Do Not Feed These Foods To Your Baby
By Nick Hadji
8 months ago
1. Refined Sugar
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According to the experts, babies should not eat sugar either on its own or as part of a food because sugar can cause tooth decay. Many mothers tend to add refined sugar to milk. Also, by exposing babies to sugar in infancy and early childhood, this may cause a baby to develop a preference for sweet foods.Original content sourced from Femanin.com2. Salt
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Babies can meet the requirement of 0.37 grams of sodium a day, the recommended amount for 7-12 months old, through breast milk or formula. Therefore, you should not add any salt to your baby’s food. This is vital because if a baby consumes added salt, it can exert undue stress on their immature kidneys.3. Honey
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Honey is a natural sweetener and with its traces of minerals and antioxidants, it is considered to be a healthy alternative to sugar. However, babies under one year old should not consume it. Honey contains a considerable amount of sugar, with similar health risks as refined sugar.4. Cow's Milk
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The proteins in cow's milk can irritate the lining of a baby’s digestive system, causing occult bleeding and an increased risk of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) over a length of time. The baby could also risk developing an allergic reaction to dairy. Once 12 months old, it is fine to introduce cow's milk.5. Certain Cheese
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Many types of cheese can be part of a balanced diet for babies because of the great source of protein, calcium and vitamins but mold-ripened soft cheeses such as goats cheese, brie and blue cheese, are a no-go for the little one as they carry a higher risk of listeria (bacteria).6. Fruit Juices
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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns against feeding fruit juices to infants. According to these professionals, fruit juices offer no nutritional value to babies younger than 12 months old. An extra chunk of sugar is added to the baby’s diet without any nutritional benefits. Also, fruit juice intake is associated with tooth decay.7. Unpasteurized Foods
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Consuming unpasteurized foods such as raw milk, yogurt, cider vinegar and juices, can expose a baby to E. coli bacteria which can cause severe illnesses. This could result in meningitis in babies, a huge danger as its immune system is unable to handle the infection.8. Smoked And Cured Meat
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Because smoked and cured meats are not usually cooked to the recommended 165 degrees, to ensure the harmful bacteria is killed off, parents should avoid feeding these foods to infants. This is the opinion of a registered dietician nutritionist Morgyn Clair, founder of the Sprint Kitchen.9. High Mercury Fish
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Fish is certainly a nutrient-rich food containing iodine, zinc and quality lean proteins. It also has essential omega-3 fatty acids that aid an infant’s brain development. Even though this is the case, king mackerel and bigeye tuna should be avoided as they contain a high level of mercury.10. Raw Sprouts
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Sprouts, such as mung, alfalfa and bean sprouts, are healthy foods, offering protein, fiber and micronutrients but feeding raw sprouts to babies is not advisable. This is because raw sprouts could contain harmful bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli. These bacteria can severely affect the baby’s health. Only well cooked sprouts should be given to babies.11. Raw Vegetables And Fruits
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Baby carrots, corn, celery and green peas are a potential choking hazard for babies. Therefore, they should not eat them unless they are cooked thoroughly so they become soft. Light and seasonal vegetables can be given after 7 months of age but only if the baby tolerates weaning foods well.12. Whole Nuts And Peanuts
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Whole nuts, almonds, cashew, peanuts and pistachios, are all potential choking hazards for babies under the age of four. You must avoid feeding them to babies but as these foods are healthy, you can finely chop or powder them before you add them to different weaning foods, such as porridge.13. Sticky Foods
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There are some sticky foods that babies should avoid. These are raw jelly cubes, chewy fruits, marshmallows and peanut butter. Because these foods stick to the mouth, swallowing becomes difficult for babies, raising the risk of choking. The experts recommend avoiding these foods for babies until they are at least four years old.14. Rice Drinks
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Rice is a common grain used as a complementary food for very young infants, specifically babies. When it comes to rice drinks, such as rice milk, children under five shouldn’t have rice milk as a substitute for infant formula. This is because rice drinks may have high amounts of inorganic arsenic, affecting the cognitive development of babies.15. Raw And Partially Cooked Eggs
