Raw carrots for baby

[OliveMoonLight]

Ok, so I'm hoping to get some perspective of if I'm being an anxious first time parent, like my husband and nursery think I'm being or if my worries are warranted!

So we didnt start off with the BLW approach and decided to introduce finger foods from the age of 9 months. My, now 12 month old, is doing great so far with all different foods. I just havent given him raw carrots, raw apple etc. I haven't felt comfortable to, plus when I go off Solid Starts and Google, I see that it is deemed a top choking hazard and not to introduce them until nearer 2.

Nursery give raw carrot batons amongst other things, for their day time snacks. I dont feel comfortable with this- my husband believes its fine and he is capable and my nursery key worker said (at the settling in session) that there's a fine line between keeping him safe and holding him back).

What's others opinions/experiences of thes types of foods so young please??

Thank you

I think it depends on the child. My youngest DC is 20 months and we still avoid these foods because he eats way, way too fast and has a strong gag reflex. My eldest DC would have been fine at the same age.

If I remember rightly, I gave mine raw apple and carrot much earlier than a year (8 months perhaps?) It was a long time ago though, and I’m not aware of the latest guidelines.

We gave Apple earlier than carrot. Quite a difference in consistency. Blanched carrots until about 14 months.

I didn’t give my youngest raw carrot until he was around 12 months, but my youngest has been stealing her brother’s since she was about 8 months!

We cooked them well at 6 months but by 12 months we allowed them raw if they weren't too thick. I'm someone who slices grapes till age 8.

I gave grated carrot. I cut grapes until DD was about 8.

I’d ask for no batons.

LOL great minds think alike

I'm actually surprised a 12 months old can eat raw carrots - none of my kids were able to chew them at that age.

My 2 year old is just starting to enjoy them now, but she was also the type to put the entire thing in her mouth so we were extra careful.

I agree with you OP though, I would give them balnched carrot sticks at that age, not raw ones.

I would make sure you push him now op so that he isn't "behind" when it comes to handling raw veg as an adult.

If he chokes in the process, you at least know he was well on course for being an advanced raw veg eater.

I'm being sarcastic of course: what does your DH mean "hold him back"? It's not a GCSE skill.

Keep your baby safe if you have doubts.

Age 2 seems a bit extreme. I do think Solid Starts exacerbates anxiety, rather than alleviating it.

Raw apple is tricky because it can easily be bitten off in large chunks - raw carrot tends to be easier for them to either just gnaw on (good for teething) or cooked carrot batons are easier for them to eat.

Nursery workers will be following guidelines based on risk and also will all be first aid trained. I wouldn't stop them from giving them there but you don't have to give them at home if you don't want to. However if they say he handles them fine then I think you're OK to give them at home too.

I would guess the holding back is a more general comment in terms of trying not to be too risk averse in general, but in relation to solid foods, it is important for their oral development for them to have experience of eating foods that need chewing. It's not as though carrots are the only possible way to achieve that, though.

I give my youngest (9 months) a whole raw carrot to chew on sometimes - he loves them cold. He doesn’t have any teeth yet though (which is why I use them for teething) and has never snapped one while doing it. I also give him a large hunk of refrigerated apple for the same reason. Granny did cut a hunk in two the other day and we soon found out that was a BAD idea 😬 DS is almost entirely baby led though thanks to a very strong independent streak. Hates and refuses anything off a spoon so we kind of have to brave it!

It really depends on the child I think. My eldest was eating all sorts of raw stuff by 12 months with the three teeth she had!

Thank you all so much for your responses. It sounds as though its child dependent. Well, we have been going slowly, it annoys me that BLW from 6 months is seen as the only way nowadays and anything else means your child is behind. Am going to just tell Nursery we aren't at that stage yet and will let them know when we are.

The “raw” carrot batons offered at my school are blanched for under 7s! Based on this, I don’t think you’re over reacting.

They are sometimes served raw grated though or whole raw carrots, which they bite/nibble/throw straight in food waste themselves.