Children don’t learn to chew with a grinding motion until they’re about four years old.
Anything you give your child should be mashed with their hands or cut into small, easily chewable pieces. Do not use a mixer or grinder to mash the food.
Do not offer them peanuts, whole grapes, cherry tomatoes (unless they’re cut into quarters), whole carrots, seeds (like processed pumpkin or sunflower seeds), large sections of hot dogs or meat sticks, hard candies (including jelly beans or gummy bears), or chunks of peanut butter (it’s okay to spread peanut butter on bread).
Hot dogs and carrots — in particular—should be quartered lengthwise and then sliced into small pieces.