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Eggs are a nutritious source of protein and babies can safely consume well cooked eggs. You should not, under any circumstances, feed babies raw and partially cooked eggs since they may pose a risk of salmonella and other bacterial infections. The eggs could pose a risk of an allergic reaction.16. Caffeinated Drinks
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There is no way that babies, infants and young children should be consuming caffeinated drinks. This includes soft drinks, tea, coffee and sports drinks. There is no established safe limit for caffeine for young children. Parents sometimes put milky tea into weaning beakers for their babies, not realising the harm they are doing.17. Seafood
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Shellfish like shrimps and lobsters etc. can cause allergies in infants if they consume them under the age of two. Fishes like tuna, shark and mackerel have high levels of mercury so should be avoided completely no matter what age your child is. When eventually introducing fish to their diet, start with white fish such as cod.18. Berries And Citrus Fruits
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Citrus fruits and berries are essential for our bodies. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and oranges all contain high levels of acid which could lead to a poorly stomach and a diaper rash. It is suggested to wait for a year or, alternatively, juice up the fruits and dilute them well with water.19. Wheat
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Wheat can be given once your baby reaches 8 months and starts to tolerate weaning foods well. You must check for wheat allergy or gluten allergy (Celiac disease) present in the family or check for signs of allergy in your baby after feeding them. Wheat products must not be given earlier than 7 months.20. Water
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Now, this one might come as a surprise to those who aren't parents, but babies can't drink water until around the 6 month mark! This is due to breast milk/formula containing the perfect amount of hydration, whilst water contains is overhydrating for their underdeveloped kidneys.21. Grapes And Raisins
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Grapes are out of the picture for babies until they can chew their food properly and are old enough to not choke on them. The skin, size and firmness of grapes could lead to the fruit getting stuck in the baby’s food pipe, even when it is cut in small pieces. Maybe peel grapes and cut in half when first introducing.22. Solid Foods In A Bottle
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Do not feed your baby solid foods from a bottle. It is dangerous and can be a choking hazard. Parents and carers may want to put cereal in a baby's bottle so baby sleeps right through the night. This is an old wives tale and just a popular misconception, putting cereal in a baby's bottle won't help with sleeping through the night and can prove to be harmful.23. Baby Food From The Jar
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Do not feed ready made baby food directly from the jar. Instead, spoon some food into a separate dish first. By feeding directly from the jar, this could introduce bacteria from your baby's mouth to the spoon and back into the food, thus creating a food safety issue.24. Popcorn
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Popcorn is a choking hazard for babies and young children. Because of its sharp edges and kernel flakes, popcorn can easily get caught in your child's throat, causing gagging or choking. Once the child is older, they will be able to chew popcorn more thoroughly and it won't be hazardous.25. Whole Cherry Tomatoes
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Although your baby will probably love tomatoes, you should steer clear of feeding the whole cherry ones to start with. As the red fruit is full of vitamins and great for baby's general health, alongside other nutritious food, cut the tomatoes into quarters to start with otherwise it runs the risk of choking.26. Soy Milk
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Soya formula is made from soya beans and not cow's milk. Whilst it is used for babies over 6 months old, under medical supervision, who have an allergy to cow's milk, there are concerns that soy contains phytoestrogens which are found naturally in some plants.27. Chocolate
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As much as your baby will almost snap your hand off if you offer him/her a little chocolate button, don't fall into this trap. Chocolate is loaded with caffeine and sugar and can affect your baby's sleep pattern. It's also not good for baby as they develop new teeth.28. Egg Whites
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Egg whites can actually lead to dangerous symptoms in babies and young children. This is the reason why paediatricians advise parents not to feed their baby egg whites until they reach one year old. Egg yolks are safer as long as they are completely cooked right through.29. Deep Fried Foods
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Some moms like to share their own fried snacks or crispy samosas with their baby but this is not recommended. The fried foods are literally loaded with unhealthy fats, saturated fat and trans fat, none of which are healthy or good for anyone, including babies and young children.30. Spicy Food
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