when can i give apple?

[Sylvia.]

hi my dd took an apple today from my bag, i let her have it, she seems to be doing well with it, has taken about a dozen small bites so far, when did you first allow an uncooked apple? also i tried dd on porridge yesterday she really wasn't keen, i added a sprinkle of sugar, should i have avoided this?

[15milner]

Even age age 2, I still buy pots of fruit puree (for conI can'venience now i admit - in the early days of introducing food it was all homemade).  But I add fruit puree to Matthew's porridge (or rathter ready brek because he wont eat porridge).  Or I grate apple / add finely chopped dried apricot / chunks of pear...

SOrry can't remember about the raw apple.

Alex

[Samanthas mum]

My dd did a similar thing when I was eating an apple about a month ago - she took a few bites out of it because she wanted to eat how mummy was eating.

It took her a while to chew what she had bitten off but she enjoyed it.

I don't think there is any issue with giving them raw apple especially once they are over 1 - I may be wrong but if your lo wants to eat raw apple I would encourage it 

[mcruari]

Apple is one of those great fruits tha kids love BUT it can be really dangerous. I don't want to frighten you but LOs can choke on apple as it has this magical texture that just gets stuck in their throat and windpipe So my advice would be to peel and core it (don't let her eat it as it is) and slice it in thickish slices. While she is eating it STAY WITH HER AT ALL TIMES.

Good luck

Sinead

[Samanthas mum]

Good point Sinead. I forget that I always peel my apples so even if dd wants a bite of mine there is no issue.

You also mention about not leaving your lo alone whilst eating apple. I don't leave my dd alone whatever she is eating but is there what is regarded as a safe age to leave them alone with food?

[mcruari]

When I said alone - that means them safely sittin gin a high chair (or when older at the table) and you coming and going from the room frequently!! That's not ALONE, I hear you say Well it gives me the chance to prepare dinner for DH and myself. My DD is not the best of eaters so I try to cater to her tastes and to give her what she 'wants' during meal times (within reason of course) so that could mean a teddy sitting beside her, or a book or "Little People" and of course the BBB (big-black-box)  etc and this means that she can entertain herself before, during and after meals.
I started 'leaving' her when she started to want to eat on her own (very late - probably when she was about 20-22mths) She has always had problems with 'pieces' as she was never given them  MIL refused to!! so I was always pretty careful about what she was eating at the time and if I had a slight problem with it, I'd stay to make sure everything was OK.

HTH

Sinead