As your toddler grows, he'll be more eager to sample food from your plate — and you'll be eager to add variety to his diet. But not all foods are safe for your child. Some pose a choking hazard, for example, and others are potential allergens. (Children under 1 are particularly sensitive to allergenic foods. See a list of common offenders in our article on unsafe foods for babies.)
Here's an age-by-age look at which foods to avoid:
Foods to avoid: 12 to 24 months
Low-fat milk: Your toddler still needs the fat and calories of whole milk for growth and development. Once he turns 2 (and if he doesn't have any growth problems), you can start giving him lower-fat milk if you like.
Large chunks: Pea-size pieces of food are safest — they won't get stuck in your child's throat. Vegetables like carrots, celery, and green beans should be diced, shredded, or cooked and cut up. Fruits like grapes, cherry tomatoes, and melon balls should be cut into quarters before serving, and meats and cheeses should be cut into very small pieces or shredded.
Small, hard foods: Nuts, popcorn, cough drops, hard candies, raisins, and other small dried fruit and seeds are potential choking hazards. Also avoid chewing gum and soft foods like marshmallows and jelly candies that might get lodged in your child's throat.
Peanut butter: Be careful not to give your toddler large dollops of peanut butter, which can be difficult to swallow. Instead, spread peanut butter thinly on bread or crackers. You might want to try thinning it with some applesauce before spreading it.
More choking prevention:
• Avoid letting your child eat in the car since it's hard to supervise while driving.
• If you're using a rub-on teething medication, keep an even closer eye on your toddler as it can numb his throat and interfere with swallowing.
Highly allergenic foods: Most kids can handle common allergens by their first birthday. But if you're concerned about allergies, experts suggest delaying the introduction of egg whites until age 2, and holding off on shellfish, tree nuts, and peanuts (including peanut butter) until your child is at least 3.
Foods to avoid: 24 to 36 months
Choking hazards: Even though your child is becoming a more competent eater, there's still a chance he could choke on his food. Continue to avoid the choking hazards listed above, and discourage your child from eating while walking, watching TV, or doing anything else that might distract him from his meal.
Highly allergenic foods: By age 1, most children can handle most foods. However, in families that are prone to allergies, it's better to wait until after age 3 to introduce highly allergenic foods such as nuts and shellfish.
Foods to avoid: age 3 and up
Choking hazards: Your child is a very competent eater now, but you should still be on the lookout for pieces of food that he could choke on. Keep cutting his food into small pieces, especially things like grapes and pieces of hot dog that could completely block his airway if inhaled. Continue to avoid popcorn, whole nuts, and chewing gum, and discourage your child from eating when distracted.
Allergens: Most children outgrow food allergies by age 3, so your preschooler can now safely eat a wide variety of foods. (Note: Allergies to some foods, like nuts and shellfish, can persist for years, so you may need to steer clear of them for some time to come. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about these foods.)
Warning signs of an allergic reaction
Signs of an allergic or bad reaction to food include vomiting, diarrhea, rash, swelling, abdominal pain, cough, crankiness, excessive gas, hives, itching, runny nose, shortness of breath, stomach bloating, and wheezing. Symptoms most often show up within a few hours of eating. Call your doctor right away if you think your child may be reacting badly to something he ate.
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