It is exciting to introduce new foods to your baby. However, not all kinds of foods are suitable for babies. Some foods may cause a choking hazard to young eaters, while others may pose health risks. Let’s take a look at which foods to avoid feeding babies and young children. 

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Salted foods

Babies aged between 7-12 months need 0.37grams of sodium each day. Experts say that naturally healthy and full-term infants can get this requirement from breast milk or formula. So, you don’t need to add salt to your baby’s food. Remember, if a baby consumes extra salt, it exposes them to excess sodium, which is not good at all for their immature kidneys.

Make sure you don’t add salt to your baby's food or cooking water and avoid stock cubes or gravy because they are most often high in salt.

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Besides these, parents should refrain from feeding readymade, highly processed, high-sodium foods, such as chips, crisps, fries, bacon, and sausages. Accessive amounts of sodium or salt can create hyperosmolarity in the baby which the kidneys of the baby may not handle .

Refined sugar/ Sugary foods

Research has shown that it is not wise to add sugar to the food of babies under 24 months. Experts also say that babies shouldn’t eat only sugar or as a part of the food. Because sugar adds additional calories to the diet of babies which can cause tooth decay over time. 

Many parents tend to add refined sugar to their baby’s milk. Babies who take sugar during the months of infancy and early childhood may develop a preference for sweet foods. 

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Babies who prefer sugary foods are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity later in life.

Honey

Honey is a great natural sweetener; rich in minerals and antioxidants. It is considered a healthy alternative to sugar. 

However, babies under 12 months shouldn’t consume honey due to the infant botulism risk created by the spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Infant botulism in babies under 1 is a serious and rarely fatal illness that can cause constipation, weakened sucking, poor appetite, lethargy, and even potentially pneumonia and dehydration.

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Adding to these, honey contains significant amounts of sugar, which poses the same health risks as refined sugar does upon overconsumption. 

Therefore, parents shouldn’t feed honey to their babies under 12 months.

Cow’s milk

Cow’s milk is great for adults. Whole cow milk provides several nutrients, However, it is not suitable for babies under 1 year. 

Babies should not consume cow's milk as it can be hard for them to digest. 

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Besides, cow's milk doesn't have all the required nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin E that a baby needs to grow and develop during his or her first year.

The baby usually develops allergic reactions and as cow’s milk is allergic, you should avoid it for your baby. 

Moreover, cow’s milk has heavy proteins and minerals that put undue stress on a baby’s immature kidneys. These proteins can irritate the baby’s digestive system lining, causing occult bleeding, and increasing the risk of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) over time.

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Cheese

You can feed your babies some types of cheese as it is a good source of calcium, protein, and vitamins. 

But babies should not be fed mold-ripened soft cheeses including brie, goat cheese, or blue cheese; because these types of cheeses have a higher risk of carrying listeria (bacteria). 

Cheeses that are made from unpasteurized milk carry the extra risk of listeria, and babies and young children should not consume these foods.

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Fruit juice

Fruit juice contains calories but none of the fat, protein, calcium, zinc, vitamin D, or fiber that babies need. Taking too much juice can cause tooth decay, diarrhea, and other chronic tummy troubles.

Whole nuts and peanuts

Parents shouldn’t give whole nuts and peanuts to children under 5 years old. These foods are not suitable for the digestion system of young children. 

However, you can give crushed, ground, or smooth nut or peanut butter to your baby from around 6 months old.

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But if your baby has food allergies or other allergies in your family, talk to doctor before introducing nuts and peanuts to your baby’s food menu. 

Raw and lightly cooked eggs

You can give eggs to your baby from around 6 months. Hen’s egg is suitable for babies and young children. But don’t feed them raw and lightly cooked eggs. Cook the egg as long as both the white and yolk become solid. 

Refined grains

Nutritionist says that all carbs are not equally nutritious. 

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Complex carbs provide naturally-occurring nutrients that are stripped during the refining process and ultimately they turn into whole grains white. 

Whole grains are also rich in fiber to keep blood sugar steady. So avoid refined grains and opt for 100 percent whole-grain pasta, bread, cereal, rice, and crackers.

Raw vegetables and fruits

You should avoid giving babies raw vegetables and fruits to eat. 

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For example, baby carrots, celery, corn, and green peas may create choking hazards for babies. However, babies can eat these vegetables when they are thoroughly cooked and properly softened. 

Babies can eat raw fruits like Berries when they are cut into small pieces. 

Sticky foods

Babies should avoid sticky foods like raw jelly cubes, chewy fruits, snacks, marshmallows, and a dollop of peanut butter. These foods stick to the mouth, so it is difficult for babies to swallow them. Experts recommend avoiding these foods for young children until they are four years old.

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Rice drinks

Rice is a common grain that is used as a supportive food for babies. But when it comes to rice drinks like rice milk, experts recommend children under five years of age shouldn’t have rice milk as a substitute for breast milk or infant formula. You need to avoid rice drinks as they may have high amounts of inorganic arsenic, which can affect the cognitive development of babies over time.

Bottom Line

Breast milk or formula is the mainstay of a baby's diet in the first year of life. Babies who are older than six months need to be exposed to foods from different food groups.

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However, as the digestive systems of babies under one year are still developing, parents need to consult a pediatrician to get a list of safe foods for babies. So far, we have discussed 12 types of foods to avoid giving infants, babies, and young children. Hope it helps!