Tangerine

Peel the tangerine completely and remove all seeds and the white pith. Separate into large segments and gently squeeze each segment to break the membrane, making it softer for gumming. Serve one or two segments at a time, cut in half lengthwise if they are too big for your baby to hold comfortably.

• Always supervise your baby while eating.
• Offer segments that are easy to grasp with a palmar grip.
• Check for and remove any seeds before serving.
• Start with just a few segments to see how your baby reacts.
• Wash the tangerine thoroughly before peeling to remove any residue.

Peel the tangerine and remove seeds, but you can leave some of the pith for added texture. Serve whole segments or cut them into smaller, bite-sized pieces that your baby can practice picking up with a pincer grasp. Encourage self-feeding by placing pieces on their tray.

• Introduce smaller pieces to develop fine motor skills.
• Mix tangerine pieces with other soft foods like oatmeal.
• Monitor for any difficulty with chewing the membrane.
• Use tangerines as a finger food during meals or snacks.
• Keep portions small to avoid overwhelming your baby.

Your toddler can now handle whole, peeled tangerine segments with the membrane intact. You can also incorporate tangerines into meals by adding them to salads, yogurt, or smoothies. Continue to remove seeds and ensure pieces are an appropriate size to prevent choking.

• Encourage your toddler to peel tangerines themselves under supervision.
• Add tangerine slices to lunchboxes for a healthy snack.
• Combine with other fruits for a colorful fruit salad.
• Use tangerine zest in baking for added flavor (in moderation).
• Teach your child to spit out any seeds they find.