Which foods should I avoid?

Some foods are not suitable for young babies as they may cause health problems or present a choking hazard; examples of these foods include:

• Salt: the kidneys are not developed enough to cope with salt so avoid salty foods such as bacon.
• Sugar: try not to give your baby foods that are high in sugar; this will damage their teeth and encourage them to get used to eating sugary foods, which can contribute to health issues, including tooth decay, gum disease, diabetes and obesity in the future.
• Nuts: nuts can be dangerous because they can cause children to choke; doctors recommend avoiding whole nuts until the child is 5; crushed nuts should be ok before this time. If there is a history of nut allergies in the family, it may be wise to avoid giving your child nuts.
• Raw shellfish: this has a high risk of food poisoning
• Raw eggs: make sure eggs are cooked thoroughly to prevent food poisoning
• Low fat foods (and low calories versions of foods): babies should be given full-fat foods because their stomachs are small and they need lots of calories while they are growing.
• Some types of fish: fish including marlin, shark and swordfish are high in mercury and could harm your baby’s health.
• Cow’s milk: avoid giving your baby cow’s milk until your baby is 12 months old (you can use it in cooking at 6 months)

If you have a family history of allergies (nuts or dairy products, for example), talk to your GP before you introduce foods that may cause your baby to have an allergic reaction.

Weaning and Moving onto Solid Foods:

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• Weaning and Moving onto Solid Foods
• Which foods should I try first?
• How much food should I be giving my baby?
• Which foods should I avoid?
• Tips for mums with fussy eaters
• Baby-led Weaning

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