Can i give chia seeds to my 1 year old?

What the evidence says

Yes, you can usually give chia seeds to a 1-year-old, but how you prepare them matters a lot. Chia seeds are tiny, but dry seeds can stick in a child's mouth or throat, and they can also swell up when they get wet, the same way dried peas or beans do.

Canadian and international safety guides list seeds as a common choking hazard for young children. Health Canada's partner site HealthLink BC warns that dried peas and beans expand once they soak up liquid, which can block a child's airway even more than the dry food would. The NHS and Australia's Raising Children Network both say seeds should be chopped, flaked, or avoided whole for young children, since whole nuts and seeds are risky until around age 4 or 5.

The safest way to offer chia to a toddler is already soaked or cooked, not dry and loose. Letting chia sit in liquid, like milk, yogurt, or a smoothie, for at least 10 to 15 minutes lets it turn into a soft gel. This texture is much easier and safer for a toddler to swallow than dry seeds, which could be inhaled before they get wet.

Avoid sprinkling dry chia seeds directly onto food a toddler will pick up with fingers, and avoid handing over a spoonful of dry chia. Small amounts of soaked chia mixed into porridge, pudding, or a smoothie are a reasonable way to add fibre and healthy fats to your child's diet.

As with any new food, watch your child closely while they eat, keep them sitting upright, and introduce only small amounts at first. If you're unsure, your child's doctor or a dietitian can help you decide how to fit chia into your toddler's meals.