marshmallow
Marshmallows are best avoided before age 4. They are soft but compress into a sticky, rubbery plug that can block a small airway completely, and they are almost pure sugar.
How to serve
Not recommended.
Occasionally, cut into small pieces, sitting down and supervised. Melted into a hot drink or baked into a dish is safer than eating one whole.
Nutrition
Sugar and gelatine with essentially no nutritional value. Children under 2 should have no added sugar at all.
Good to know
Sticky and compressible - can plug a small airway. Avoid before age 4; cut small after that.
Marshmallow is both a choking hazard until age 4 and pure added sugar. Children under 2 should not have added sugar; after that, keep sweets rare and always supervise.
Tip
Sticky, chewy foods are the hardest for a small child to clear from the airway - marshmallow, chewy candy and large blobs of nut butter all behave the same way.
