For the first few months of life, your baby will get all the nutrition she needs either from breast milk or baby formula. Once your baby is between 4 and 6 months old, she will be ready to try solid foods, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Start with simple foods such as single-grain cereals and gradually increase new foods every two or three days. Although you will have plenty of new foods to choose from, some foods are unsafe for babies and should be completely avoided until they are older.
Cow's Milk
Babies should drink only breast milk or infant formula for their first year of life, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends. This is because milk is high in minerals and protein, which are hard on a baby's kidneys. It is also hard for babies to fully digest cow's milk. You can introduce cow's milk after your baby's first birthday, but stick to vitamin D whole milk until your child is at least 2.
Honey
Honey should never be given to a child younger than 1 because of the potential for it to contain spores of a dangerous bacteria called Clostridium botulinum, according to BabyCenter.com. While the bodies of older children and adults can prevent the bacteria from growing and reproducing, a baby's immune system is not yet developed enough to fight it off. If the bacterial spores are allowed to grow and reproduce, your infant could develop botulism.
Choking Hazards
Foods that pose a choking hazard to your baby should be avoided until she is older. Possible culprits include small foods such as nuts, popcorn, raisins and candies such as jelly beans and hard candies as well as foods that have not been cut up into small enough pieces, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Foods such as marshmallows also should be avoided because they can get stuck in a baby's throat.
Sticky Foods
Sticky foods such as peanut butter and other nut butters can be difficult for babies to eat because they stick to the mouth. These types of foods should be avoided until after a baby's first birthday, when he will be able to eat and swallow them safely, according to BabyCenter.
Allergic Foods
Babies who have or are at risk for food allergies should not eat certain foods to help prevent allergic reactions. Foods that should be avoided are those that are likely to provoke an allergic reaction, such as eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, milk, soy and wheat. If your child has or may have food allergies, speak with your pediatrician about how and when to introduce these types of food to your child.
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