Feeding your baby can be a very exciting time. Before you start giving him or her everything in your kitchen, know which foods you should avoid for at least the first year.
- Nuts & Peanuts (some doctors recommend waiting until 2 years if you have a strong family history of food allergies)
- Honey (risk of botulism)
- Cow’s Milk (stick with breast milk and formula for up to 12 months)
Choking Hazards
- Popcorn
- Peanuts
- Raisins
- Whole grapes
- Meats that are uncut and stringy
- Hot dogs
- Raw fruits or vegetables that are hard
- Hard to chew foods
- Nut butter and other sticky foods
- Be careful with anything round and firm!
High Allergen Foods: These foods are still slightly controversial
- Milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Tree Nuts
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Wheat
These foods are the most likely to cause allergies. Many people recommend waiting till your baby is 12 months of age to introduce these foods (egg yolks are fine to be introduced earlier). However, studies have shown that waiting to introduce these foods does not decrease the risk of developing an allergy. So if you come from a family without food allergies and get the ok from your pediatrician to start these beforehand then go for it!
Remember to always wait 2-3 days after introducing each new food to look out for any allergic reactions.
Filed under: Baby |
Nutrition by Eve: Moderation, Balance & Variety 
I have actually been wondering how my husband’s peanut allergy may affect our baby (in the hopefully not too distant future). I love peanut butter and eat it everyday. Is that something I will have to avoid when pregnant and breast feeding?
Hi Caroline! While I’m not an expert on allergies, what I can say is that there is no conclusive advice here. Many experts advise staying away from peanuts during pregnancy and lactation if you have a strong family history which it sounds like you do. I would suggest talking to your doctor to get his or her opinion as well. While it seems like avoiding peanuts would be so hard, you can easily find other substitutions and you’ll be back to eating them before you know it!