The allure of chocolate is undeniable. Children and adults alike love the creamy, creamy, and sometimes bittersweet flavor of chocolate snacks, whether it’s a large glass of chocolate milk or a small piece of dark chocolate.
Chocolate has even been praised for its antioxidant effects and heart-healthy benefits. But is it safe for babies and toddlers? In short, yes, it is safe for young children over the age of 2, but for babies under the age of 2, doctors recommend avoiding all the sugar and caffeine that may be contained in it.
Chocolate Allergies in Babies and Children
When it comes to allergies to chocolate and cocoa, scientists used to think that reactions to chocolate were related to other allergens in chocolate, such as nuts, peanuts, or milk. However, a study published in 2019 found that although this is rare, it is indeed possible for children and adults to develop food allergies to chocolate and cocoa.
Still, experts say that in most cases, concerns about possible allergic reactions to food should not stop parents from introducing allergic foods such as fish, eggs and peanut butter to their children. Research supports this idea, and there is evidence that for most infants, there is no need to postpone the introduction of hyperallergenic foods.
In fact, not introducing these foods when the baby has the necessary eating skills may increase the likelihood of a child developing a food allergy.
So, if an underlying chocolate allergy isn’t a major concern, are there other reasons for delaying feeding chocolate to infants and young children? The answer is yes.
What Experts Say About When Babies Can Eat Chocolate
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend that children under 2 years of age consume foods that contain caffeine or added sugars, both of which are found in chocolate and chocolate products.
So, while food allergies aren’t a reason to postpone feeding chocolate to babies or toddlers, the added sugar and natural caffeine content is.
Caffeine
In addition to the multiple ingredients found in most chocolate products, chocolate also contains caffeine. Although there isn’t much information about how caffeine affects the brains of developing children, there are concerns about the side effects of caffeine.
In fact, for children over 2 years of age, the guideline for caffeine intake is less than 2.5 mg per day. There is also some evidence that caffeine can affect children’s sleep, affect their bone health, and cause blood pressure to rise.
When assessing whether to give chocolate to your child, keep in mind how much caffeine your child consumes per serving of chocolate. Even foods like chocolate pudding cups and chocolate milk contain small amounts of caffeine.
Added sugar
For children under the age of 2, doctors recommend encouraging them to consume foods that do not contain added sugar. Adding too much sugar increases the risk of excess body fat, tooth decay, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. However, sugar makes up about 17% of a child’s daily intake.
Therefore, before adding chocolate to your child, you should consider how much sugar your child has already consumed. That way, when you’re at a birthday party or other special occasion and you want your child to take a small bite, you’ll have more freedom to make an exception.
Choking hazard
You should also be wary of the choking hazard that chocolate can pose. While a chocolate birthday cake may not pose a choking hazard, many baked goods and chocolate bars contain nuts and other hard ingredients that can be dangerous for young children. So, keep these things in mind before giving chocolate to your child.
Teach Your Child to Eat Less Sweets
If your older child asks for something sweet like cake or cookies, consider offering dessert once in a while to promote balance. Place the dessert on a plate with all the other foods and let your child eat the food in the order they like. Presenting food in this way avoids dessert being seen above other foods.
This also makes chocolate from a “bonus” food or bribe one of many options. However, since chocolate contains small amounts of caffeine and sugar, it is best to opt for non-chocolate desserts until your child is a little older.