BabyJoy
Lychee for babies
When and how to serve lychee at every stage of starting solids.
- Introduce from
- 9–12 months
- Safety notes
- Common choking hazard
How to prepare lychee by age
6–9 months
Not yet. BabyJoy’s guide introduces lychee from 9–12 months.
9–12 months
Peel, remove the stone and the thin papery skin around it completely, then quarter lengthwise or finely chop — whole or halved lychees are slippery and a choking hazard. Offer ripe fruit only, as part of a meal rather than on an empty stomach, and stay with baby while they eat.
12 months+
Keep removing the stone and quartering or chopping until at least age 4; never serve whole. Offer ripe fruit with a meal, in small amounts.
Choking hazard
Lychee can be a choking hazard for babies and young children. Prepare it exactly as described for your baby’s age, seat your baby upright and always supervise meals.
Gagging (loud coughing, watery eyes, a red face) is a normal part of learning to eat. Choking is silent: your baby cannot cough, cry or breathe and needs immediate help. Learn infant CPR and choking rescue.
Nutrition highlights
- Vitamin C
- Copper
- Antioxidants
Serving ideas
- Peeled, pitted and quartered lychee
- Finely chopped into yogurt
- Chopped into a fruit salad with mango
Prepare these as described above for your baby’s age.
Choosing and storing
Ripeness: Ripe lychees have red to pink, slightly bumpy skin and give a little to pressure; avoid green, unripe fruit.
Storage: Refrigerate unpeeled in a bag and use within a few days.
Sources
This guide is based on published guidance from:
