Foods and Drinks to Limit or Avoid for Toddlers Aged 13 to 18 Months

What should really be avoided at this age?

A long list of banned foods is not needed for every toddler. Focus on foods that are unsafe, nutritionally unsuitable, or likely to cause choking.

Avoid raw or unpasteurized milk products and caffeine. Foods with added sugar are best left out of the routine diet for children under two.

Many other foods can be part of family meals when prepared and served safely.

Why avoid unpasteurized products?

Raw milk and products made from it can carry harmful bacteria that cause serious illness in young children.

Choose pasteurized milk, yogurt, and cheese. Check package labels, including for homemade foods made with dairy.

If you are unsure whether a product is pasteurized, choose a clearly labeled alternative.

What about sugary foods and drinks?

CDC guidance advises avoiding added sugars for children younger than 24 months. This includes many sweetened yogurts, flavored milks, soft drinks, and sweets.

Frequent sweet drinks and snacks can displace more nourishing foods and contribute to tooth decay.

Sugar naturally present in whole fruit is different from sugar added during processing. Offer fruit rather than using sweet drinks as a substitute.

Can toddlers have caffeine?

Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, energy drinks, and many teas are not suitable routine drinks for toddlers.

There is no nutritional need for caffeine at this age, and it can interfere with sleep or cause unwanted effects.

Offer water when your child is thirsty. Plain milk can be part of meals after 12 months if it suits your child.

Is fruit juice completely forbidden?

Not necessarily, but whole fruit is usually a better everyday choice. Juice can add sugar without the same fiber as whole fruit.

If you choose to offer juice, keep it limited and serve it with a meal in an open cup. It should not replace water or varied foods.

Follow your local pediatric guidance for age-appropriate limits; recommendations may differ by country.

Which foods can pose choking risks?

Whole nuts, spoonfuls of thick nut butter, popcorn, hard sweets, and large or tough pieces can be choking hazards for young children.

Round foods such as grapes or small tomatoes, sausages, and firm raw vegetables need particular care. Cut, cook, mash, or otherwise adapt them to your child’s skills.

Have your child sit upright and supervise closely throughout eating. A safe preparation does not remove the need for supervision.

Is honey still prohibited?

The botulism warning applies to children younger than 12 months. A child aged 13 to 18 months is past that age threshold.

Honey is still a source of sugar, so it need not become a regular sweetener. Keep sweet foods occasional and focus on a varied diet.

Do not describe honey as poisonous for a toddler over 12 months solely because of the infant botulism guidance.

When is individual advice important?

A diagnosed food allergy, swallowing difficulty, growth concern, or medical condition may call for a tailored eating plan.

Repeated coughing or choking at meals, or difficulty managing textures, deserves clinical assessment.

Hives, facial or lip swelling, wheezing, or breathing problems after a food may signal an allergic reaction. Seek urgent help for breathing difficulty.

What can you do today?

Check that milk and dairy products are pasteurized, and make water the usual drink between meals.

Review foods for hard, round, sticky, or large shapes. Change how they are prepared when needed instead of banning every food in that category.

If your child has a health condition or suspected allergy, ask their clinician for a specific plan rather than relying on a general list.

Keep meals supervised and seated, and seek help for persistent feeding or swallowing concerns.