Food safety for toddlers and toddlers 2+

Safety at the Table

Preventing a choking accident starts with good eating habits. Make sure your child is always sitting down when he's eating. Do not let him eat while playing, walking, or running around. Teach your child to chew his food completely before swallowing, and remind him not to talk or laugh with food in his mouth. It's important that you always supervise your child when he's eating.

Avoid Nuts and Seeds

Peanuts are small, slippery, and difficult for young children to chew; they can easily end up being swallowed whole by accident or cause choking. For that reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics says peanuts should not be given to children under the age of 7 and children under the age of 4 should not be given any type of nuts or seeds.

Avoid Peanut Butter

Sticky foods can clump in the back of your child's mouth and block her airway, so never give a child under the age of 4 a spoonful of peanut butter.

Avoid Hot Dogs

Children under the age of 4 should not eat hot dogs because they are the same size as a child's airway. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended that warning labels be placed on hot dog packages, reminding people of the choking risk. If you serve hot dogs to your child, heat them until steaming hot (165 degrees) to kill any harmful bacteria. Make sure to slice them lengthwise, cut into small pieces that are not round or disc shaped.

Avoid Raisins

Raisins should not be given to children under the age of 4 because they can clump together in a child's mouth. Those dangerous clumps can travel to the back of the throat and block a child's airway.

Avoid Raw Vegetables

Carrot sticks and other hard vegetables are nutritious, but children under the age of 4 may not have the necessary teeth or chewing and oral skills. Partially cooked vegetables are still somewhat hard and should not be given to babies and toddlers. Serve soft-cooked, diced vegetables instead.

Avoid Popcorn

Popcorn shouldn't be given to children under the age of 4 because it's dry and can be hard to chew. A kernel can easily get inhaled rather than chewed, blocking a child's airway.

Avoid Whole Grapes

Small and slippery, whole grapes can slip right past a child's teeth and end up in her throat. The same is true for whole cherry or grape tomatoes. Offer safely sliced grapes to children over the age of 4, as those children under the age of 4 may not have the necessary chewing and oral skills.

Avoid Large Chunks of Meat

Children don't get their grinding teeth until the age of 4, making foods such as meat hard to chew. When meat and chicken are served to your child, they should be soft-cooked and cut across the grain into pieces no larger than ½-inch.

Avoid Hard Fruits

Big pieces of raw fruit, such as apples, can get lodged in a child’s airway and should not be given to children under the age of four.

Avoid Hard or Sticky Candy or Gum

Any sticky candy, including jelly beans, gummy bears, caramels, and chewing gum, can be a choking hazard for children under the age of 4. They can stick to the back or roof of the mouth and block the airway. The same rule applies to hard candies, such as peppermints. These are hard to control in the mouth and can slip into the airway.

Avoid Marshmallows

Marshmallows should not be given to children under the age of 4. They may seem safe because they're soft, but marshmallows are a definite choking hazard. Their round, cylindrical shape can block a child's airway.

If you have concerns about your child's diet and nutrition, talk with your health care provider.