Baby food cheetos

When Can Babies Eat Cheerios, Puffs, & Other Foods Safely - Answered!

Parents are often wondering, “When can babies eat cheerios?” Or, puffs, toast, cheese, watermelon, and banana. Learn when so you can feed your baby safely! 

When I was a first-time mom, I was ecstatic when it was time to start feeding my son real food. But, since I’d fed a lot of other babies as a feeding therapist, I knew that there were some serious nerves around the corner.

Even though my son was gobbling down smooth baby food, I wasn’t quite sure what he’d do the first time he had food that he actually had to chew before swallowing. He could gag (which isn’t as bad as it sounds, but terrifies us as parents. See baby gagging for more info)! Or worse, start to choke on it. Would I remember how to do the CPR training that I’d been certified to do correctly?

I’m not trying to freak you out, I tend to think of the worst case scenario before I do anything that’s new.

Fortunately, while my mommy brain was in overdrive, my occupational therapist brain knew that it would likely only have a negative effect on my son’s future eating if I just waited until I felt 100% comfortable to start giving him puffs, cheerios, or other foods that we tend to wonder if our babies can handle safely. Of course, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t an ideal time to feed your baby cheerios or puffs.

The key is knowing when so that you can confidently give your baby the foods you’re so excited (and nervous) to start feeding them. Let’s dive into the foods that you’re wondering about the most…

When Can Babies Eat Cheerios?

I think cheerios are the quintessential finger food for baby, they were in large part the first and most common food that my generation was given as young babies and toddlers. And, while cheerios are still appropriate, there are a few things you’ve got to know first.

As a pediatric OT, cheerios are NOT the first finger food I recommend that parents give their baby.

While they are great for being picked up easily, they don’t dissolve quickly. A baby, ideally, should munch up and down (with or without teeth) to mash up the cheerio. It will eventually dissolve, but usually long after a baby has attempted to swallow it.

This is why babies can eat cheerios sometime between 9-12 months.

When exactly, all depends on what other finger and table foods your baby is already eating. Long before they have cheerios, I want to make sure babies can eat foods that dissolve quickly like graham crackers and puffs. I also want babies to be eating some soft foods well too. Occasional gagging is normal, but persistent gagging that gets in the way of your baby being able to eat is an indicator that they aren’t ready to eat cheerios yet.

Just to be clear… when can your baby eat cheerios? When they:

• • Are typically in between 9-12 months old
  • Already safely eating a variety of other foods well
  • You witness their jaw munching up and down when they eat other foods
  • Can pick up the cheerios with a pincer grasp (that’s using their index finger and thumb together). Head to how to teach your baby to self-feed to learn more.

When Can Babies Eat Puffs?

Puffs, and there are a wide number of brands that sell them now, are my preferred very first finger food for baby. For those of you following a Baby Led Weaning (BLW) approach, that will contradict what you’ve learned. You can read why I think so in Pros and Cons of BLW.

I have given puffs to all three of my children as their very first finger food around 7-8 months old, but your child may not be ready until around 9 months old.

Again, more important than the age, are signs that they are ready. Here’s how you’ll know when your baby can eat puffs:

• • Able to sit independently
  • Demonstrates munching up and down either when watching you eat, on teethers, or their baby food
  • Usually between the ages of 7 and 9 months, although it varies from baby to baby

If you’re skittish about starting your baby on puffs, it’s always a good idea to talk to your pediatrician first. One of the benefits of puffs, and why I love them for babies, is because they dissolve fast in saliva. That means if your baby gets a piece into their mouth and doesn’t know what to do, it will melt into a goo they can swallow with little effort.

Want a whole guide on how to introduce your baby, step by step, to table foods? Head over to How to Introduce Table Foods to Babies and Toddlers.

*Learn 5 Big Mistakes that Parents (Unknowingly) Make When Feeding Their Baby or Toddler Table Foods in my free workshop. And, learn what to do to help them eat well!*

When Can Babies Eat Toast?

Another classic finger food for babies! Toast is a great food to give babies and it’s easy to top with lots of healthy and different spreads. Think avocado, cream cheese, or even a nut butter. (Yes, babies can have nut butters, but double check with your doc’s advice and spread it thin.)

