Pumpkin Seed

6 months old +:

Grind shell-less pumpkin seeds (small, green seeds, sometimes labeled as pepitas) in a food processor until completely fine and no large pieces remain. If you do not have a food processor, you can pound the seeds in a cloth with a hammer, a mortar and pestle, or the end of a wine bottle. To serve the ground seed, sprinkle some on yogurt, rice, quinoa, squash, or warm cereal. You can also roll slippery foods like sliced fruit in the ground seed, which adds texture that makes it easier for baby to pick up. Alternatively, thin out smooth pumpkin seed butter (honey-free) with water, breast milk, formula, or purees like applesauce and serve on its own or mix into other soft, scoopable foods like porridge or yogurt. You can also spread the thinned-out pumpkin seed butter very thinly on toast strips. Try serving with a drink in an open cup to help wash down any sticky pieces of food.

12 months old +:

Serve finely ground shell-less pumpkin seeds sprinkled onto yogurt, warm cereals, and other scoopable foods. You can also roll slippery foods like sliced fruit in the ground seed, which adds texture that makes it easier for the child to pick up. At this age, you can serve smooth pumpkin seed butter without thinning it out first; just make sure it’s thinly spread on other foods or thoroughly mixed into other foods, with no big clumps. Hold off on serving a spoonful of seed butter on its own, as thick globs of seed butter are sticky and difficult for young toddlers to manage in the mouth, qualities that can increase choking risk.

24 months old +:

Sometime after the second birthday, a child may be ready for whole, shell-less pumpkin seeds or pepitas if they have their first molars, developed advanced chewing and swallowing skills and are able to sit calmly and follow directions. To reduce choking risk, make sure the child is in a safe eating environment, seated, and engaged in the task of practicing. Start with one pumpkin seed at a time. Demonstrate placing the seed on your own molars and chew in a very exaggerated fashion. Explain to the child how your big, strong teeth are breaking down the seed. You can even open your mouth before swallowing to show them how it looks after being broken down. Coach the child to do the same. 

If the child has had substantial practice with shell-less pumpkin seeds or other similarly challenging foods, you can consider serving other kinds of pumpkin seeds, which have a white shell encasing the seed. These are even more challenging to break down with the molars, so offer one at a time at first and make sure to only serve them when a child is seated, still, and not distracted.