the avocado to prevent it from turning brown. Avocado puree or strips will last 1-2 days in the fridge. Avocado puree can be frozen with a little lemon or lime juice mixed in for up to 2 months. 
Feeding Tips:
  • Follow your baby’s lead – when feeding purees from a spoon, sometimes there’s a tendency to keep offering bites past the point of your baby being full. Always follow baby’s cues for when they are done eating. Turning away from the spoon, closing her mouth, or pushing food away are all signs that baby is finished with the meal.
  • Try adding a little seasoning or spice to purees – babies like flavor! Or consider changing the temperature of purees from time to time, to slightly warmed or slightly chilled. Varying these aspects adds to the sensory experience!
  • Place a small amount of puree on the tray during spoon feeding – so that your baby can dip their fingers or hands in the puree. Allowing baby to explore foods in this way helps them learn to self-feed and can help them be more willing to try new textures and foods in the future.

Equipment

Grabease Utensil
Tripp Trapp High Chair
Bumkins Baby Bowl

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Frequently Asked Questions

When can you introduce avocados to baby?

Whether you’re starting your baby on purees or are doing baby-led weaning, avocados are a wholesome and enjoyable first food for your baby! When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 months of age for purees and or after 6 months for baby-led weaning. Some of the developmental milestones your baby needs to reach in order to start on solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before you start baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.

Are avocados a choking hazard for babies?

Avocados are usually soft and easy for babies to chew. However, if an avocado is not ripe and ready to eat, the flesh will be harder and more of a risk to your baby. That said, it is best to serve mashed or small strips of avocado. When selecting an avocado for your baby, look for one that is ripe, soft (but not mushy), and has skin that’s easy to press your finger into. A ripe avocado will typically be darker green in color and have bumpy skin. 

Is avocado a common allergen for baby?

No, avocado is not a common allergen, however, as with any food, start with a small portion and be aware of any signs that might be an allergic reaction after introducing it.

Does avocado cause constipation for babies?

No, avocado is not known to cause constipation in babies, and it can actually help relieve constipation in babies due to the high fiber content that makes it easier on your baby to pass stools.