popcorn
Popcorn should not be given to children under 4. The hard unpopped and half-popped kernels are exactly the wrong size and hardness, and the light, dry hulls are easily inhaled - a child can breathe one into the lungs without choking visibly.
How to serve
Not recommended in any form.
Fully popped only, with unpopped kernels picked out, and always sitting down and supervised.
Nutrition
Wholegrain and a source of fibre, but the amount a small child would eat contributes little, and it is usually salted or sweetened.
Good to know
Do not give popcorn to children under 4 - not even a single piece.
Popcorn is one of the highest-risk choking foods for young children - avoid it entirely before age 4. The hulls can also be inhaled into the lungs and cause infection without any obvious choking.
Tip
For a crunchy snack before age 4, try puffed corn or maize snacks that dissolve in the mouth, or thin rice cakes broken into pieces.
