Grains Food Library
When can babies eat crackers?
Can babies have crackers?
Most crackers are best saved until about 12 months. Hard, brittle crackers can break into sharp shards that are hard for babies to manage, and many are high in salt. Before 12 months, thin puffed rice cakes or baby teething rusks that dissolve easily are safer choices from about 7–8 months.
How to serve crackers by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Skip crackers for now. At this age your baby eats smooth purees and mashes from a spoon, so offer iron-fortified cereal or oatmeal, or a thinned nut butter stirred into a smooth puree, instead.
7–8 months
Still skip regular crackers. If you want a crunchy option, offer a thin puffed rice cake or a baby teething rusk that melts quickly with saliva, or spread a thin layer of mashed avocado or thinned nut butter on a soft toast strip instead.
9–12 months
Keep using dissolvable options such as thin rice cakes. Soft toast strips, pancake fingers and soft tortilla pieces give grasping practice without the sharp shards of hard crackers.
12 months +
From 12 months, offer low-sodium whole-grain crackers that snap cleanly, one at a time, with baby seated upright. Topping crackers with a thin smear of cream cheese, hummus or mashed fruit softens them and slows eating.
Why it’s good
Whole-grain crackers can offer carbohydrates for energy, some fiber and B vitamins. Many crackers are heavily processed, salty and low in nutrients, so they are best as an occasional snack. Choose crackers with whole grains listed first and lower sodium.
Safety notes
- Hard, dry crackers can shatter into sharp pieces that stick in the throat. Avoid them before 12 months and supervise closely after.
- Check sodium on the label. Many crackers are salty, and babies and toddlers need very little added salt.
- Avoid crackers with whole seeds, nuts or large salt crystals on top, and skip goldfish-style or cheese crackers in big handfuls.
- Serve crackers one at a time to a seated child. Toddlers tend to stuff their mouths with small crunchy snacks.
- Crackers often contain wheat, dairy, sesame or soy. Read labels if your child has a food allergy.
Introduce crackers on its own, then keep it in
Most crackers contain wheat, a Top 9 allergen, and many also contain dairy, sesame, soy or egg. Introduce these allergens in simpler foods first, then read labels before offering crackers.
Crackers for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about crackers for babies and toddlers.
When can babies eat crackers?
Babies can have most crackers from about 12 months, when chewing skills are stronger. Before 12 months, thin puffed rice cakes and teething rusks that dissolve easily are safer than hard crackers from about 7–8 months.
Can babies have crackers?
Babies under 12 months are better off without hard crackers, which can break into sharp pieces. Toddlers can eat low-sodium whole-grain crackers as an occasional snack with close supervision.
Are crackers a choking hazard for babies?
Yes, crackers are a choking hazard for babies because hard, dry pieces can snap into sharp shards. Topping crackers with a soft spread and serving them one at a time to a seated toddler lowers the risk.
Are crackers a common allergen?
Crackers often contain common allergens, especially wheat, and sometimes dairy, sesame, soy or egg. Always read the ingredient list and introduce each allergen on its own first.
How do I serve crackers to a 6 month old?
Regular crackers are not recommended for a 6 month old. At 6 months, stick to smooth purees and mashes on a spoon, such as iron-fortified cereal; a thin puffed rice cake, a teething rusk that melts with saliva or a soft toast strip with a thin spread can come at 7–8 months.
Are rice cakes or puffs safer than crackers for babies?
Thin puffed rice cakes and baby puffs that dissolve quickly are generally safer than hard crackers for babies. Rice products can contain arsenic, so offer them as one of many grains rather than every day.
What are the healthiest crackers for toddlers?
The healthiest crackers for toddlers list a whole grain first, have little added sugar and are lower in sodium. Simple whole-grain, oat or seed-free crackers are good choices.
Are goldfish crackers okay for toddlers?
Small cheese crackers like goldfish are okay for toddlers over 12 months as an occasional snack. Serve a few at a time rather than a handful, and remember they are salty and contain wheat and dairy.
Can I soften crackers for my baby?
Crackers can be softened for a baby by spreading them with hummus, cream cheese or mashed fruit, or crushing them into fine crumbs over soft foods. Crushed crackers also work as a coating for baked fish or chicken.
The takeaway
- Most crackers are best saved until about 12 months.
- From 12 months, offer low-sodium whole-grain crackers that snap cleanly, one at a time, with baby seated upright.
- Choking risk is medium. Wheat is one of the Top 9 allergens: offer a small amount first, watch for a reaction, then keep it in the diet regularly.
Read next
Sources
This guide follows current advice from these organizations.
- Starting Solid Foods American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Hazards Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Prevention American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- What You Can Do to Limit Exposure to Arsenic U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- The Effects of Early Nutritional Interventions on the Development of Atopic Disease in Infants and Children Greer FR, Sicherer SH, Burks AW; American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2019;143(4):e20190281
Track every new food in your baby’s passport
Track the first 100 foods and the Top 9 allergens. 7 days free.
Recipes with crackers
More grains for babies
Updated November 2026. Reviewed by our dietitians. Based on AAP, CDC and NIAID guidance. Written for healthy, full-term babies; not a substitute for your pediatrician. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, feeding difficulties or a known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer). Always stay with your baby while they eat.