Posted by TinyTotties on February 24 2011
Having a baby can be stressful. All of a sudden you are responsible for this little person. However, babies are still developing and unlike adults they can’t eat any foods that they like. Some foods can cause chocking hazards and others can make your baby very sick. Here are 10 foods that every parents needs to steer clear from when feeding baby.
Honey
Most parents know that they shouldn’t give their child honey before they are a year old. However, many parents do not know why. Basically honey contains a variety of spores that can lead to botulism. Adults with a strong immune system won’t have any problems but since your child is still developing their immune system honey can cause serious health problems and even death.
Cows Milk
Babies drink milk all of the time so it might seem weird to think that they can’t drink cows milk. Cows milk has different proteins that your child will not be able to digest. It is best to continue to give your child breast milk or formula until they are a little older to give their bodies time to develop. Breast milk and formula have the nutrients that your child needs and can easily be broken down by their little tummies.
Maple Syrup
Did you know that maple syrup and even corn syrup contains the same botulism inducing spores that honey does? Make sure that you don’t let your child eat maple syrup until they are at least a year old.
Unpasteurized Products
Unpasteurized milk products and juices can contain many different types of bacteria including Salmonella and E. coli. Make sure that you only give your child pasteurized juices.
Soft Cheeses
Your baby can easily start enjoying firm cheeses like cheddar and mozzarella when they start to eat solid foods. However you should avoid giving them soft cheese like feta, brie, gorgonzola, blue cheese and Mexican style cheeses. These cheeses have been known to carry the Listeria bacteria which can lead to serious symptoms and death in young children.
Eggs
If you want to feed eggs to your baby it is best to only feed them the yolk. Egg whites can cause allergic reactions in some children so it best to wait a little while before introducing them into the diet. Always make sure that any foods that contain egg are completely cooked.
Nuts and Peanuts
Since nuts and peanuts are highly allergenic it is a good idea to wait until your child is a little older and eating a variety of other foods before you start letting them eat nuts and peanuts. This also includes nut and peanut butters.
Gummy and Chewy Candies
Soft and gummy candies easily become a choking hazard. Make sure that you avoid feeding your child gummies, marshmallows and other chewy foods until they are able to fully chew and swallow them. It is always wise to monitor your children during meal times just in case.
Sugary Foods
Babies need nutrients, not sugar. Try to avoid sweetened and sugary foods as much as possible. You want your child to learn to enjoy all types of foods, not just those that are sweetened. Teach them to eat a healthy diet while they are young will be beneficial now and in the future.
Oranges, Lemons and Grapefruit
Children under a year old can be sensitive to citrus fruits. Always check with your pediatrician to find out advice about when to start introducing these foods.
Your child’s diet is very important. Make sure that you expose them to new foods slowly and that you have a variety of different foods for them to eat. The more foods that they learn to enjoy the healthier their diet will be as they grow up.
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