NEVER BEFORE
24 months
Not before 24 months. Chocolate carries both of the things the CDC says young children should not have: added sugars (no added sugars under 24 months) and caffeine (children under 24 months should avoid caffeinated foods and drinks — there is no established safe limit).
CDC
| Age | Can they have it? | How to serve it |
|---|---|---|
| 4 months | No — not yet | — |
| 6 months | No — not yet | — |
| 9 months | No — not yet | — |
| 12 months | No — not yet | — |
| 18 months | No — not yet | — |
| 2 years | Yes | — |
Yes — Chocolate is one of the foods the AAP and CDC name on their choking-hazard lists. The danger is almost always the shape rather than the food itself, which is why the serving form above is the whole answer. Cut everything to no larger than half an inch, cut cylindrical foods into short thin strips rather than rounds, and quarter anything round.
Chocolate is not one of the common allergens. Introduce it on its own anyway and wait 3 to 5 days before the next new food, so if your baby does react to something you know what it was.
Watch for diarrhea, rash, vomiting or hives after a new food. Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face, lips or tongue.
Hard chocolate and chocolate-coated sweets are also on the choking-hazard lists.
If you are working through the Sweets and snacks group, the same serving and allergen questions come up for marshmallows, chewing gum and ice cream. Each one has its own introduction age and choking guidance — they are not interchangeable.
Not before 24 months. Chocolate carries both of the things the CDC says young children should not have: added sugars (no added sugars under 24 months) and caffeine (children under 24 months should avoid caffeinated foods and drinks — there is no established safe limit). Hard chocolate and chocolate-coated sweets are also on the choking-hazard lists.
There is no infant serving form for this one — see the answer above.
Chocolate is on the AAP and CDC choking-hazard lists. Cut food into pieces no larger than half an inch, cut cylindrical foods into short thin strips rather than rounds, and cut small round foods into small pieces. Keep the highest-risk foods away until at least 4 years, judged on your own child.
Watch for diarrhea, rash, vomiting or hives after a new food. Offer one single-ingredient new food at a time and wait 3 to 5 days before the next one, so a reaction is easy to trace. The emergency signs are at the top of this page.