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Can Toddlers Eat Popcorn? Discover Foods To Stay Clear Of For Toddlers

Can Toddlers Eat Popcorn

Popcorn is one of those universally-liked snacks. It’s light, low in calories, easy to make, and most importantly, delicious. 

But when it comes to toddler and the safety of young children, where does popcorn stand? Can toddlers eat popcorn? 

What are the dangers of popcorn for young children? And finally, is the popcorn ready yet?!

Can toddlers eat popcorn?

Toddlers, the term we use for kids aged 2 – 3 years old, love the smell and taste of popcorn, but unfortunately for their curious taste buds, kids under three should avoid popcorn as a health and safety measure.

So, the short answer is no; a toddler can’t eat popcorn! 

However, there are other snacks you can offer your toddler that is just as tasty. 

Later we’ll look at alternatives to popcorn for your little one, but first, let’s explore why toddlers can’t have popcorn.

Why can’t toddlers consume popcorn?

It can be hard to say no to your toddler’s requests for popcorn, especially if slightly older kids and adults are enjoying this delicious snack. However, popcorn is not a safe food for kids under three years old, so no matter how much they ask for it, not allowing popcorn for your under-3 years old is an important safety measure.

Popcorn is a dry food with sharp edges and an uneven texture. That means it’s more likely to get stuck in your child’s airways than other foods. 

The choking hazard increases because toddlers’ teeth are still developing, and they may not know how to chew and swallow properly. 

To add to the danger, kids three years and younger generally cannot deal with choking alone. 

The same applies to slightly older kids, but as we age, we develop the ability to breathe through choking and find water or someone to help us. Consider that we choke on food sometimes as adults and how frightening and dangerous that can be even for us.

Your toddler can’t eat popcorn because it poses a very real choking hazard.

Another issue with popcorn and toddlers is that you can’t do much to reduce the risk. Some high choking-hazard foods are made easier for toddlers to eat by breaking or mashing them, but popcorn remains dry and sharp no matter what you do. 

Moreover, most servings of popcorn reveal unpopped kernels at the bottom, which poses another choking hazard.

Can Toddlers Eat Popcorn

At what age can kids eat popcorn?

Kids are best suited to start eating popcorn at around four years old. This is the recommended age for popcorn according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the largest association of pediatric professionals in the U.S.

Why 4-years-old? Because four is when kids start making significant advancements in their ability to chew, swallow, and manage hard foods. Their baby teeth have fully emerged, so they can chew on foods more easily in the mouth without choking. 

There is still a risk of choking, but by around four years of age, the risk of choking on popcorn is reduced.

So, once your child is 4, they may be ready to eat popcorn safely. 

However, true readiness will depend on their chewing abilities and their ability to seek help when choking.

What foods should toddlers avoid?

As parents, we want to offer our little ones healthy and nutritious foods to help them grow and develop into their best, healthiest and strongest selves. 

However, some healthy foods (and snack foods!) are choking hazards, such as hot dogs, nuts, and popcorn, so we must be careful about feeding our little ones.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – the national public health agency of the United States – and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), children under three years old should avoid:

Fruit/veg

  1. Cooked or raw whole corn kernels
  2. Uncut cherry or grape tomatoes
  3. Hard pieces of raw vegetables/fruit, such as raw carrots/apples
  4. Whole pieces of canned fruit
  5. Uncut grapes, berries, cherries
  6. Uncooked dried vegetables or fruit, e.g., raisins

Proteins

  1. Whole/chopped nuts and seeds
  2. Spoonfuls of nut and seed butters, such as peanut butter chunks
  3. Tough or large chunks of meat
  4. Hot dogs, meat sticks, or sausages
  5. Large chunks of cheese
  6. Meat/fish bones
  7. Whole beans

Grain products

  1. Cookies
  2. Granola bars
  3. Potato/corn chips
  4. Pretzels, popcorn, or similar snack foods
  5. Crackers or breads with seeds, nut pieces, or whole grain kernels
  6. Whole grain kernels of cooked barley, wheat, or other grains
  7. Plain wheat germ

Sweetened foods/candy

  1. Round or hard candy (jelly beans, caramels, gum drops, gummy candies, sticky candy popcorn chunks)
  2. Chewy fruit snacks
  3. Chewing gum
  4. Marshmallows

Alternatives to popcorn for toddlers

Since toddlers can’t eat popcorn, what foods can they eat? What foods pose a low risk of choking and are safe for toddlers?

Thinly sliced fresh fruits such as bananas, pears, peaches, and nectarines are safe and healthy toddler snacks. Diced or mashed cooked veggies also make for a great snack, so consider carrots, potatoes, and broccoli.

You can also try the following:

  • Mini rice cakes
  • Puffed corn cakes
  • Soft crackers
  • Crispy pea puffs
  • Peanut butter puffs

These snacks are great popcorn alternatives, not just because they’re safe but also because they can be eaten similarly to how we eat popcorn, so your little one can feel included on family movie night or when others are enjoying regular popcorn.

Can kids eat popcorn?

How to prevent/reduce the risk of choking

Young children’s teeth are still developing, and they’re also still learning how to chew and manage solid foods effectively.

They are also easily distracted, sometimes forgetting to chew properly. That means that no matter what you feed your toddler, there is always at least some risk of choking. 

As such, it’s wise for parents to learn how to reduce the risk of choking and know what to do if choking happens.

When preparing and cooking food, cut it into the right shape, size, and texture based on your little one’s stage of development and personal ability to manage that type.

Generally, avoiding sticky, small, and hard-to-eat foods is best. 

At meal times, make sure your child sits up while eating. You don’t want them to be chewing and swallowing while lying down, crawling, walking, rolling, etc.

Encourage your child to eat at the table (or their personalized table), sit in the high chair, and always eat around you rather than alone. 

It’s also essential to make sure everyone is calm at meal times. Distractions, heightened emotions, and rushing about significantly increase the risk of choking. 

Finally, pay close attention to what your child eats and what they put in their mouth. Watch them always while they are eating and firmly tell them what is safe and what is not. 

It’s also wise to take a child CPR course. Such courses train you to be efficient and effective in the case of choking and other circumstances that put your child’s health and life at risk.

Can you help a choking toddler?

Choking put your child’s life at risk. If you don’t know what to do when choking, call 911 immediately. 

Time is of the essence, and a trained professional can handle the situation most effectively and efficiently as possible.

However, don’t just rely on medical professionals to help. Train yourself to deal with toddler choking so that you know what to do if it happens. 

As mentioned, a child CPR course is a worthy investment for any parent.

You can also find information on how to deal with a choking toddler on Stanford Medicine’s Children’s Health page.

Is popcorn healthy?

Popcorn is a healthy snack for kids over four years old.

Popcorn may not be as healthy as fresh fruit or other common healthy foods, but it certainly has some health benefits. Popcorn contains a lot of B vitamins and other essential minerals. 

In addition, it primarily consists of insoluble fiber. That means the body digests popcorn slowly and doesn’t cause the spike in blood sugar associated with many other snack foods. 

If you want to give your 4+ child popcorn, the healthiest option is homemade, air-popped popcorn. 

When you make popcorn at home, you decide how much butter, oil, and salt goes in. Alternatively, you can find low-fat, low-sodium ready-made popcorn in stores.

Conclusion

Toddlers (young children aged three and under) can’t eat popcorn just yet. Most kids of this will struggle with popcorn’s dry, sharp-edged texture and may not yet have the chewing/swallowing ability to eat it safely.

That’s why it’s best to wait until your little one reaches four or over before letting them enjoy this delicious snack. 

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