Just to share since i chanced upon this:
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Baby
As eager as your baby may be to try new foods, there are a few that should stay off the table – at least until that tiny tummy has time to grow.
Looking forward to serving your little one his first PB&J? Chocolate milk shake? Eggs and a side of toast with honey? You may have to wait. As exciting as it is to introduce new foods when you start solids with your little one, there are a few items that should stay off the menu for the time being. That's because they may contain irritants that can disrupt your baby's sensitive (and still developing) digestive system. Here's your guide to foods to avoid during your baby's first year, along with recommendations for when it's safe to introduce them.
Nuts and Peanuts
Even though you may have heard you should avoid feeding your baby tree nuts, peanuts, and other highly allergenic foods during the first year, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now claims that there is no evidence that delaying the introduction of certain solids prevents food allergies. But take caution before you go nuts — especially if you have a history of allergies in your family. Wait for the green light from your doctor. Once you get it, start your child off with smooth varieties of nut spreads and butters (your child won't be ready for the chunky kind, or whole nuts, until age four). Despite the fact that peanut allergies are on the rise, causing this lunch-box favorite to take some heat, nut spreads and butters can be a healthy, protein-packed snack for your little peanut if he has no reaction to it.
Egg Whites
Sunny-side up? Down? How about all around? Eggs are a great source of protein, vitamin D, and other vitamins and minerals, but your younger baby may have to get by without egg on his face. The AAP does say that nutriton-packed eggs are okay to eat at any age once your baby has started solids, but your pediatrician may think otherwise. Because egg whites are allergenic, most doctors won't recommend giving whole eggs to babies less than a year old. Your pediatrician will probably give egg yolks (minus the whites) the okay at the seven-to-ten-month mark. As with any new food, wait two to three days before introducing another. Keep an eye out for an allergic reaction (symptoms include diarrhea, a rash, or vomiting).
Honey
Honey ingested in the first year can create a sticky situation for your baby's health. Not only is it full of sugar (and cutting baby's sweet tooth is something you should try to postpone for as long as possible), it may contain the spores of Clostridium botulinum. Although harmless to adults, these spores can cause botulism in babies — with constipation, poor appetite, and lethargy as side effects. While some doctors okay honey at eight months, most recommend waiting till year's end.
Cow's Milk
It may do a (bigger) body good, but babies under one year of age should steer clear of cow's milk, for several reasons. First of all, cow's milk can be hard for young infants to digest, and the high concentrations of protein and minerals may stress a newborn's kidneys and irritate the stomach and intestines. Cow's milk also doesn't provide enough iron and vitamin C for baby (breast or formula are the best milk sources in the first year). Once your baby is past the one-year mark, however, whole cow's milk is fine in moderation (avoid giving low-fat milk, which lacks needed fat and calories, until two years of age). Be on the lookout for a milk intolerance or allergy (though milk allergies are rare — only two to three of every 100 children develop a true milk-protein allergy).
Wheat
There's a reason rice or oat cereal is baby's first food — these grains are super-easy to digest. But wheat is actually an allergen (though uncommon) so hold off on serving it up until your sweetie has a handle on oats. The problem is gluten, a difficult-to-digest protein found in wheat, rye, and barley that can cause a skin rash, loose stools, constipation, or poor sleep for some babies when ingested. If your baby breaks out in hives or starts wheezing after eating a wheat product, notify your doctor right away about a possible food allergy. The good news? Babies usually outgrow wheat and other allergies by their first birthday (peanut allergies, however, are usually lifelong).
Juice
Hold off on giving juice to a baby under six months. Even once your cutie's of age, the AAP says it's best to limit juice (or avoid it altogether). Why? Juice is packed with sugar and offers no nutritional benefits that you can’t find in whole fruit. Though citrus fruit juices — such as orange, grapefruit, and tangerine — are packed with vitamin C, they’re very acidic and can cause tummy trouble in infants with underdeveloped digestive systems. If you do choose to serve juice (after getting the doctor’s okay — fruits can be allergenic), choose tummy-friendly alternatives like apple, pear, or white grape juice, diluted with water. As for citrus fruits, themselves, be sure to introduce them gradually, getting rid of any rind and cutting the fruit into small pieces.
Shellfish
While baby won't be eating any lobster dinners for quite a while (so save those lobster bibs for the grown-ups in the family), you may wonder when you can crack a claw for your little sailor. Since shellfish are a common source of food allergies, most doctors recommend slowly introducing shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster, or crab, after one year. Though the AAP does say that even highly allergenic foods are okay to introduce once your baby's started solids, it's always best to check with your doc, especially if your family has a history of food allergies. If your pediatrician gives seafood the go-ahead, considering feeding your munchkin cod, sole, or flounder first (these fish make for an excellent — and healthy — finger food for babies).
Strawberries
This favorite fruit — packed with antioxidants and vitamin C — is a healthy and delicious addition to your family's diet but not necessarily your baby's. Not only are strawberries acidic (which can make them hard on tiny tummies), but they are a potential allergen and may prompt rashes or reactions, even in babies that are not food-sensitive. The AAP says it's okay to introduce any berries once your baby's eating solids, but your doctor may recommend holding off on strawberries until at least the one-year mark (and maybe longer if you have a family history of allergies). If you do get the okay to feed your baby berries, be sure to cut them up into small pieces or puree them so they're easy to swallow. (Find out what other baby finger foods pose choking hazards.)
Chocolate
Just as you wouldn't give your baby a cup of coffee, you should steer clear of giving a baby chocolate — even if it's just a little taste. Because of its high caffeine content (not to mention sugar), it's best to avoid giving any chocolate to babies under one year of age — and even beyond (your child has his whole life to discover his inner chocoholic, so don't rush it!).
