Baby Foods To Avoid

There are some baby foods to avoid... especially at the beginning of baby’s solid food journey. Although your baby may want to eat everything they see, this is not necessarily a good idea. 

The wrong foods can easily bring on food allergies and other avoidable disorders.

Have you ever been at a family gathering with your baby? 

Everyone seems to know what is best for your baby. They all want to feed the baby, but some of the things they try to give the baby can do more harm than good. If any of the “no-no” foods are around, don’t be afraid to tell family and friends that your baby can’t have it.

So, what are the baby foods to avoid? 

Frequently found

Several common foods can cause food allergies in babies. This list includes eggs, cow’s milk, dairy products, soy, peanuts, shellfish, citrus fruit, and wheat. 

Stay away from these foods as long as possible. After age three, baby should be on safe ground for introducing these foods one at a time.

If baby experiences an allergy to a particular food, get rid of it. The allergy may not be severe and baby may outgrow it. But don’t take any chances. Severe allergies can cause an anaphylactic reaction.

Dairy products

Dairy products can be dangerous because of the presence of harmful bacteria. Pasteurization has eliminated the majority of these organisms from cheeses, milk, butter, and eggs. But, in protein foods, could still cause a reaction in baby. So, introduce only a little at a time when the time is right... usually after at least one year.

Foods that have not gone through the pasteurization process are not safe for baby. 

Buying juices and foods at stands, orchards, and outdoor venues are not good for baby. Some apple orchards sell non-pasteurized apple juice and cider. This might not be risky for adults, but our systems can handle it better than baby’s.

Honey

Honey, as sweet as it is, is another baby food to avoid. 

Honey is a natural sweetener that should not be given to baby under any circumstances. Raw honey, straight from the honeycomb, contains Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism... a severe form of food poisoning. 

A baby that eats raw honey can develop botulism. Parents should be aware of all foods that have honey in them and avoid those as well.

Botulism is a form of food poisoning. And if baby ends up with this nasty illness, he or she will develop a case of constipation, lethargy, lack of appetite, and muscle weakness. The bacteria can cause muscle paralysis, which in severe cases can lead to death.

Size of food pieces

Avoid all large pieces of food, regardless of the kind. The rule of thumb for baby is small pieces of food. The smaller the food the better. 

Others may be tempted to give baby a piece of cracker or hot dog slices, but don’t give in. 

Pieces of food that are too large can cause a choking hazard. Crackers and chips have sharp edges that could cut baby’s gums or get stuck in their throat when not chewed well.

There are relatively few baby foods to avoid that could potentially harm your baby. Of course, there are many things baby can rather eat. A few guidelines can be found at: What solid baby food should my child be eating?

Omitting these foods will keep baby safer and avoid possible food allergies or worse. As parents we all want what is best for our baby and a good place to start is with the foods they eat.

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