Candy for Babies? What Parents Should Know

You’ve probably heard the expression, “It’s like taking candy from a baby.” But should your baby have candy in the first place? Let’s talk about it.

Can Babies Have Candy?

According to the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, babies and toddlers under age 2 should avoid foods and drinks with added sugars altogether. That includes candy—no matter how small the piece or how sweet the moment.

Beyond the sugar concerns, candy is also a major choking hazard for little ones. Many types are hard, chewy, or sticky making them difficult to manage even for older toddlers with a full set of teeth. Since most children don’t develop all their primary teeth until around age 2 or 3, babies simply aren’t equipped to safely chew or swallow candy.

In short: candy isn’t safe or necessary for babies. There are plenty of better ways to satisfy a budding sweet tooth—without putting their health or safety at risk.

The Lowdown on Candy for Kids

Healthy habits begin early in life — starting early can make it easier to set the foundation for balanced choices as your child’s “normal.” 

If candy and processed foods aren’t “everyday treats" from a young age, kids may be a little less likely to overdue it when they start making independent food choices as they grow. 

But let’s be honest. The occasional sweet treat is a part of a healthy, balanced approach to eating. 

However, the average American child consumes a shocking 53 pounds of added sugar per year, with 31% of that sugar coming directly from sweet snacks like candy. Added sugar can contribute to all kinds of long-term health risks — added sugar consumption is a severe health concern. Offering your child healthy snacks, rather than sugary treats, is one way to stay on top of excessive sugar intake. 

When Can Toddlers and Children Safely Have Candy?

As kids grow, it’s natural for them to become curious about candy—especially around birthdays, holidays, and Halloween. But not all candy is safe for young children. From choking hazards to sugar overload, it’s important to choose age-appropriate options and set healthy boundaries around when (and what) they can enjoy.

Ages Two to Three

Children ages two to three typically don’t have the ability to safely chew sticky or hard candy, like caramel or mints. These types of candies pose a choking hazard, even if you’re closely supervising your child. Small, hard candies, like jelly beans, can be especially dangerous. 

Children ages two to three may be able to have candy that easily melts, like small pieces of chocolate or puffed candy. Cotton candy is one of the safest choices because it completely dissolves when it comes into contact with saliva. It will turn to liquid so quickly that you don’t need to be concerned about your child choking if you give them small puffs one at a time.

Ages Four and Up

By age four, your child will likely have all or most of their primary teeth and be able to chew well. 

It’s generally safe to allow four-year-olds to have lollipops, caramel, taffy, and jelly beans with supervision. Just be mindful of hard candy that’s meant to dissolve in the mouth, like jawbreakers — they could be dangerous if your child accidentally swallows them or attempts to bite them.

Use your best discretion when giving your child a new food for the first time, especially if that food has a tough texture or is difficult to chew. If you don’t feel comfortable giving a particular type of candy to your child or if you feel they won’t be able to eat it safely, reach for something else instead. 

What Are Healthy Alternatives to Candy for Toddlers?

Hear us out: what if you didn’t use candy as a fun snack? There are plenty of alternatives to candy that are just as fun to eat, but they do something that candy can’t — they provide your child with the vitamins and minerals they need to grow and thrive, and they contain little to no added sugar. 

If you want to keep some sweet treats in the house, consider using these alternatives as daily snacks.

100% Real Fruit Ice Pops

As more and more families shift towards healthier eating habits, healthier options are becoming more common in grocery stores. For example, you might find that the ice cream aisle of your local grocery store now has real fruit ice pops made without added sugar. 

Nutritionally, these pops are the same as fruit — they’re just as fun to eat as any other sweet treat on a stick.

If you can’t find real fruit ice pops in your local freezer section, it’s also relatively easy to make some fruit pops yourself. All you need is a popsicle mold for your freezer and 100% juice or some fresh or frozen fruit. 

If you opt for juice, just pour it into your molds and freeze — it’s that simple. Just be sure that you’re choosing 100% fruit juice with no added sugar. Juice cocktail products masquerade as real juice, but they’re nutritionally similar to candy in their sugar content.

If you opt for fresh or frozen fruit, toss your fruit into a blender, blend it up with small amounts of water until liquidy and smooth, then pour and freeze. It’s simple and yummy.

Freeze-Dried Fruit

Freeze-dried fruit is crunchy and tangy, and the crunch factor can make it a little more fun and interesting to eat than a bowl of fresh, sliced fruit. 

You can also use freeze-dried fruit to add a satisfying crunch to other foods, like yogurt or smoothies. Since freeze-dried fruit has a very long shelf life, it’s easy to keep stocked in your pantry and use on days when you may not have fresh fruit in the house.

Dark Chocolate-Covered Fruit

Dark chocolate-covered berries or bananas are a “best of both worlds” treat. You’re getting a little bit of dark chocolate, but it’s paired with a valuable source of vitamins and minerals. 

Chocolate-covered berries are easy to make at home. All you need to do is melt some dark chocolate chips in a double boiler on your stove or even in your microwave — ideally, choose dark chocolate with 90% cacao for the most health-supporting benefits. 

Dip the berries into your melted chocolate, let them cool in the fridge, and they’re ready to eat.

You can also turn dark chocolate-covered berries into a fun family experience by allowing your children to dip their own berries. As long as the chocolate isn’t too hot, it can be a safe and fun activity that gets the whole family in the kitchen together!

Yogurt Melts

Next time you’re at the grocery store, go to the baby food aisle — there just might be a treat hiding in plain sight that everyone in the family will love.Yogurt melts are typically meant for toddlers, but they’re surprisingly delicious. 

These freeze-dried pieces of yogurt are similar in size and shape to jumbo chocolate chips. They’re satisfyingly sweet, and their slightly crunchy texture makes them feel a little bit like candy. They come in a wide variety of fruit flavors, and you can mix several flavors together to make a rainbow assortment — kind of like a healthy alternative to those artificially flavored “taste the rainbow” candies.

You can also use them to top off parfaits or mix them into trail mix. They’re a great add-in to any recipe that calls for unbaked chocolate chips! Just be sure the variety you buy isn’t loaded with extra sugar!

The Wrap-Up on Candy for Babies

Avoid giving your baby foods or drinks with any added sugar until after they turn two. Instead, reach for freeze-dried fruits, fruit popsicles, or yogurt melts. 

With these ideas, you can keep candy off the menu and use nutritious sweet treats to steer your child away from excessive added sugar. When you’re working to build healthy habits for your little ones, Hiya has you covered with multivitamins made for kids.