Lollipops and Toddlers?

Question

This is only a curiosity question so please no smart remarks.

My brother asked me today at what age can a baby/toddler have a lollipop.

I have no idea, so please some suggestions =)

Answer 1

Well, when my daughter was under a year, I'd let her suck on a ring pop while in her highchair for a few minutes, and I kept it wrapped in the freezer between times. She was about 14 months old when we gave her a dum dum from the bank while we were in the grocery store, and she ate the stick! Not the lollipop, the stick! Lol. My friend and I were debating what ingredients we needed for dinner, and I heard a clunk, she had dropped the top and the stick was nowhere to be found. Lol. And yes, she passed it, so I knew she was fine. So we stick to ring pops for now, at 20 months, we buy a pack of four at the dollar store and it'll last months if we ration it. Plus they always come in a holiday shape or flavor suitable for easter baskets, halloween,xmas stockings.  Just always supervise and be prepared to rinse them off a lot.

Good luck!  

Answer 2

personally, I think if your child can chew food on their own, than it's "safe."    Only because at least by now they understand more about food, rather than a younger child that still puts stuff in their mouth out of habit or curiosity.    For me though, I put off till they were at least 2 years old.  safety pops, and dum dums, anything bigger than that is not only a choking  hazard, but is a sticky mess waiting to happen!  lil ones are pesty enough about their faces and hands being washed, its a whole new story when their fingers are glued together with ick.    

Answer 3

I can't remember exactly when my daughter first had a lollipop, I think sometime after she turned 1.  She didn't have any problems with it.  I think the key is not to just give it to your child unsupervised and make sure they sit down and eat it, no running around.

Answer 4

I let my daughter have one around 10 months BUT i held it for her and it was a dum dum and she didn't have much. Now that she's 19 months old she only has sugar free pops with me sitting with her. She doesn't really like sweets (sept for M&Ms--- her potty treat) and i ran out of her sugar free ones and so i gave her one that had sugar when she asked for one. She took one l**k gave me a horrible face and said mama icky.

Answer 5

I wouldn't give a kid one until about 4.Even then there have been cases of the candy slipping off the stick/handle.

Truthfully, they don't need candy! tell him to give the kid carrot sticks.

Answer 6

Two years with safety pops (they handle is a ring instead of a stick) and sitting down. Explain that it doesn't go in their hair or on the floor, sticks go in the trash, and you dont' swallow it, etc.

Although I dont' recommend giving a lollipop to a toddler - sugar rushes are a bad idea, and I've heard that there's some speculation about red dyes bringing out ADHD

Answer 7

I suppose anytime after they hit a year, but I would ALWAYS exercise caution. A child at ANY age can choke on one, so I would say never unattended until they hit at least 5 yrs.

Answer 8

Safety pops are ok around 18 months.  Dum Dums are usually around 2 years old.  They say that children under three shouldn't have hard candy but then pediatricians will turn around and give a 2 year old a dumdum sucker so who knows.  My boys would suck on mine at a year old but i wouldn't actually give them their own.

Answer 9

I think they would need to be at least 12 months old and would need supervision to make sure some didn't get broken off and swallowed whole and definitely no walking around with one hanging out of the toddler's mouth.

I'm sure that any dentist would say - NEVER!

Answer 10

I personally do not give my children them until they are at least 2 years old and then I only give them sparingly.  

Answer 11

i think around 2 in a half

that when i had my first lollipop

Answer 12

Due to the choking potential, i'd wait until 18mo to 2 years.  At that point, you'll want to keep it to a minimum;  kids get too much sugar now days IMO.