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Baby
As eager as your baby may be to try new foods, there are a few that should stay off the table – at least until that tiny tummy has time to grow.
Looking forward to serving your little one his first PB&J? Chocolate milk shake? Eggs and a side of toast with honey? You may have to wait. As exciting as it is to introduce new foods when you start solids with your little one, there are a few items that should stay off the menu for the time being. That's because they may contain irritants that can disrupt your baby's sensitive (and still developing) digestive system. Here's your guide to foods to avoid during your baby's first year, along with recommendations for when it's safe to introduce them.
Nuts and Peanuts
Even though you may have heard you should avoid feeding your baby tree nuts, peanuts, and other highly allergenic foods during the first year, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now claims that there is no evidence that delaying the introduction of certain solids prevents food allergies. But take caution before you go nuts — especially if you have a history of allergies in your family. Wait for the green light from your doctor. Once you get it, start your child off with smooth varieties of nut spreads and butters (your child won't be ready for the chunky kind, or whole nuts, until age four). Despite the fact that peanut allergies are on the rise, causing this lunch-box favorite to take some heat, nut spreads and butters can be a healthy, protein-packed snack for your little peanut if he has no reaction to it.
Egg Whites
Sunny-side up? Down? How about all around? Eggs are a great source of protein, vitamin D, and other vitamins and minerals, but your younger baby may have to get by without egg on his face. The AAP does say that nutriton-packed eggs are okay to eat at any age once your baby has started solids, but your pediatrician may think otherwise. Because egg whites are allergenic, most doctors won't recommend giving whole eggs to babies less than a year old. Your pediatrician will probably give egg yolks (minus the whites) the okay at the seven-to-ten-month mark. As with any new food, wait two to three days before introducing another. Keep an eye out for an allergic reaction (symptoms include diarrhea, a rash, or vomiting).
Honey
Honey ingested in the first year can create a sticky situation for your baby's health. Not only is it full of sugar (and cutting baby's sweet tooth is something you should try to postpone for as long as possible), it may contain the spores of Clostridium botulinum. Although harmless to adults, these spores can cause botulism in babies — with constipation, poor appetite, and lethargy as side effects. While some doctors okay honey at eight months, most recommend waiting till year's end.
Cow's Milk
It may do a (bigger) body good, but babies under one year of age should steer clear of cow's milk, for several reasons. First of all, cow's milk can be hard for young infants to digest, and the high concentrations of protein and minerals may stress a newborn's kidneys and irritate the stomach and intestines. Cow's milk also doesn't provide enough iron and vitamin C for baby (breast or formula are the best milk sources in the first year). Once your baby is past the one-year mark, however, whole cow's milk is fine in moderation (avoid giving low-fat milk, which lacks needed fat and calories, until two years of age). Be on the lookout for a milk intolerance or allergy (though milk allergies are rare — only two to three of every 100 children develop a true milk-protein allergy).
Wheat
There's a reason rice or oat cereal is baby's first food — these grains are super-easy to digest. But wheat is actually an allergen (though uncommon) so hold off on serving it up until your sweetie has a handle on oats. The problem is gluten, a difficult-to-digest protein found in wheat, rye, and barley that can cause a skin rash, loose stools, constipation, or poor sleep for some babies when ingested. If your baby breaks out in hives or starts wheezing after eating a wheat product, notify your doctor right away about a possible food allergy. The good news? Babies usually outgrow wheat and other allergies by their first birthday (peanut allergies, however, are usually lifelong).
Juice
Hold off on giving juice to a baby under six months. Even once your cutie's of age, the AAP says it's best to limit juice (or avoid it altogether). Why? Juice is packed with sugar and offers no nutritional benefits that you can’t find in whole fruit. Though citrus fruit juices — such as orange, grapefruit, and tangerine — are packed with vitamin C, they’re very acidic and can cause tummy trouble in infants with underdeveloped digestive systems. If you do choose to serve juice (after getting the doctor’s okay — fruits can be allergenic), choose tummy-friendly alternatives like apple, pear, or white grape juice, diluted with water. As for citrus fruits, themselves, be sure to introduce them gradually, getting rid of any rind and cutting the fruit into small pieces.
Shellfish
While baby won't be eating any lobster dinners for quite a while (so save those lobster bibs for the grown-ups in the family), you may wonder when you can crack a claw for your little sailor. Since shellfish are a common source of food allergies, most doctors recommend slowly introducing shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster, or crab, after one year. Though the AAP does say that even highly allergenic foods are okay to introduce once your baby's started solids, it's always best to check with your doc, especially if your family has a history of food allergies. If your pediatrician gives seafood the go-ahead, considering feeding your munchkin cod, sole, or flounder first (these fish make for an excellent — and healthy — finger food for babies).
Strawberries
This favorite fruit — packed with antioxidants and vitamin C — is a healthy and delicious addition to your family's diet but not necessarily your baby's. Not only are strawberries acidic (which can make them hard on tiny tummies), but they are a potential allergen and may prompt rashes or reactions, even in babies that are not food-sensitive. The AAP says it's okay to introduce any berries once your baby's eating solids, but your doctor may recommend holding off on strawberries until at least the one-year mark (and maybe longer if you have a family history of allergies). If you do get the okay to feed your baby berries, be sure to cut them up into small pieces or puree them so they're easy to swallow. (Find out what other baby finger foods pose choking hazards.)
Chocolate
Just as you wouldn't give your baby a cup of coffee, you should steer clear of giving a baby chocolate — even if it's just a little taste. Because of its high caffeine content (not to mention sugar), it's best to avoid giving any chocolate to babies under one year of age — and even beyond (your child has his whole life to discover his inner chocoholic, so don't rush it!).
