Popcorn
- First taste
- 36 months
- Choking risk
- high
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
Not for babies · age 3 and up
When can babies eat popcorn?
Babies should not eat popcorn. Wait until a child eats skillfully and can control the speed of eating. For most children this comes after 24 months and closer to 36 months. Even then the risk stays high.
Popcorn is made by heating corn kernels. Corn is native to the Americas. Today it is a common snack at the movies and at home.
Not for babies
Avoid it from 6 to 23 months. There is a risk of choking and of inhaling pieces into the airway.
Nutrition for older children
As a whole grain, popcorn is high in carbohydrates and fiber. Magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins are in it as well. It supplies antioxidants such as polyphenols. Versions high in sugar or salt can be offered in moderation once the child eats it safely.
How do you prepare popcorn for babies?
If you feel ready to try after 24 months, follow these steps. The child must be able to sit, focus, follow directions and have handled many other foods well. The session is a lesson, not a routine snack time.
Use plain popcorn. Powdery seasonings can be inhaled and cause coughing and choking. Pick out every unpopped and half-popped kernel. Try it right after a meal with a child who is not very hungry.
Teaching steps
Take one piece and chew it with your back teeth so the child can see. Show the child how to find unpopped kernels. Say clearly that we throw them away and do not eat them. Give only one piece at a time. Do not hand over the second until the first is fully chewed and swallowed.
Hulls and alternatives
You can remove the shiny, translucent hull from each piece. Some 'hull-less' types also let the hull break up partly while popping. Puffed chickpea or quinoa snacks are safer options.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
12 months
3 years · supervised, one piece at a timecube
Not for babies or children under 2. After 24 months some children may try single pieces, only with close supervision and as a teaching session. The child must sit, focus and follow directions. Use plain popcorn, pick out every unpopped and half-popped kernel and throw away stale pieces. Hand over a new piece only after the last one is fully chewed and swallowed. Never serve it while walking or in front of a screen.
Is popcorn a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: high
Popcorn often causes choking in babies, children, and adults alike. The American Academy of Pediatrics counts it as risky under age 4. Unpopped and half-popped kernels are the most dangerous.
Babies, children and adults alike can choke on popcorn, or breathe pieces into the lungs. Unpopped or half-popped kernels are more likely to slip into the airway than fully popped pieces.
Eating while walking, playing or watching television raises the risk sharply. The American Academy of Pediatrics counts popcorn as a choking hazard under age 4. Even after age 4, do not offer unpopped kernels. The child should always sit with an adult close by.
The must-haves
Plain popcorn, picked-over pieces, a seated and focused child, one piece at a time and close supervision.
Is popcorn a common allergen?
Popcorn is not a common allergen. Corn allergy is uncommon but reported. Symptoms range from brief mouth itching to anaphylaxis. Some people with lipid transfer protein or chitinase allergy may also react to corn.
Corn may cross-react with grains such as rice, wheat and barley. Most people with a corn allergy can eat other grains safely. Some store-bought popcorn products contain other allergens such as milk and soy. Read the ingredient list.
Begin with a very small amount at the first try. If there is no reaction, raise it slowly.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about popcorn
Can I give popcorn to my baby?
No. Babies should not have it. Avoid it between 6 and 23 months.
My child is 3. Can I give popcorn?
With mature eating skills it can be offered under supervision. The child must sit, focus and follow directions. We suggest being very careful until age 4.
What can I serve instead of popcorn?
Puffed snacks made of chickpea, quinoa or nuts suit better. Still check that they fit the child's age.
Why are unpopped kernels dangerous?
They are hard and small. They are more likely to slip into the airway than popped pieces. Pick them out every time.
Sources for this page
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren. (n.d.). Choking Prevention for Babies and Children.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- Coco MG, Vinson JA. (2019). Analysis of Popcorn (Zea Mays L. var. Everta) for Antioxidant Capacity and Total Phenolic Content. Antioxidants. doi:10.3390/antiox8010022
- Scibilia J, Pastorello EA, Zisa G, Ottolenghi A, Ballmer‐Weber B, Pravettoni V, et al. (2008). Maize food allergy: a double‐blind placebo‐controlled study. Clinical and Experimental Allergy. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03094.x
- Latifi X, Mustafa A, Hysenaj Q. (2006). Rigid tracheobronchoscopy in the management of airway foreign bodies: 10 years experience in Kosovo. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2006.07.017
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com