Food Size - 15 Month Old

Gosh, I really can't remember when I stopped cutting things up really small for my daughter, but it was probably around that age. If he hasn't had a ton of finger food experience up until now, I would go by his cues. If he doesn't care that you cut up his food, I would do it. Is he using a fork or spoon yet? If he is (forks are a bit easier at this age) then maybe he can fork stuff into his mouth and it can be a little bigger piece. I do remember though that this was about the age (maybe a few months older) that my daughter started to really like whole fruits. She would start eating the peaches, plums, and apples right out of the grocery bag if I wasn't looking! LOL! I will say that it was kind of a wasteful period b/c she could never finish a whole fruit but I suppose it was worth it to foster that love of fruit and feeling of independence! Like I said, monitor him a bit more closely and figure out what he can/can't do and what he does/doesn't like when it comes to eating. I'm glad he's on the ball now though! ;)

I've never heard cheerio sized, and I've given my baby a sandwich cut into fours and maybe then cut the 1/4 into a triangle. I think the key is to make sure they are chewing everything up. He could take a big bite of applesauce, but you wouldn't want him taking the same sized bite of a meatball since you have to chew it more. Use your best judgement.

I am not sure there is a real rule w/ food size. I mean of course avoid typical hazards. My DD hates that I cut stuff small, she is 19 mo, she would much rather eat things whole and bite and chew them. I dont like it but she eats better when i do that LOL. when I first gave her grilled chz I did cut it up and she liked it fine that way, as she notices that we dont cut our food she has started to want to eat like us and refuse food that is cut too small, she eats great all kinds of meat, fish, fruit, veggies so I cant complain really. I personally would start off small and if they can handle it, they chew well, then you can go larger. somethings might actually be easier to eat larger for them too so that is a factor also. good luck, I am sure you will do just fine. xo

go by your child... even a 2 year old can choke. Even an adult can.
Feed your child the size food that HE can handle.... mince things up. He is young. Don't compare your child to others....
"Hard" foods are harder to chew, and can be a choking hazard... as can gummy foods.
If a food is too large, just cut it up. Or cook it so it is soft.
See how HE does....

And, babies/toddlers do not have automatic impulse control... and they do not know how much to stuff in their mouths and often over-stuff their mouths... so YOU have to supervise eating... and the amounts they stuff in their mouths.
I taught my kids, to spit out food that is too much in their mouths or they can choke. They need help learning that... it is a learned thing. Nothing to do with how many teeth they have. Toddlers just tend to over stuff their mouths.. and don't always chew well....
so gauge your child... and always supervise eating... for safety sake.

Sure, if you feed him a grilled cheese sandwich, there is nothing wrong with cutting it up... in bite sized pieces first. And their fine motor skills may prevent them from feeding themselves a whole sandwich... gracefully.

When my son was 2..... he over stuffed his mouth, he bit off more than he can chew... and I gauged him.

all the best,
Susan

I would cut things up into small bite size. It depends on the child and the food. I think I started cutting the sandwich into small squares when she was younger. I can't remember what age we started eating sandwiches. My little one started eating fruit at 9 months. I was crazy enough back then to cut the blueberries in half, but they had skins and she was young. I regret cutting the skin off apples and cutting the crust, because now she won't eat with them on and she is capable. I used to cut up cheese but now she wants the whole cheese stick. I say start small and work your way up.

I cut my kids food until about age 2 or so depending on what it was, like grapes I think they were 3 before I let them pop one in their mouth......go with your gut. If he is handling the pineapple with no problem than that would work, if it seems to be too much in his mouth, then cut it.....just read his face as he chews and swallows to see if he is chewing it thoroughly and if he is swallowing easily...my motto, is when in doubt cut it.....