How to cut food for baby safely: grapes, sausages, apples and more

Why does the shape of food matter?

Small, round and firm foods are more likely to block a young child's airway, because babies do not chew well yet and may try to swallow pieces whole. Changing the size, shape and texture lowers that risk.

Any food can cause choking, so the cut is only one part of keeping meals safe. Sit your baby upright in a high chair, stay with them and let them eat at their own pace.

How to cut finger foods for a 6 month old

At first, cut food into sticks roughly the size of your finger. Your baby grips with their whole hand, so each piece needs to be long enough to hold in a fist with some showing above it. Small cubes are hard for a young baby to pick up, so they come later.

Early finger foods should be soft enough to break up easily in the mouth. Good first shapes include:

• Soft cooked sticks of carrot, parsnip or sweet potato
• Soft cooked broccoli or cauliflower florets with a stalk to hold
• Slices of ripe banana, peach or melon
• Strips of avocado
• Strips of lightly toasted bread or chapatti
• Sticks of pasteurised full-fat hard cheese

How to cut food as your baby grows

As your baby gets better at chewing and picking things up, pieces can get smaller. The rules for round and firm foods stay the same.

• Around 6 months: soft finger-length sticks, alongside mashed food
• 7 to 9 months: more mashed, lumpy and finger foods at each meal, including soft strips of meat and flaked fish
• 10 to 12 months: most babies can pick up smaller pieces with their fingers, so soft bite-sized pieces can join the sticks
• From 1 year: keep quartering round foods and keep whole nuts out until 5. The AAP suggests cutting food for young children into pieces no bigger than about 1cm

How to cut grapes, cherry tomatoes and other round foods

Cut grapes, cherry tomatoes, cherries, berries, strawberries and other small round fruit into quarters, so each one makes 4 small pieces. Take out any stones or hard pips first.

Cut raisins and other dried fruit into small pieces for babies under 1. For younger babies, squash or mash larger beans and pulses such as butter beans and chickpeas.

How to cut sausages, meat and cheese

Sausages are a well-known choking risk because of their round shape and firm skin. Processed meats such as sausages and ham are also salty, so keep them to small amounts now and then.

• Sausages: peel off the skin, cut in half, then cut each half lengthways into thin, short strips
• Meat: remove all bones, skin and fat, then cut into strips as thin as you can
• Fish: check carefully for bones, then flake
• Cheese: grate it, or cut short, narrow strips rather than chunks

How to prepare apples, carrots and other firm foods

Raw apple and raw carrot are too hard for babies. Steam or simmer firm fruit and vegetables until soft, then cut them into slices or narrow sticks. Grating is another good option for young babies, and peeling skins makes food easier to swallow.

Cut apple and melon into slices rather than small chunks. For older babies and toddlers, cut cucumber, pepper and celery into narrow batons.

How to give nuts and nut butter safely

Whole nuts and peanuts are not suitable for children under 5. From around 6 months, you can offer nuts that are finely ground, crushed or flaked and mixed into food. Crush or grind seeds too, and keep popcorn off the menu until 5.

Spread smooth nut butter thinly on toast fingers, or cook it into porridge or a curry. Never give a spoonful on its own, as a thick lump can stick in the throat.