Like cheerios, toast also requires some more chewing, which means your baby has to have some skills. Toast cut into squares or strips are great for babies that are managing puffs, graham crackers, and soft foods like cubed avocado well. This is usually around 9-12 months old. When you do, give your baby toast for the first time, look for them to be chewing well with a clear up and down motion.

When Can Babies Eat Grapes, Blueberries, and Cherry Tomatoes?

Oh, the round foods that can be a serious choking hazard. These foods may be scary, but when they are cut in half (blueberries) or quartered (grapes and cherry tomatoes), babies are able to eat them safely also around 9-12 months old. The skin on cherry tomatoes and grapes can be a little tougher, and some parents prefer to skin them.

Your baby will likely be ready to handle these foods when they are eating a variety of different textures, but it may be hard for them to pick up, which may mean you’ll have to wait to a little longer.

When Can Babies Eat Watermelon?

This is another one of my favorite first finger foods for baby, right after they’ve mastered those graham crackers and puffs. Cut the watermelon into small cubes and watch with delight as the juice runs down all over their adorable little chin.

Babies can often start eating watermelon between 7-10 months old.

When Can Babies Eat Banana?

Once babies are eating watermelon well, they can often handle banana. Just keep a lookout that the pieces aren’t too big or that they aren’t showing too much food into their mouth at once because banana can clump together.

Bananas are often thought of as a good choice for a first finger food because it’s soft and babies can chew it easily, but sometimes it’s too mushy for them to understand how to chew it. That’s another reason I like starting out with crunchy foods that melt first.

Look for your baby to manage bananas around 7-10 months old. You may even want to try this healthy pumpkin banana bread recipe!

When Can Babies Eat Cheese?

Cheese is obviously dairy and it seems contradictory that babies can eat it when they aren’t allowed cow’s milk until age 1, but the protein structure is different so pediatrician’s give it the green light before 12 months old. Cheese that’s a bit softer, like from a brick of mild cheddar or provolone, is a great starting place if you’d like to introduce it.

When your baby is eating the melt-able crackers, watermelon, and banana without frequent gagging and with a munching up and down, they are often ready to handle cheese that’s cut into cubes.

This is usually around 8-10 months old.

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My Favorite First Table Foods for Babies

Knowing what other foods you can give your baby can seem daunting, which is why I have an awesome Mega List of First Table Foods for you, and as your baby is getting a little older a Baby and Toddler List of Meal Ideas. Not to mention that you can also snag up a handy printable with many of the ideas to stick on your fridge for quick reference!

Get the Free Printable Here!

But, I wanted to give you some of my favorite first finger foods that work as well as puffs, in case you were looking for some other options:

1. 1. Plum Organics Teething Wafer
   2. Lil’ Crunchies Baked Corn Snack (think a vegetable cheese curl)
   3. Happy Baby Yogurt Melts
   4. Happy Baby Rice Husks

Tips for Giving Your Baby Food for the First Time

There are a couple of misconceptions floating around out there about when and how to feed your baby, especially as you’re giving them foods for the very first time. I want to debunk a couple of those myths so you can feel good about teaching your baby how to eat:

• • Babies DO NOT need teeth to eat – Sure, if your 9 month old were having a steak, some molars might come in handy, but babies were designed to use their powerful gums to plow through all the foods you found listed here and many more.
  • Gagging is normal – Gagging and choking are two different things. Gagging happens when a food hits their gag reflex, when they weren’t expecting it to. Most of the time, they recover the food and are able to swallow or spit it out. Also, some gagging occurs as a response to a texture, taste, or smell they don’t like. That has to do with sensory aversions to food.
  • If they aren’t eating, just wait, they’ll grow out of it – Unfortunately, this is sometimes the advice given by professionals. As a feeding therapist, I’ve seen small issues snowball into something much bigger many times. If you have any doubts head to feeding therapy information on how to get some professional help.

Also, check out my free online workshop: 5 Big Feeding Mistakes That Are Stopping Your Child From Learning to Eat Table Foods to help you start taking the right steps to getting your kiddo eating well. Click here to get a free seat!

Lastly, remember to be patient. You may feel edgy and anxious as you watch those first bites and tastes. Giving your baby finger foods is a transition that takes time. Some meals won’t go well, that’s okay.

