Crackers

The answer depends on the type. Crackers are a common cause of choking. That is why soft crackers such as Goldfish, Ritz, Saltines and water biscuits come after the first birthday. These melt in the mouth or crumble under light pressure. Hard, brittle and sharp crackers are for more advanced eating skills, usually around 24 months.

Crackers often contain common allergens such as dairy, egg, sesame, soy, tree nuts and wheat. They may also contain honey. Babies younger than 12 months should not eat honey, since it can cause infant botulism.

People eat crackers in many forms around the world. Among them are crispbread, graham crackers, prawn crackers (kropek), matzah, oat cakes and papadum. Certain kinds rise with baking soda, others use no leavening at all. Some are pricked with holes before baking. The holes stop them puffing up in the oven and keep them flat and crisp. Almond flour, puffed rice and wheat flour are some of the ingredients. Many are eaten with cheese or a spread. Some are served beside a meal for dipping.

Ones made for babies

Between 6 and 11 months, give only teething rusks and baby crackers made for infants. They are thin, have no sharp edges and melt in the mouth. They must not be stale. When they go stale the texture changes and they get harder to eat. You can serve them with mashed avocado, hummus or bean purée.

Rice cakes

Thin puffed rice cakes can be given from 6 months. They soften easily with saliva. Hold off on thick ones until 18 months and mature eating skills. Any rice cake gets harder to eat when stale. If you can, pick thin, soft multigrain cakes that are not only rice. That lowers exposure to arsenic from processed rice products.

After 12 months

Give crackers with no sharp edges that soften with saliva. Water biscuits, cream crackers, oyster crackers and papadam are examples. Goldfish, Ritz and Saltines style also suit. Some are high in sodium. Within a varied diet, that is not a concern.

After 24 months

Keep giving soft crackers that melt in the mouth. Hold off on hard, sharp-edged crackers such as bagel chips, tortilla chips, Triscuit and Wheat Thins until your child has mature eating skills. That means taking manageable bites, chewing well and swallowing safely. Your child should sit in a chair. Distracted eating, talking, running or playing makes choking far more likely.

Honey

Do not give crackers that contain honey to a baby under 12 months.

Crackers are a common cause of choking. Most are hard and sharp. They are hard to chew and can scratch or poke the mouth. Pick a type suited to the age, not stale, and give it when your child is seated and focused on eating. Stay within reach at meals.

Crackers are mostly made from wheat and other grains with gluten. Other common allergens may be in them too, such as dairy, egg, sesame, soy and tree nuts. Read the ingredient list closely before serving.

Before giving crackers, introduce common food allergens one at a time and rule out allergy. That way, if your baby reacts, you know which allergen is responsible. When you serve crackers, you can be sure your child has already eaten the allergens inside safely. Begin with a small portion, as you would with any first-time food, and watch how your baby responds.