Babies can have tomatoes, often starting around 6 months, but they need preparation due to choking hazards (cut small) and potential for skin/diaper rash from acidity, though actual allergies are rare; the main concerns are making them safe (no whole grapes/cherry tomatoes) and watching for irritation or true allergy signs like hives.
When can babies have tomato? Tomatoes may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Tomatoes and other acidic foods can cause a harmless rash on skin that comes into contact with the juices and sometimes can cause or worsen diaper rash.
Foods not suitable for a 6-month-old include honey (due to botulism risk), salt, and sugar, as well as high-mercury fish like swordfish. Other foods to avoid are unpasteurized milk and cheese, whole nuts, and hard or sticky foods that pose a choking hazard, like whole grapes or raw carrots.
By age: ➡️ 6 mos+: Offer large wedges of ripe tomato for baby to suck and munch on, or even a whole, large tomato. You can also serve foods in a cooked tomato sauce. ➡️ 9 mos+: Serve quartered cherry tomatoes as finger food, or continue serving foods in a cooked tomato sauce.
How to safely serve tomatoes for babies 6 – 8 months Make wedges by cutting into quarters or eighths, depending on the size of the tomato. Another option is to cut it into thick slices or rounds. Tomatoes can be offered with the skin on (babies will usually discard the skin) and with the seeds, they will come out w.
Do not give your baby:
Keep in mind that, between 9-12 months, baby should be progressing their chewing skills, and if purees were the primary food source from 6-7 months, it's time to move towards chewable foods.
Acidic foods such as berries, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and vegetables may cause a rash around the mouth or buttocks, but this is irritation from the acid in the food, not from an allergic reaction to the food. You can still give your baby appropriate amounts of these foods unless the rash seems to bother them.
However, like any other food, tomatoes also have harmful effects if not used properly. Regular and excessive consumption of tomatoes can affect your health. For example, tomatoes are one of the leading causes of migraines. In fact, when you eat too many tomatoes, you may experience symptoms of acid reflux.
When your baby is just starting solid foods, don't serve whole, raw berries – they could be a choking hazard. Start off by serving your baby cooked, pureed berries with no extra ingredients. It's okay if you don't strain the seeds out of your baby's food – they're not a choking hazard.
Hot dogs. This cookout staple is a choking hazard due to the tube shape and compressibility. If you do choose to give hot dogs to children, it is safest to cut them length wise and in small pieces.
Acidic foods (like citrus fruit and tomatoes), spicy or strong-flavored foods (like garlic or hot sauce), and “gassy foods” (like broccoli and cauliflower) are often associated with baby gassiness and fussiness, but they are no more likely than other foods to bother babies.
24 months old +: Serve ketchup in any dish that you want to share with the child or on the side in a small cup for dipping. At this age, you can also help the child squeeze or spread ketchup on their own food, which can help engage toddlers in the meal.
When Can Your Baby Try Tomatoes? Tomatoes can be introduced to your little one as soon as they start weaning, usually around 6 months. Make sure they're well-cooked or cut into small pieces to minimise the risk of choking.
Skin can develop a rash if wet or soiled diapers are left on too long. Babies may be more prone to diaper rash if they're having many stools or diarrhea. Chafing or rubbing. Tightfitting diapers or clothing that rubs against the skin can lead to a rash.
Oranges may seem like a healthy choice since they are full of vitamin C, but the acidity of the fruit might not be good for your baby's digestion and might cause an allergic reaction. To avoid a bad reaction, you should wait until after one year of age to allow your baby's digestive system to mature.
Every child is different, but common culprits include: beans, cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale), certain fruits, or foods high in fat or fiber. You may find it takes some time for your little one's developing digestive system to adjust to these foods, and that is okay.
SIDS is less common after 8 months of age, but parents and caregivers should continue to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death until baby's first birthday. More than 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
The 5-3-3 feeding rule is a baby sleep training strategy to encourage longer stretches of night sleep by delaying feeds: don't feed before 5 hours after bedtime, then feed, then wait 3 hours for the next feed, and another 3 hours for the next, using other sleep training methods (like Ferber or CIO) for wakes outside these windows. It's for older babies (not newborns) and aims to reduce night feedings by establishing a routine, but flexibility is key, and you should always prioritize your baby's hunger cues and consult a doctor.
Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
Tomato purée is a thick, red paste or concentrate made from crushed tomato pulp that has been cooked and reduced. It is widely produced and used in Mediterranean countries, where it is added to dishes to give them a bright colour and a pronounced tomato flavour.
A healthy, easy iron packed pasta and spaghetti sauce recipe for babies! Perfect for baby led weaning from 6 months plus. White beans add lots of protein and iron too!
Texture progression
Once you've started introducing solid foods from around 6 months of age, try to move your baby on from puréed or blended foods to mashed, lumpy or finger foods as soon as they can manage them. This helps them learn how to chew, move solid food around their mouth and swallow.