According to the Mayo Clinic, most babies are ready to begin eating solid foods between two and six months of age. Avoid certain foods until your baby is older than 12 months of age because they are unhealthy for little bodies, can trigger an allergic reaction or pose a choking risk.
Cow's Milk
Avoid giving your baby cow's milk before one year of age because it doesn't have the right amount of nutrients and is difficult for babies to digest. Breast milk or formula is recommended for babies under one year of age.
Egg Whites
Egg whites are a potential allergen and should be avoided until after the first birthday. According to the What to Expect website, your physician may recommend egg yolks sometime between seven to ten months of age.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains a high level of caffeine and may potentially cause an allergic reaction. Caffeine can make your infant jittery, sleepless or irritable.
Citrus
Avoid citrus and citrus juices during your baby's first year. Citrus can cause upset stomach, trigger an allergic reaction and irritate skin, causing a diaper rash.
Shellfish
Shellfish, such as shrimp and lobster, can cause an allergic reaction in babies less than 12 months of age, especially if there is a family history of a shellfish allergy. If there is a family history of a shellfish allergy, your physician may suggest holding shellfish until your child is older than three years of age.
Wheat
Do not feed wheat or wheat products to a baby less than one year of age. Wheat may cause an allergic reaction. A protein in wheat is difficult for young children to digest, causing constipation, diarrhea, skin rash and sleeplessness.
Nuts
Nuts, including spreads like peanut butter, are another food that may cause allergies. If you have a family history of an allergy to nuts, your physician may recommend withholding nuts beyond your child's first year to minimize a reaction and the development of a sensitivity or intolerance.
Strawberries
Avoid feeding your baby strawberries for the first year because they can cause an allergic reaction and are difficult for babies to digest. Your physician may suggest withholding strawberries longer if you have a family history of this type of allergy.
Honey
According to the Mayo Clinic, honey may contain spores of bacteria that can cause a life-threatening illness called botulism when given to babies under 12 months of age. Symptoms of botulism include constipation, lethargy and poor appetite.
Choking Risk
Certain foods like popcorn, raw carrots, raw nuts, hard candy, grapes and hot dogs pose a choking hazard. According to the Dr. Spock website, avoid these foods until your child is four years of age or older.
Salty Foods
Salty foods like potato chips, cheese curls and corn chips are unhealthy and should not be given to children under one year of age. A large amount of salt is harmful to a baby's kidneys.
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