10 Key Foods To Avoid Feeding Your Baby
After introducing solid foods to your baby, the curiosity of introducing a variety of new textures and flavors may lead you to give foods that may be harmful to the baby. Here’s a list of foods to avoid feeding your baby.
1. Cow’s Milk
Unlike breast milk which has all the nutrients that a baby needs for proper growth and development, cow’s milk lacks the nutrients. In addition, it contains too many minerals and proteins that can strain the baby’s kidney and risk the baby suffering from intestinal bleeding. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid giving cow’s milk to your baby before one year.
2. Honey
Honey contains a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum which produces a toxin called botulinum, which, once ingested, can result in infant botulism. Muscle weakness, trouble breathing, weak cries, constipation, and inability to swallow are the main signs of the illness. It does not affect adults or older children because they have a mature digestive system that can eject the bacteria before it can cause harm. Therefore, avoiding giving honey during your baby’s first year is advisable, as this will provide the time needed for their intestines to mature
3. Nuts and seeds
Whole nuts are not recommended before five years to avoid choking. However, you can give peanut butter, and other nut spreads once the baby reaches six months to prevent any allergic reaction. If there is a history of allergic nuts responses in the family, they can be avoided and introduced later after one year.
4. Raw or not well-done eggs
You should avoid feeding raw eggs to prevent salmonella infection. After six months, the baby can be given eggs, but they should be well cooked (Yolk & white are solid).
5. Berry and Citrus Fruits
I recommend waiting until the baby is past six months before introducing these citrus fruits like orange and lemon juice to avoid any allergic reaction.
6. Fish and shellfish
Avoid feeding fish and shellfish to your baby before six months because they are notorious for causing allergies and food poisoning
7. Salt
Children below one year should not have salt put in their food. Too much salt can cause dehydration due to the straining of their growing kidneys. Avoid smoked and processed foods like smokies and sausages due to their high salt content. Babies up to six months should have less than 1 g of salt a day, and from seven months should have a maximum of 1g of salt in a day.
8. Sugar
Sugar is addictive, leads to tooth decay, and can lead to fussy eating once introduced early in life. Therefore, I would recommend that unless the food is tart, don’t add sugar.
9. Unpasteurized cheese
Due to the high risk of Listeria Infection, I wouldn’t recommend unpasteurized cheese in baby food.
10. Wheat-based foods
All wheat, barley, and rye products contain Gluten, a protein notorious for causing allergies. Hence it’s good to avoid it for at least eight months, and even then, observe closely to note any allergic reaction and withdraw the food from the menu.
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