Allergen note
Melon is not a common allergen. Some children with pollen allergies, especially to ragweed or grasses, get an itchy mouth or lips from raw melon; hives, facial swelling or vomiting need prompt medical advice.
How to serve
From 12 months, offer ripe melon of any kind, such as cantaloupe, honeydew or cassaba, with the rind and seeds removed, cut into bite-sized pieces or thin strips, or mashed into plain yogurt. A few tablespoons alongside a meal or snack is plenty for a toddler.
Preparation
Choose a melon that feels heavy for its size and gives slightly at the blossom end. Scrub the rind under running water before cutting, especially netted or wrinkled rinds, so germs aren't dragged into the flesh, then remove the seeds and rind, and refrigerate cut melon for up to 3 days.
Texture and choking risk
Firm, underripe melon and large chunks are harder for toddlers to chew, and wet pieces are slippery. Use soft, ripe flesh cut into small pieces or thin strips, remove every seed and all the rind, keep your child seated and always supervise.
Sources: cdc.gov · cdc.gov · healthychildren.org · healthychildren.org · nhs.uk · nhs.uk
Starting ages are typical guidance for healthy, full-term babies who show signs of readiness. Your paediatrician may advise differently, especially where there is a family history of allergy.
Track first tastes and reactions
Log when your child first tries melon, note any reaction and see it in the allergen tracker.
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