Safe sizes for common choking risks
How to cut 12 foods that are common choking hazards for babies and toddlers, by age. Stick it on the fridge. Always stay with your baby while they eat, and make sure they're sitting upright.
| Food | 6 months+ | 9 months+ | 12 months+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grapes | Quartered lengthwise and flattened, or finely choppedEach grape cut lengthwise (top to bottom) into quarters (4 small pieces), then pressed flat. Or chopped finely and stirred into a soft food. | Quartered lengthwiseEach grape cut lengthwise (top to bottom) into quarters, each about 1 cm (just under ½ inch) wide or less. Cut large grapes smaller. | Quartered lengthwiseLengthwise quarters, each about 1 cm (just under ½ inch) wide or less. Cut large grapes smaller. |
| Blueberries | Squashed flat or mashedEach blueberry pressed completely flat into a soft disc, or mashed and served on a pre-loaded spoon. | Squashed flat or quarteredPieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch): flattened berries, or each berry cut into quarters. | Squashed, quartered or in dishesFlattened berries or quarters about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). |
| Cherries | Pitted, quartered lengthwise and flattened, or mashedEach pitted cherry cut lengthwise (top to bottom) into quarters (4 small pieces), then pressed flat. Or mashed and stirred into a soft food. | Pitted and quartered lengthwiseEach pitted cherry cut lengthwise (top to bottom) into quarters, each about 1 cm (just under ½ inch) wide or less. Cut large cherries smaller. | Pitted and quartered lengthwiseLengthwise quarters, each about 1 cm (just under ½ inch) wide or less. Cut large cherries smaller. |
| Apple | Soft-cooked wedges or mashPeeled wedges about the size of an adult finger, roughly 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in), or mashed. | Small soft-cooked piecesPieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). | Cooked pieces, grated or in dishesSoft-cooked pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), or finely grated. |
| Carrot | Soft-cooked sticks or mashed carrotSticks about the size of an adult finger, roughly 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in). | Small soft piecesPieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). | Soft-cooked pieces or in dishesSmall soft pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). |
| Corn | Blended or mashed cornBlended or mashed until no whole kernels are left, served on a pre-loaded spoon or stirred into a soft food. | Mashed cornMashed with a fork so every kernel is broken up and no whole kernels are left, in pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). | Mashed, in family dishesMashed corn mixed into dishes, in bites about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). |
| Edamame | Mashed edamameMashed or blended smooth, or spread on a toast strip about the size of an adult finger, roughly 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in). | Flattened beansEach bean squashed flat, pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). | Flattened or mashed, or in dishesFlattened beans or pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). |
| Raisins | Soaked and blended, or finely chopped into soft foodBlended smooth, or chopped very finely and stirred into a soft food such as oatmeal. No whole raisins. | Soaked and choppedPieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch): cut each soaked raisin into 2 or 3 pieces. | Soaked and chopped, or baked inChopped pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch) or smaller, or baked into soft foods. |
| Peanut butter | Thinned smooth peanut butterThinned to a smooth, runny purée, or, once wheat has been introduced on its own, a very thin layer on a toast strip about the size of an adult finger, roughly 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in). | Thinly spread or stirred inToast or pancake pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), with a thin layer of peanut butter, or strips if your baby prefers them. | Thin spread or in dishesBite-sized pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), thinly spread, or mixed into food. |
| Cheese | Grated and melted into foodFinely grated cheese melted into a dish, or melted onto soft toast fingers about the size of an adult finger, roughly 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in). | Shreds or small thin piecesPieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), cut from thin slices, or loose shreds. | Shredded, thin slices or meltedThin pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), or shredded. |
| Chicken | Tender strips, soft patties or shreddedStrips or patties about the size of an adult finger, roughly 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in), or finely shredded and mixed into mash. | Small soft shredsPieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). | Shredded or in family mealsBite-sized pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), or shredded. |
| Tomato | Large ripe wedges, or cherry tomatoes quartered and flattenedWedges of a large ripe tomato about the size of an adult finger, roughly 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in). Cherry and grape tomatoes cut lengthwise (top to bottom) into quarters, then pressed flat. | Small soft pieces or quartered cherry tomatoesPieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). Cherry and grape tomatoes cut lengthwise into quarters, each about 1 cm (just under ½ inch) wide or less, or smaller if they are large. | Chopped, quartered or in family dishesBite-sized pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). Cherry tomatoes cut lengthwise into quarters, each about 1 cm (just under ½ inch) wide or less, never halves. |
Each food's full page at tinysolids.com/foods has cooking steps, a squash test and what to avoid. Educational information only, not medical advice.