Is it safe for babies and small children to eat raisins?

Julia Youll answers:

Any small piece of food is potentially a choking risk for your baby, especially if your baby is under a year old. It is therefore always a good idea to be present when your baby attempts finger foods such as raisins and to make sure he is ready developmentally to chew and sit up properly, as well as having the pincer grasp to pick things up with.

Older babies tend to gum raisins and spit them out without swallowing, which avoids them being a real hazard. They can be a handy and vitamin-packed snack when out and about with your toddler, providing he is not running about and playing at the same time, and a good alternative to sweets. On another note, raisins can be cooked into oats or other warm cereals where they soften up and become easier to chew then. It’s a good way to add delicate sweetness to cereals without excess sugar.

Remember that raisins are high in sugar and can stick to the teeth, so careful brushing may be needed afterwards. Occasionally, raisins have small grape pips still inside which could potentially be inhaled, and sometimes the packet will issue a warning about the product being prepared in the vicinity of nuts, so do check the packet before giving them to your child if he has a nut allergy.


Reviewed by Indra Balaratnam, a consultant dietitian who specialises in home visits to counsel patients with special dietary needs