Mango - too hard for babies?

[newmum234]

I was planning on giving DS (8 months) some mango pieces to try, but I’ve just tried one myself and they’re really quite hard! He does have 4 teeth now at the front, but will they be too hard for him to chew and swallow? Thanks.

You're not trying dried mango are you? Fresh mangoes are usually very soft.

No, I bought one of those pre-prepared packs from the supermarket. It expires tomorrow so should be ripe!

Doesn’t sound ripe if it is hard! Ripe mango is very squishy.

Sounds like you might have got a batch that hasn't ripened. As PP said, ripe mango should be very soft. The general rule of thumb in early weaning is that you should be able to squash things between your thumb and index finger for them to be soft enough to feed.

That’s annoying - thanks all!

I'd let him have a try, after all you can give babies that age apple slices and they're not squashy.
Obviously just keep a close eye.

If you buy the prepared packs the colour is a good guide. If it is a ripe pack the slices will be deep orangey yellow. If they've sliced it underripe they will look pale yellow even whitish at the edges.

If it is hard, they may still like to chew and suck on it. Good for new flavours and teething!

By eight months they should be able to manage most things. Make sure they're big enough chunks not to just swallow and they'll probably suck and chew quite happily. Their gums are pretty hard even if they don't have many teeth.

Dried fruits are terrible for babies teeth. I would stick to fresh.

Dried fruits are terrible for babies teeth. I would stick to fresh.

It is fresh!

Thanks @NeurologicallySpeaking - I will know what to look out for next time! I may give him a chunk to chew on as suggested.

I only ask because my husband actually broke a tooth on a piece of dried mango once!

Yeah, usually fresh goes very mushy when ripe, must have been cut up too soon.
Of you buy a whole one they're usually cheaper than packaged, and you can leave it until it's ripe enough before cutting up. I know cutting them is a faff though!