Don’t Forget Your Free Printable

Now that you’ve got a great guideline on when to start your baby on different foods, make sure you grab your free printable with a huge list of table food ideas and meals that are specifically designed for babies and toddlers! Get it here.

More on Feeding Babies

What to Do When Baby Won’t Eat Solids: 7 Simple Steps

Ultimate List of Mealtime Must-Haves for Baby

Introducing Baby Food: Everything You Need to Know

How to Wean Baby From Bottle

Did you pin this?

You’ve got to admit this is some important stuff. Pin this on your baby or parenting board so you can reference it later!

Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 14 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.

Gerber Products, Baby Food & Snacks Recall

Overview

Did you know that exposure to toxic heavy metals can significantly affect your baby’s brain development? It could lead to a decrease in IQ and possible antisocial behavior in young children. (1)(2)

What’s alarming is that as much as 95% of baby food products from some of the most popular brands in the U.S. contain significant levels of mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium. (3)

In tests commissioned by HBBF (Healthy Babies Bright Futures), toxic heavy metals were found in 95% of the 168 commercial baby foods tested. Many were at dangerous levels, higher than the limits set by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). (3)

In February and September 2021, the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy of the U.S. Congress released a detailed Congressional Report on toxic products prepared by seven popular baby food companies. (4)

What were the Subcommittee’s findings, and how did the companies respond? Which products contained high levels of toxic heavy metals?

Gerber Products Company was among the baby food manufacturers listed on the report. Over the years, Gerber had issued some baby food recalls. But did the new reports lead to a recall of the affected Gerber baby foods and snacks?

Continue reading to learn more.

Gerber Baby Food Recall

Despite being included in the Congressional Report, no Gerber baby food recall was issued afterward.

The rest of the baby food manufacturers mentioned in the report didn’t issue a recall either.

To date, only the following Gerber products have been recalled:

Gerber Cheese Ravioli Pasta Pick-Ups (2017)

Back in 2017, Gerber Cheese Ravioli Pasta Pick-Ups were recalled, but not because of heavy metals.

• Date Recalled: March 08, 2017

• Reasons For Recall: Undeclared egg components (allergens) on the product label. (5)

• Affected Products: UPC (Universal Product Code) 159070

• Return or Refund Processing: Call 1-800-510-7494

Gerber Organic 2ND FOODS Pouches (2016)

• Date Recalled: March 24, 2016

• Reasons For Recall: Packaging defects that may result in product spoilage during handling and transport. (6)

• Return or Refund Processing: Call 1-800-706-0556

Affected Products: (6)

• Carrots, Apples & Mangoes; with best before dates: July 13, 2016 (batch 51955335XX), and July 14, 2016 (batch 51965335XX)
• Pears, Carrots & Peas; with best before dates: July 12, 2016 (batch 51945335XX), and July 13, 2016 (batch 51955335XX)

Gerber In Subcommittee Congressional Reports On Toxic Baby Foods

The Subcommittee asked the following baby food manufacturers to submit test results of the products that reportedly have high levels of toxic heavy metals: (4)

• Nurture, Inc. (HappyBABY and Happy Family Organics)
• Beech-Nut Nutrition Company (Beech-Nut)
• Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (Earth’s Best Organic)
• Gerber Products Company
• Campbell Soup Company (Plum Organics)
• Walmart Inc. (Parent’s Choice)
• Sprout Foods, Inc. (Sprout Organic Foods)

Of these seven companies, only Gerber, Nurture, Hain, and Beech-Nut submitted their test results and internal standards or testing policies to the Subcommittee. (4)

Walmart, Sprout, and Campbell refused to cooperate, according to the Congressional Report. (4)

However, despite complying with the request, the four companies alarmed the Subcommittee over test results that showed heavy metal levels were several times the FDA’s maximum allowable levels. (4)

FDA maximum limits in ppb or parts per billion for infant rice cereal: (7)

• 100 ppb inorganic arsenic

FDA maximum limits in ppb for bottled water:

• 5 ppb cadmium

• 5 ppb lead

• 10 ppb inorganic arsenic

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) maximum limit in ppb for drinking water (also applies to food):

• 2 ppb mercury

The Subcommittee was alarmed that the companies didn’t correct the heavy metal levels in their raw materials and finished products. Instead, these baby food companies created internal standards with increased limits. (4)

According to their new reports, these companies’ finished products passed because they have higher limits for their internal standards. Yet, the actual results are still several times higher than the FDA standards.

