Cantaloupe For Baby And Big Kids

Cantaloupe for Baby

A ripe cantaloupe is one of my family’s very favorite fruits. My kids even have a phrase for a really good one: “Cantaloupe heaven”. This fruit, which is a great hydrating food and Vitamin C, is a delicious side dish or baby snack with the kids from soon after they start solids. Because many cantaloupes (and honeydew) can be a little firm, there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind when preparing them for a baby and toddler. Below, I’ll share how to choose a cantaloupe, how to remove the skin and seeds, a few easy ways to cut them, and how to make a simple cantaloupe puree. This info works for kids of all ages (and parents!) and is handy to save for peak melon season. You may also like Baby Food Chart, Bananas for Baby, and Mango Baby Food Puree, and Baby Rice Cereal.

How to Choose a Cantaloupe

When choosing a cantaloupe, regardless of the variety, you want it to feel heavy for its size (which indicates a lot of juice), to have a slight give when you press on the base where the stem was removed, and to smell like a fragrant melon. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox. If a melon is rock hard and has no fragrance, it is less likely to have delicious flavor. If a melon is really soft and gives a lot when you touch it, it is likely overripe. The skin of a cantaloupe should be fairly uniform, but sometimes there is slight discoloration on the spot it was sitting on the ground, which is fine.

How to Cut Cantaloupe Step-by-Step

Here’s a preview of how to cut a cantaloupe for baby so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of this post for the full information. Or, you can use a melon baller to make round shapes for older kids. (You don’t have to peel it to use this method, though know it’s often hard to get all of the melon off the skin with a melon baller.

How to Store

Store leftover cantaloupe for baby in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Best Tips for Success

Be sure to start with a ripe, soft melon to reduce the risk of choking. Look for a melon that gives slightly at the base and smells fragrant. Offer cantaloupe to a 6-month-old baby as either a thick slice for a baby-led weaning food or as a puree. Offer cantaloupe to a 9-month-old baby, as long as the melon is very ripe and soft, diced into very small pieces. Offer it as matchstick-size pieces to a 12+ month baby, as long as the melon is very ripe and soft. Offer larger pieces, again as long as soft and ripe, to toddlers 18+ months. Save melon balls for older kids to reduce the risk of choking. They are a fun option for kids over about age 3 or 4. You can add fresh chunks of cantaloupe to a blender and blend smooth to make a fresh puree.

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