Cucumber

Offer a large cucumber half that has been cut in half again lengthwise with the skin on. This "boat" shape is easy for baby to hold and move around the mouth on their own, which builds skill and awareness of how the mouth works. Leaving the skin on helps reduce choking risk by making the food less slippery, easier for baby to hold, and more difficult to bite off pieces from. If you feel comfortable, you can also serve a whole Persian cucumber, a smaller variety also known as the mini-cucumber, with the rounded ends cut off.

Alternatively, serve grated cucumber mixed into scoopable foods like yogurt, or offer long, wide rectangles (thinly sliced) of large cucumber with the skin on or off. The slices should be thick enough that they do not flop over as baby holds them. To help baby get a hold of the rectangle, hold it vertically in the air in front of baby and let them try to grab it. If baby is able to bite off a big piece, stay calm and let baby work with it. If necessary, baby may spit, gag, or cough the piece out, which are all perfectly normal at this stage.

Worried about the seeds? Try not to be. Cucumber seeds are not a choking hazard and because they are mixed into the flesh of the cucumber, there is a low risk of aspiration or choking.

Once baby has a working pincer grasp (where the tips of the thumb and index finger meet), offer thin half-moon slices, or make small, flat pieces by cutting the half-moons in half again. Removing the skin can help increase consumption, although it’s not necessary to remove it, and the seeds are not a cause for concern. You can also continue to serve grated cucumber or a large cucumber cut in half lengthwise, skin still on, for biting and tearing practice.

If you have a meal that contains thin rounds of cucumber, feel free to share them with baby. You likely won’t see much consumption when serving these thin rounds, but if the family often eats cucumbers served this way, sharing a slice is a nice way to let baby explore the flavors of the family meal. Keeping the rounds thick enough that they do not become floppy will encourage biting and discourage the child from stuffing the whole piece of food in the mouth. If baby does put the whole slice in their mouth, give them a minute to work with the food and then, if needed, start coaching baby how to spit it out.

Serve cucumber in thin rounds, thin half-moons, and long thin rectangular slices, either with or without the skin. Hold off on serving bite-sized chunks or spears of cucumber (which can be broken into chunks) at this age, as these shapes pose an increased choking risk.

Explore a variety of cuts, either with or without the skin: thin rectangular slices, thin rounds, thin half-moons, or cut the half-moons in half again. If the toddler has had experience with biting and tearing, you can consider offering whole Persian or mini cucumbers with the rounded ends cut off, or long spears cut from a larger cucumber with the tapered ends cut off. Cutting off the tapered ends of the spear (which are closer in size to the child’s airway) can reduce the choking risk. Coach the child to take small bites by modeling how it is done: once you have their attention, slowly take a bite and chew with your teeth in an exaggerated way so the child can watch and learn. Make sure to maintain a safe eating environment, and end the activity if the child is distracted or not staying seated. Hold off on serving bite-sized cubes or chunks of cucumber at this age, as this shape requires significant grinding ability to break down. Flatter pieces continue to pose less choking risk.