Allergen note
Flour tortillas contain wheat, a common allergen, and some brands add soy, milk or sesame; corn tortillas are made from corn dough, which is not a common allergen, though they may be produced alongside wheat. Check the label, and serve flour tortillas once wheat has been introduced on its own.
How to serve
From about 6 months, warm a soft tortilla, spread it thinly with mashed beans, avocado or a little melted pasteurized cheese, fold it like a quesadilla and cut finger-length strips. From 9 months, offer small bite-sized pieces; toddlers can try small soft tacos or rolled wraps cut into rounds. Tortillas can be salty, so choose lower-sodium ones.
Preparation
Warm tortillas in a dry pan, or wrapped in a damp towel in the microwave, so they are soft and pliable rather than crisp. For babies, choose plain, lower-sodium tortillas without added sugar, and fill them with soft, moist foods such as mashed beans, well-cooked scrambled egg or shredded chicken so the strips are easier to chew.
Texture and choking risk
Soft tortilla is chewy and can wad into a sticky clump or stick to the roof of the mouth, while hard taco shells and tortilla chips break into hard, sharp pieces. Serve thin strips with a moist filling, keep chips and hard shells for older toddlers who chew well, and always supervise.
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 tortilla, note any reaction and see it in the allergen tracker.
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