Marshmallows Bad for Babies?

Marshmallows should indeed be kept away from small children. Babies have no more reason to eat solid puffs of sugar than anyone else does -- they need quality nutrition and marshmallows don't deliver that.

Marshmallows melt when held in the mouth, and if the child inhales it, or has a mouth so full that it melts into their lungs, they die. There is no way to get that sticky mess out of lungs, even if they don't immediately suffocate.

What is understandable about berries or any fruits? I've never heard of keeping them away from small children...

Tomatos, oranges and strawberries often cause allergic reactions in very young children, so they're not usually recommended as infant foods for the under 1 kids, but that's the only ones I know about... ???

Not heard of that , my kids dentist said that fruits like raisins are bad for the teeth because they are so sticky and can break the teeth , personally I give my kids marshmallows as an alternative to candies such as lollipops....they are happy with that & I follow the rule 'everything in moderation'

Other than the fact that they are almost 100% sugars and there is no nutritional value to them, they are hard to gum without teeth and pose a choking hazard.

Its a choking hazard.
Soft/sticky/gooey things, are BIG choking hazards for any baby. Even things with the consistency of peanut butter.
It gets stuck in the throat.
Or, it can be inhaled... and then stuck in the throat. Especially those "mini" marshmallows.

Yes, aside from being a choking hazard, sugar in general is bad for babies...adults too.

They are choking hazards for small children.

Marshmallow don't offer any nutritional value, but neither do fruit snacks, Mac & Cheese, etc.

I would agree that younger children (under the age of 12 months) shouldn't have them. But, it all depends on their ability to bite, chew, and swallow.

Our son (3.5) hates them and won't touch them. Our daughter, 22 months loved them several months ago and doesn't really care for them now. We gave her both larger ones to bite and the small ones. She had more fun giving them to the dog.

You might want to ask your pediatrician - the American Academy of Pediatrics is always changing their position on feeding, and you may be surprised at what is currently acceptable. When our son was born, it was no egg whites, peanut butter, strawberries, etc. At our daughter's 1 year well-baby visit, the policy had changed to not offering foods that were known family allergens or possible choking hazards based upon that child's ability to chew.

Here's their policy for toddlers:
http://www.healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/toddle...

The only thing that comes to mind is the choking hazard. Not to scare you but I know I heard awhile ago about a preschool teacher who had a "marshmallow eating contest" for a certain holiday in her class and a child choked because he put too many in his mouth at once. I think because they can become so sticky it can be hard to swallow.

Good luck,
K.

Choking hazard.
Kids under O. also shouldn't have peanut butter or honey.

In child care the rules are usually in black and whire and marshmellows are one of the top 5 choke hazards for children. they are much like gummy candy, they are sticky and can be a huge chunk for the child to swallow. The previous poster put in a web iste that is pretty good.

I ALWAYS, cut hot dogs into long thin pieces to this day, it's just my habit. I always cut the little kids food into 1/4" pieces, this includes any fruit I gave them. When they turned 3 and if they were eating very well I went to 1/2" pieces, that includes grapes, hot dogs, bread, peach slices, actually I used a Pampered Chef Food Chopper on those until they were 3, peaches can be pretty slippery and go down before they get a chance to chew them....
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And just a moment to step up onto my soapbox...in my First Aid and CPR classes I usually end up in the ones for professionals, like doctors and firemen, and teachers....and balloons are the worst choke hazards we expose our kids to. If they get a small piece in their windpipe it is nearly impossible for an EMT to do anything, the rubber stretches as they try to intubate the child and they just can't reach in and pull it out. By the time they get a child to the ER it is usually too late. Most of the firemen won't even let their school age kids have balloons.

It depends on the age. Certainly, there is absolutely no nutritional value in a marshmallow and I would keep them away from a child for as long as possible so they don't learn that they like them. Also, I think they are likely a suffocation problem for very little ones ie under a year old.

for berries, it depends on the berry. Strawberries are more allergenic than most items and so many doctors recommend waiting until a child is a little older before you try them. Blueberries can be added to the diet quite early but for the little new eaters need to be cut up. Raspberries and blackberries aren't very allergenic either and so provided they are in bite sizes are fine.

Why would you even want to give a baby marshmellows, even if they were safe? They are nothing but sugar!

I'm sure they are a choking hazard. I would not give a child marshmallows until they are 4-5 years old.

Many children have died when they get stuck together in their throats and it is too hard to cough out or hymlich because they are soft and slimy and not able to force it out. Google it and you will find tons why.
Not sure on the berries maybe because of the seeds and allergies?

if a child puts a large marshmallow in their mouth and holds it in there (doesn't chew and swallow) it melts and then can not be heimliched out so they can't get air

Marshmallows can easily lodge in their throats and their little mouths, tongues don't know how to handle them.

I just read an article that somewhat suggested marshmallow (& marshmallow root) as a good source of coating/soothing the throat when it becomes sore from coughing.. I was looking for a way to help my 11 month old with his cold (runny nose & cough), since they can't have cold medicine.. Guess I won't be trying that!

Yes and definately do not give any kid under 10 a marshmellow..Do u ever watch how those marshmellows grow when you put them on a bonfire? they swell up, well if your child starts choking on a marshmellow it swells up in their throats, thus making it impossible to move out..even poking a straw through it to make airway will not work..bottom line if your child chokes on a marshmellow they will not survive..I have seen many articles of parents loosing their children choking on marshmellows and also you can ask a first aid cpr instructor and they will tell you the same thing..So question is would you take the chance of giving them a marshmellow and choke on it or avoid the whole sitution all together..

They are 100% sugar!

By the time they are 2yrs old, their esophagus is as big as a straw. I use that visual all of the time when I teach a CPR class, it helps to put things into perspective when feeding small children. But why marshmallows? There is absolutely no nutritional value, just empty calories and a bunch of sugar, which is not healthy for their insides anyways.

When I was feeding my infant, I gave her frozen wild blueberries from Trader Joe's, they were so small and safe as well. They are smaller than peas. I also gave her frozen pineapple tidbits, frozen strawberries cut up, anything frozen (especially frozen carrots and green beans) she enjoyed as I am sure it felt great on her teething gums.

Hope that helps.
J., MPH
Chicago Family Health Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/x-7158-Chicago-Family-Health-Exam...

If a child is choking on a marshmallow, it is next to impossible to dislodge. It is sticky and soft and a perfect plug for the esophagus.

I agree with the others-definite choking hazard. Also- you should not give nuts to a child under 6 as they are a choking hazard as well.

Marshmallows are hard to chew and could be inhaled. There was also a news story a few years ago about a girl (around 5th grade) who died from playing a game with marshmallows. They kind of melted and she couldn't breathe.

Babies can choke on mashmallows.

Updated

Babies can choke on marshmallows.

Is it maybe because babies could choke on them?

It's a choking hazard.