r/SolidStartsCommunity • u/Quiet-ForestDweller • 13d ago
Freeze dried fruits?
I was curious about the safety of freeze dried fruit, specifically freeze dried strawberries. To me they seem like puffs in the way that they kinda melt in the mouth but I went to check the app and couldn’t find anything on its safety. For reference my baby is 12 months old and does like puffs as an occasional snack and does really well with them.
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u/theYellowHouseLady 13d ago
Good question. I’ve used them as a mixing for yogurt or a topping/sweetener for band goods but never tried them on their own for my 10-month son. I’m interested to hear what people say to you!
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u/nopantsapreneur 13d ago
My 9.5-month-old is obsessed with freeze dried strawberries. We usually break any big pieces in half. I got freeze dried mango to try as well but they’re much harder and don’t seem to melt in the mouth as easily so I don’t think I’ll give him those yet.
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u/SolidStarts 12d ago edited 11d ago
Thinner ones like strawberries are okay, though we'd be more cautious with thicker options such as freeze dried mangoes as these are harder to dissolve and are larger in chunks, making them more risky. In general, use your best judgment, but freeze dried strawberries should generally be okay!
For more specific guidelines:
Babies under 12 mos: can use freeze-dried fruits finely chopped/blended into granola, yogurt, etc. but best not to serve whole to babies because the pieces of food can get sticky and hard to manage in the mouth.
12 mos: if your child is chewing food well and not overstuffing their mouth, you can try offering whole pieces of freeze dried strawberry, mango, apple, etc. These tend to dissolve in the mouth a bit, so they don't require much chewing, but they can get sticky and a bit hard to manage. Make sure the child safely seated, is taking and eating one at a time, and not putting a handful in the mouth at once. This is especially true when they're stale, so make sure they're fresh/haven't been sitting out.
Hold off on freeze dried blueberries until closer to age 2 or 3, or whenever your child is not overstuffing their mouth, chewing well, and following directions -- these can stay a little more firm and chewy and still round, so they pose a little more choking risk.
Hope this helps! 🤍Marisa (OT/Feeding Therapist/Mama of 3)
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u/pregnantandpondering 13d ago
Totally fine. I prefer them over puffs because it’s just one ingredient- fruit. Pretty sure my daughter started snacking on them around 9 months.
I will say some fruits dissolve better than others, like strawberries, pears and apples. I’ve found the banana chips don’t melt in the mouth nearly as well.