Experts say it's best to wait to give your child popcorn until they're at least 4 years old. For babies and younger kids, popcorn is a choking hazard. With its sharp edges and kernel flakes, popcorn can get caught in your child's throat, causing gagging or choking.
Popcorn is a choking hazard and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids not have in until they're at least four years old. By this age, children should be good enough at chewing and swallowing to safely eat popcorn. Is popcorn healthy for toddlers?
When it comes to popcorn, it's the kernels, specifically, that make it a choking hazard for young children. These very hard kernels may be whole, or just half-popped. Kids under 4 are considered immature chewers, as they don't have the back molars required to grind down the kernels enough to make them safe to swallow.
The official recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is that parents should not offer popcorn to their children until they're over the age of 4, because it's almost impossible to slice or dice it into safe bites. It's better to be safe and wait until your child can truly enjoy these foods.
As a reminder, popcorn is not recommended for kids under 4 : r/Parenting.
Remember, children under four may not have all their childhood molars and are still learning this skill. Popcorn. Again, this is a risk due to a young child's inability to chew well. If you're wondering when babies can eat popcorn, it's best to hold off until around the age of four.
Popcorn holds its moisture for about 6-12 months, so most popcorn you find on the shelf and in microwavable bags has an expiration date of about 8 months. You can eat popcorn after the expiration date, however, going more than 2 months after may result in some very dry popcorn.
Experts say it's best to wait to give your child popcorn until they're at least 4 years old. For babies and younger kids, popcorn is a choking hazard. With its sharp edges and kernel flakes, popcorn can get caught in your child's throat, causing gagging or choking.
The American Academy of Pediatrics includes popcorn on its list of foods to keep away from children younger than 4 years old.
Children ages 3 years and younger are particularly vulnerable to choking risks because younger children are still learning to chew and swallow food and often put new objects in their mouths. Parents and guardians can help prevent their child from choking on food by keeping to the following tips.
Certain foods can be dangerous for young children because they are easily inhaled and block the breathing tubes. These include nuts, raw carrots and other hard vegetables, pieces of apple, popcorn, corn chips, lollies and grapes.
Risks of Choking
Popcorn can be a choking hazard for young children, especially those under 4 years old. The fluffy texture might make it seem harmless, but those little kernels can quickly get lodged in a child's throat.
Hot dogs. And the #1 food-related choking hazard for kids… hot dogs! This favorite summertime food's cylindrical shape poses a great danger when eaten whole as it can completely block a child's airway.
Give up to five abdominal thrusts: hold the child around the waist and pull inwards and upwards above their belly button. Abdominal thrusts squeeze the air out of the lungs and may dislodge the blockage.
Popcorn is a common culprit of aspiration. Its oddly shaped, the kernels make it hard to chew and its lightweight so can be inhaled easily into the lungs. Other common things a child will aspirate on is a similar list to the top choking hazards.
Foods to never give your child
Never give a child under the age of 5: whole or chopped nuts (including peanuts) marshmallows. popcorn.
Avoid round, firm foods and large chunks (hot dogs, nuts, whole grapes, hard or sticky candy, popcorn, raw carrots). Hot dogs are not safe for babies. If your toddler likes hot dogs, be sure to cut them lengthwise. Avoid stringy foods like string beans and celery.
Popcorn is a sure-fire hit with kids, and ... it's a whole grain! Popcorn actually has 4 grams of fiber per 3-cup serving, which makes it a filling snack. Plus, it's endlessly versatile. You can transform air-popped popcorn with all sorts of toppings, including grated cheese, nutritional yeast or cinnamon and sugar.
Avoid foods that can cause choking, such as whole grapes, raisins, popcorn, pretzels, nuts, hot dogs, sausages, chunks of meat, hard cheese, raw veggies, or hard fruits.
I constantly get asked things like " can a 2-year-old have popcorn, or even a 1 year old. Even though its dangers are not well known, popcorn is indeed a choking hazard for kids under the age of 4, and shouldn't be given.
Bottom Line: Microwave popcorn can be a convenient option for a fun snack, but beware that the added flavorings can cause fat, calories and sodium to stack up quickly.