[bluebonnet]

are raisins, dried apples, dried apricots, bananas, ect okay for a 16/17 month old to eat? I've been hesitant to introduce these because I'm worried about choking, but my dd seems to handle other things okay. Does your 16/17 month old eat these w/o to much problem?

Thanks Mamas!

 

[ap mom]

I started giving DS dried fruits around 16 months and he's handled them well! He loves raisins and apricots especially.

 

[K's Mom!]

I started giving DS dried fruit at about that age as well. As for choking, I would just quarter the plums and larger fruit so that it was easier to chew (didn't have many teeth and his older sis. choked a lot and scared me to death, so yeah, I kind of have issues with the choking bit now.

) Depends on how well your dc chews I suppose and your comfort level with it.

 

[naupakamama]

Yes, I gave my DD dried fruit by 16 months. I was eating it and she had to have some and of course loved it! Her favorites also are raisins and apricots (the extra dry, unsulfated, turkish? ones). My DD never had a problem with choking though - she is very good and gagging things up if she has to.

Di

 

[Valkyrie9]

You know, my theory is that the kids (and we adults) could choke on literally anything. But where do you draw the line? My DD is about as likely to choke on a bite of banana as she is a dried apricot. So I just go with it. And any time she is eating, I watch her very closely to make sure that I can help her deal with it, if needed. (It hasn't been needed so far.)

 

[AEZMama]

I gave ds dried fruits around 19/20 mos and he loves them. Anything! In the beginning I would cut them in half out of worry, but not for a while now. He also loves the fruit reconstituted (after I make a compote). We drink the delicious juice or use it in recipes and eat the fruit. Mmmmm!

 

[Funny Face]

DD (17 months) loves dried fruit. I don't give her the banana chips however because when she bites them in two they get those sharp edges and I wouldnt want one to get stuck in her throat, other than that she LOVES her raisins, craisins, apricots, apples, pineapple and papaya!

 

[akemi]

DD loves dried fruit. We started giving her the Just Tomatoes stuff at 1 year. Her favourites include dried pineapple, dried blueberries, dried banana chips.

I did find the mango a little too hard for her at first, but now (19months) she can eat it.

 

[mimid]

I've given my girls dried fruit for a few months now. They are 14 months. I cut anything that needs to be.

 

[Surfer Rosa]

DD loves dried fruit. I'll cut up anything that seems too big, but she's been fine with it.
The only issue I have with dried fruit is that you should brush right after-it really sticks to the teeth!

 

[aimcar]

DS has been eating Just Tomatoes dried fruits/veggies since he was around 14 months old. We haven't had any problems with it, and he LOVES them.

 

[mkmama]

DS has been eating dried fruits since at least 11 months. He is now 14 months. Not a problem. he loves them. Dried apricots, figs, raisins, sultumas, apples, mango, prunes, etc. They really rehydrate in the mouth.

He does not do well with dried banana chips. they are not like crackers that dissolve...so that's still out of the question.

You should have no problem! he even rips it up with his front teeth easily. I don't even bother cutting them up anymore.

 

[spughy]

I don't give DD much dried fruit, not because it's a choking hazard, but because dried fruit is the WORST for sticking in little teeth and causing cavities. I have a good friend who just had to put caps on almost every single tooth in her 5 year old's head because - this is the mom's thought, not mine - raisins were about the only snack she would eat for a time.

If you do give your DC dried fruit, remember that cavity-wise, it's very similar to candy. (Much better nutritionally of course!) Get your DCs used to brushing after raisins, dates, etc., OR in a pinch, give them some hard cheese (like cheddar) afterwards. Harder cheeses contain natural anti-cavity bacteria and the chewing action can help remove the sticky bits of dried fruit. Also, cheese and dried fruit tastes good together

 

[nataliachick7]

ok, i just went to the grocery store hoping to get some dried fruit for ds. i couldnt believe the sugar content!!

:
it did not seem nutritional at all! i looked at all different kinds, too.

 

[*Amy*]

Check out Just Tomatoes - they are freeze dried so they are crisp rather than chewy, and they have no other ingredients (but yes, they make more than just tomatoes

).

 

[Kayaking Mama]

I don't give DS dried fruit (afraid of the choking thing), but he is absolutely crazy about Just Strawberries and Just Blueberries. They are his favorite snack, and they come in an organic version too.

 

[Carley]

My DD loves dried figs & apricots. To the PP ~ if there is only fruit in the ingredients then the sugar content is that of the fruit itself

 

[bluebonnet]

Thanks Mamas! I got some today and she was munching on dried papaya this afternoon!

 

[North_Of_60]

Wow, I must be the odd one around he, 'cause DD is 15 months old and has been eating dried fruits for a while now. I just introduced pumpkin seeds.

The only thing I did, if the fruit was a bit dry and tough, was soak it in warm water for a minute. But DD LOOOOOVES raisins. I always have raisins in my bag for her. She also loves dried cranberries. The face she makes is hysterical, but she eats them by the handful.

 

[North_Of_60]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nataliachick7 ok, i just went to the grocery store hoping to get some dried fruit for ds. i couldnt believe the sugar content!! : it did not seem nutritional at all! i looked at all different kinds, too.

The biggest problem I have is finding unsweetened dried fruit. I don't even want fruit juice sweetened fruit. Good luck trying to find unsweetened banana chips, they don't exist.

Gotta love label reading.

: