Feeding 1-year-olds can be exciting and frustrating. Between age 1 and 2, children explore the textures and flavors of solid foods, and develop food preferences that will last a lifetime, notes KidsHealth from Nemours. Young toddlers also enjoy asserting their independence at the dinner table, which can make it hard to know what to feed them. While 1-year-olds can generally eat the same foods the rest of the family eats, you should withhold feeding certain foods to your toddler until later.
Low-Fat Milk
When your child turns 1, it is safe to replace breast milk or formula with whole milk. But since 1-year-olds need the additional fat and calories in whole milk for their growth and development, you should not feed them 2 percent, 1 percent or skim milk.
Nuts
One of the biggest dangers when feeding 1-year-olds is that they can choke if foods, such as nuts, get lodged in their airway. Avoid giving your toddler nuts until she learns to chew in a grinding motion, which usually happens around age 4.
Sweetened Drinks
You should avoid giving 1-year-olds foods and beverages that contain excessive sugar, such as sweetened drinks, since sugar can mask the natural flavors of healthful foods. Sweetened drinks can also fill your toddler up so that he is not hungry for healthful foods, and cause his teeth to decay.
Chocolate
It is no secret that you shouldn't offer coffee to 1-year-olds because it contains caffeine. But some people don't realize that there is caffeine in chocolate, too. No matter what time you give them, chocolate and other caffeine-containing foods and beverages can disrupt your toddler's sleep cycle.
Candies
In addition to containing too much sugar, causing teeth decay and problems with appetite, candies can be a serious choking hazard for young toddlers. Do not feed candies, including hard candy, gummy bears and jelly beans, to a 1-year old.
Uncut Hot Dogs
While hot dogs are a common food to feed young children, they can cause young toddlers to choke. If you would like to feed your 1-year-old a hot dog, cut it into uarters lengthwise and then cut them into small pieces.
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