Plums: A Must-Add to Baby’s Diet

by Jeannie Marrugo
Apr 28, 2021

Plums are known for being high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. If your baby is uncomfortable due to constipation, plums are a great addition to their diet to get things moving. Plums have a sweet, yet tart flavor that your baby will love and naturally contain Vitamin A and C. Plums are considered a stage 1 menu for babies four months and older. You should always consult your pediatrician before starting your baby on solids.

Best Types of Plums for Baby

Different types of plums tend to taste slightly different. The plum that you prefer might not be liked by your little one. You can always use trial and error, but it has been said that plums of the Burbank or Victoria variety tend to be a favored by kids since they are juicy and are sweeter than the other varieties.

How to Choose and Store Plums

When shopping for plums, make sure that they are soft but not too soft. When pressing on a plum, it should press down just a bit and not stay hard. Check the tip of the plum. It should be hard and if it is soft, then that’s a sign that it is fresh.

The color should be rich and not dull, without any imperfections on the surface. At times, a light white coating might be present on the skin, which is actually a good sign that the plum has stayed untouched.

Hard plums should be avoided since they are not ripe, and they won’t have a great flavour. Plums tend to ripen quickly. If you do end up buying unripe plums, let them stay in the open for a while. Later, store ripe plums in the fridge. If you want to use them after a few days, it is best to freeze them completely. Removing the pits before freezing them is advisable. You can also peel, cut apart and store in the freezer in a ziploc bag or airtight container.

How to peel and cut plums

It can be intimidating to cut a plum, but it’s very easy and can be done in under 30 seconds.

While holding the plum, cut the plum along the diameter, similar to an avocado. Twist and pull apart. Take the half with the pit and slice along the diameter and twist again. Repeat this with each half until you can pull or cut the pit out.