List Of Foods To Avoid For Babies Who Consume Solids For The First Time

Foods To Avoid For Babies: Food choices are usually sorted in the first 4 months of the baby because it consumes mainly breast milk only. But once it becomes six months old, it is physically ready to consume solids. So what should you feed and what should be strictly avoided?

According to medical experts, the baby develops digestive enzymes at this age which helps in digesting the solids. However, parents have to be very careful in choosing the right food to feed the baby. They need to start with basics (rice porridge, single fruit or vegetable puree etc.) and watch out for symptoms of allergy after episodes of feeding a particular food. You can read more about the basic but important tips to feed a weaning baby here. 

Along with noting the foods that a baby should eat, it is essential to know what I should avoid. So here is a list of foods to avoid for babies:

Foods To Avoid For Babies

1. No Salt or Sugar

Too much salt can damage the kidneys of the babies as their kidneys aren’t prepared to process a high amount of salt. There are also chances of dehydration and brain damage due to added amounts of salt in baby food. On the other hand, sugar might decay their teeth or cause weight gain. However, it is okay if the food contains salt or sugar from sources like fruits or vegetables which are essential for babies. 

2. Honey

Honey is considered not healthy for babies not only because it has a high amount of sugar. But also because it contains a bacteria called C. Botulinum spores which causes Infant Botulism. It is a serious illness that affects the large intestines of the babies causing muscle weakness and difficulty in breathing.

3. Tea, coffee or coke

Babies should not be fed with caffeine in the form of tea/coffee and neither should they consume fizzy drinks that contain sugar. Caffeine can cause sleep issues, low nutrition intake, increased sugar intake, frequent urination and stomach problems. While fizzy drinks can cause acidity. 

4. Nuts

Only baby nuts and peanuts are safe for babies and should be fed after being finely ground. However, if your baby has a history of food allergy, consult the doctor before feeding any nuts. 

5. Uncooked eggs

Now babies can have eggs at six months. If the hens’ eggs have a red lion mark on the packet, it can be fed raw. But if it doesn’t, it should be properly cooked until the white and yolk are solid. Cuisines that are made of uncooked eggs should be avoided like cake, ice cream, mayonnaise etc. 

6. Fish and shellfish

Avoid feeding raw fish and shellfish to babies. Neither should you feed a shark, merlin and swordfish as they contain high amounts of mercury. Some experts recommend beginning non-veg diets of the baby with fish. However, in India, commonly the weaning babies’ food diet begins with plant foods only. And then around 7 months, non-veg is slowly introduced. 

6. Rice water

Avoid feeding rice water instead of breast milk. Rice water contains a high amount of arsenic. But you can always feed rice porridge or rice. 

7. Foods like cookies, biscuits and cakes 

As said above cakes might contain uncooked eggs which makes it unhealthy for the babies and hence should be avoided. Moreover, these foods-cookies, biscuits and cakes- contain sugar, flour and low amount of nutrition which is not healthy for the baby. Feed these foods as less as you can.