While babies begin to transition from breast milk or formula to solid foods sometime around 6 months of age, some foods remain off-limits for much longer. It's important to remember that your baby's digestive and immune systems are still developing, so he might not be able to handle some of the foods that are fine for adults or older kids. Feeding your child a wide range of healthy foods while keeping a few things off-limits for health or safety reasons is the ideal way to introduce solids and help your child develop healthy eating habits.
Honey
Honey should never be given to an infant under the age of 1 because of the risk of botulism. The spores of Clostridium botulinum naturally live in honey and can infect the intestines of young babies. Adults and children over 1 year old have strong enough immune systems to withstand the bacterium, but babies can become seriously ill. Corn syrup may also harbor the bacterium and should be avoided as well.
Cow's Milk
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that cow's milk be avoided until the child is 1 year of age, although this recommendation is controversial with some doctors. The two main reasons for this ban, explains pediatrician Dr. William Sears, are a risk of allergies to cow's milk and the potential for iron-deficiency anemia if the baby starts drinking cow's milk in place of breast milk or formula. When a baby or toddler does begin to drink cow's milk, it is important to provide iron-rich foods in the child's diet to help prevent a deficiency.
Choking Hazards
Some foods are off-limits for a baby because they can pose a choking hazard to an infant who cannot yet properly chew the food, explains Kids Health. Raw vegetables and hard pieces of fruit fall in this category. Small, rounded foods that can get caught in your baby's throat if she inhales suddenly may present a choking hazard. Examples include whole grapes, cherry tomatoes, peanuts and raisins. Hard cheeses and whole hot dogs or sausages can also get stuck in an infant's throat if she bites off a large enough piece, so these should be avoided.
Potential Allergens
In years past, the recommendation was to avoid all potentially allergenic foods until the child was between 1 and 3 years of age, but recently this guideline has been modified. Now, the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend waiting, although many doctors still advise holding off on potentially allergenic foods if the baby has a family history of allergies. Some potential allergens include nuts, fish, egg whites, wheat, soy and shellfish, so you might want to ask family members if anyone is allergic to these foods before letting your infant try them.
Low Nutrition Foods
Since infancy is such an important time for development, getting proper nutrition is vital. Filling up on foods that are high in sugar and low in nutrients, such as sodas, fast food, sweets and snacks, can crowd out vitamins and minerals that your growing baby needs. Instead, provide healthy snacks like fruit or vegetables if your baby wants something to eat between meals.
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