Can i give hemp hearts to my 1 year old?

What the evidence says

Hemp hearts are the soft, shelled inside part of hemp seeds. They are different from whole hemp seeds, which have a hard outer shell. Because they're already hulled, hemp hearts are small and soft, more like a fine grain than a hard nut or seed.

One thing parents often worry about is THC, the chemical in cannabis that causes a high. In Canada, hemp seed and hemp seed oil products sold as food or natural health products have to follow rules that keep THC extremely low, so eating them as directed is not expected to expose a child to meaningful amounts of THC. That said, one published case report described a child who became unwell after cannabinoid exposure linked to hemp seed oil, so products should always be a standard food-grade brand, stored safely, and not a homemade or unregulated extract.

For choking, general Canadian and American feeding guidance lists dried seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds as choking risks for babies because they are hard and can lodge in the throat. Hemp hearts are much softer and smaller, more like a seed-sized grain, so they are usually mixed into yogurt, oatmeal, or mashed foods rather than served alone by the spoonful, which lowers the risk further.

As with any new food, it's sensible to introduce hemp hearts in a small amount at first and watch for any reaction, since any seed or plant food can occasionally cause an allergic response, though this is uncommon with hemp.

Overall, mixed into soft food and given in small quantities, hemp hearts are widely used as a first food by many families, but because no dietitian or pediatric body has issued a specific statement on them, it is worth mentioning to your child's doctor or a dietitian, especially if there is a family history of food allergies.