The state of Alaska independently tested Gerber baby food products and found dangerously high levels of inorganic arsenic in their infant rice cereals.

The second Congressional report on baby food revealed that despite Alaska’s test results Gerber failed to notify the public and also failed to pull those products from the market.

As head of the congressional subcommittee, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi states:

“My Subcommittee’s investigation has pulled back the curtain on the baby food industry, and each revelation has been more damning than the last.

I’ve released a new report on toxic metals in baby food, including popular brands such as Gerber’s Infant Rice Cereal products containing dangerous levels of inorganic arsenic.

We trust these companies with our babies, and they have failed us.”

The following are the affected baby food products, based on test results submitted by the companies or third party organizations: (4)

Gerber Products Company

The company declared to the Subcommittee that it doesn’t test the finished products for heavy metal content. Only the raw materials are tested. (4)

Mercury:

• The company doesn’t test for mercury.

Inorganic Arsenic:

• Up to 90 ppb in ingredients from rice flour (67 batches)

Lead:

• Up to 48 ppb in ingredients from sweet potatoes

Cadmium:

• Over 5 ppb in 75% of ingredients from carrots
• Up to 87 ppb in some tested carrot batches
• The company doesn’t test the other raw materials or ingredients for this heavy metal.

Nurture, Inc. (HappyBABY And Happy Family Organics)

Of all the baby food manufacturers in the Congressional Report, only Nurture regularly tests ingredients and finished products for heavy metals.

Despite the high levels of heavy metals in their finished products, Nurture admitted that the test results aren’t used as a basis for product release. (4)

In response to the investigation, the company wrote to Subcommittee Chairman Raja Krishnamoorthi that heavy metal testing is only done for its internal monitoring program under the company policy. It sold all the tested items, whether they passed or failed. (4)

Mercury:

• Up to 9.8 ppb in the finished product (Banana Sweet Potato)
• Up to 10 ppb in the finished product (Brown Rice Cereal Canister)

Inorganic Arsenic:

• Up to 100 ppb for over 25% of Nurture finished products
• Up to 160 in Strawberry & Beet Puffs
• Up to 160 in Banana & Pumpkin Puffs
• Up to 180 ppb in Apple & Broccoli Puffs

Lead:

• Up to 10 ppb for close to 20% of Nurture vegetables and rice products
• Up to 560 ppb in Multi-Grain Cereal Canister
• Up to 641 ppb in Blueberry Purple Carrot

Cadmium:

• Up to 5 ppb in 65% of Nurture baby products
• Up to 36 ppb in Strawberry Raspberry
• Up to 49 ppb for Multi-Grain Cereal Canister

Beech-Nut Nutrition Company (Beech-Nut)

According to the Congressional Report, Beech-Nut declared that all its raw materials passed internal standards. But the company had set very high internal maximum levels, so the ingredients actually failed government regulations. (4)

Mercury:

• The company doesn’t test for mercury.

Inorganic Arsenic:

• More than 300 ppb in additives used in various products
• Up to 913.4 ppb in raw materials

Lead:

• Up to 886.9 ppb in raw materials

Cadmium:

• Up to 344.55 ppb in raw materials

Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (Earth’s Best Organic)

According to the Subcommittee report, Hain admitted that it’s only using “theoretical calculations,” not actual test results. (4)

Mercury:

• The company doesn’t test for mercury

Inorganic Arsenic:

• Up to 129 ppb in finished products
• Up to 309 ppb in ingredients

Lead:

• Up to 352 ppb in a vitamin premix (raw materials)

Cadmium:

• Up to 260 ppb in ingredients

Campbell Soup Company (Plum Organics)

According to the Subcommittee, the company provided them with a report declaring that each of the finished products “meets criteria. ”

But the company reportedly refused to provide their actual test results or internal standards and criteria.

