Pocket Knives

Why do Gerber Graduates teething biscuits and crackers say they are for toddlers only?

All the development books, articles, etc say that babies should be able to feed themselves a cracker by 7 months, but all the baby crackers (Gerber Graduates, etc) say they are for crawlers and toddlers only. My son is 7 months today and can't crawl, but he certainly seems able to feed himself a cracker! Are these things safe for him if I let him eat them only in his high chair and supervise him? Thanks!

Public Comments

You need to look on the side of the cans/bottles again. They have a key they will say either "crawler," or "preschooler." It explains if the food is appropriate for a child who is sitting up and crawling, or one that is walking, etc. EDIT: The child does not need to be doing everything that is listed on the container, but one of them. The crawler food is usually easier to chew, or dissolves quickly.
Well.. I started to give my daughter who is 10 months old now the gerber graduates when she was 6 months as she already sat up and crawled but I am guessing it is ebcause of choking hazards ... She loved them and the biter biscuts really helped us with teething
Yes, it is fine. My son is also 7 months old and has been eating them, here and there, since 6 months old. He is also not TOTALLY crawling just yet. He is getting on all fours and rocking back and fourth, so he is definitely ready. I tend to not pay so much attention to what the age recommendations are, but more as to what he seems ready for. Every baby is different. He will be supervised by you, so he will be just fine.
It's a marketing gimmick, to get you buying 'baby food' past infancy.
My kids gummed those things as soon as they could hold them. Cookie all over the face and goo between the little fingers. What a wonderful memory. Seven months is old enough to gnaw away and get a tooth. <smile>
I agree, what a silly way to classify things. Some babies are late crawlers, some babies are early ones, and it is unrelated to their ability to eat any given food. I have read in several places (for example, http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com) that you should wait until 8-10 months to offer crackers, at least partly because of the wheat content and the allergy potential. However, many people give them earlier with no problems. They can also be a choking hazard, but obviously you are planning on supervising him. So I would say yes, it is safe for him to eat them.