When can my baby have ice cubes?

The BabyCenter Editorial Team

Though it may seem like a good idea to let your child suck on a piece of ice to ease teething pain
or cool down on a hot day, keep ice away from your child until he's about 4 years old. That's
primarily because ice cubes are a choking hazard. They're slippery and just the right size to get
stuck in a child's throat.

And if the ice cube has sharp edges, it can cut the inside of your child's mouth. Ice can also stick
to the tongue and insides of the mouth, causing a lot of discomfort. (Ice doesn't melt as fast as
you might think.)

Even if your child is old enough to have ice, don't let him chew on it. Habitually crunching on
ice can damage teeth by wearing down the enamel and even causing tiny fractures in the teeth.

If you're thinking about giving your child ice to soothe teething pain, keep a teething ring in the
refrigerator and offer that to your child instead. Alternatively, you can chill a clean, damp
washcloth in the refrigerator before letting your child suck on it.