The following results are based on data from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report, instead: (3)

Mercury:

• Less than 0.142 ppb in Just Sweet Potato Organic Baby Food

Inorganic Arsenic:

• Up to 3.1 ppb in Just Sweet Potato Organic Baby Food

Lead:

• Up to 5.6 ppb in Just Sweet Potato Organic Baby Food

Cadmium:

• Up to 2.3 ppb in Just Sweet Potato Organic Baby Food

Walmart Inc. (Parent’s Choice)

Walmart didn’t submit any test results to the Subcommittee. The following results are also from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report, too: (3)

Mercury:

• Up to 0.941 ppb in Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack
• Up to 2.05 ppb in Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks

Inorganic Arsenic:

• Up to 56. 1 ppb in Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack
• Up to 108 ppb in Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks

Lead:

• Up to 5.2 ppb in Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack

• Up to 26.9 ppb in Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks

Cadmium:

• Up to 26.1 ppb in Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack
• Up to 2.4 ppb in Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks

Sprout Foods, Inc. (Sprout Organic Foods)

According to the Congressional Report, the company never responded to the Subcommittee. The following results also come from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report: (3)

Mercury:

• Up to 1.31 ppb in Organic Quinoa Puffs Baby Cereal Snack – Apple Kale.

Inorganic Arsenic:

• Up to 107 ppb in Organic Quinoa Puffs Baby Cereal Snack – Apple Kale.

Lead:

• Up to 39.3 ppb in Organic Quinoa Puffs Baby Cereal Snack – Apple Kale.

Cadmium:

• Up to 41.5 ppb in Organic Quinoa Puffs Baby Cereal Snack – Apple Kale.

Healthy Baby Food Products

There are so many possible contaminants and harmful ingredients in our food supply. Some of these are from pesticides.

Because heavy metals and other contaminants could greatly affect babies’ body and brain development, Consumer Reports and the US PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) call for the passing of the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021. (8)

If this passes into law, baby food manufacturers will be required to test and disclose their test results to regulators and parents.

The law will also direct the FDA to adopt and implement stricter limits for baby foods.

Consumer Reports and the AAP (American Academy for Pediatrics) call for further changes: (4)

• Lowering inorganic arsenic maximum levels to 3 ppb in all baby foods; the current FDA and EPA limit is 10 ppb.
• Lowering maximum cadmium limits to 1 ppb in fruit juices; the current FDA limit is 5 ppb.
• Lowering maximum lead limits to 1 ppb in all baby foods; the current FDA limit is 5 ppb.

Healthy Babies Bright Futures also calls for baby food companies to set a goal of zero inorganic arsenic and lead levels in all baby food products.

The following are some healthy alternatives to the unsafe products in the report:

• Little Spoon (subscription-based organic baby food)
• Yumi (subscription-based organic baby food)
• Little Journey Organics
• Once Upon A Farm
• Serenity Kids

Preparing Healthier Alternatives At Home

Instead of worrying about food recalls, preparing fresh and organic baby foods at home might be a good idea.

You can buy a baby food maker set such as the Baby Brezza Small Baby Food Maker Set – Cooker and Blender in One or use the appliances you already have in your kitchen in preparing your baby’s food.

Note that rice and rice flour may have high levels of cadmium, lead, and arsenic. It’s best to avoid preparing these foods for your baby.

Healthier alternatives include:

• Bananas
• Apples
• Grapes
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Yogurt
• Peaches
• Barley with diced vegetables
• Quinoa
• Whole or pureed fruits

Sweet potatoes and carrots can also have high levels of lead and cadmium. But they are important sources of vitamin A and other nutrients.

You’ll still need to include these foods in your child’s diet, but make sure they aren’t taken in excess. (3)

REFERENCES

(1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23570911/

(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4418502/

(3) http://www.healthybabyfood.org/sites/healthybabyfoods.org/files/2019-10/BabyFoodReport_FULLREPORT_ENGLISH_R5b.pdf

(4) https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-02-04%20ECP%20Baby%20Food%20Staff%20Report.pdf

(5) https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/gerber-issues-allergy-alert-clarify-egg-labeling-cheese-ravioli-pasta-pick-upsr

(6) http://news. gerber.com/news/gerber-is-voluntarily-recalling-two-batches-of-gerberR-organic-2nd-foodsR-pouches

(7) https://www.fda.gov/food/metals-and-your-food/arsenic-food-and-dietary-supplements

(8) https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2021/06/09/beech-nut-baby-food-recall-2021-rice-cereal-arsenic/7621243002/

Baby food and moldy cheeses. How are processing industries modernized in the country?