From the Research
For a 6-month-old starting solids, food should be pureed to a smooth consistency or mashed very finely to prevent choking, as recommended by the most recent study on choking in children 1.
Key Considerations
- For meat, cook it thoroughly and blend it into a smooth puree with no chunks or stringy pieces.
- Fruits should be soft-cooked if needed and pureed completely smooth or mashed to a fine consistency with no large pieces.
- As your baby develops, typically around 8-10 months, you can gradually progress to a thicker consistency and tiny soft pieces about the size of a pea.
Rationale
This approach is supported by the study on choking in children, which highlights the importance of preventing choking episodes in children, particularly those aged 1 to 4 years, who are vulnerable due to their natural tendency to explore their surroundings using their mouths 1.
Additional Recommendations
- Always supervise your baby during feeding.
- Introduce one new food at a time, waiting 3-4 days between new foods to watch for allergic reactions.
- Avoid honey until after 12 months due to botulism risk.
Evidence Summary
The study on choking in children 1 provides the most recent and relevant evidence for preventing choking episodes in children. While other studies, such as those on screening for aspiration risk associated with dysphagia in acute stroke 2, screening accuracy for aspiration using bedside water swallow tests 3, and fiberoptic endoscopic documentation of aspiration following extubation in critically ill trauma patients 4, provide valuable insights into the risks and consequences of aspiration, they are not directly applicable to the specific context of a 6-month-old starting solids. Therefore, the recommendation is based on the most recent and relevant study on choking in children 1.