Babies are delicate. It is important to take that into consideration. Particularly in their first year, you should not feed them any food that can not be easily chewed and swallowed, or anything that might be hard on their digestive system.
Salt: Too much salt is bad for you, we all know that. Everything you eat usually has a certain amount of salt in it, but we must all be vigilant about salt intake. This is especially true for infants. You should avoid giving your baby heavily salted foods such as sausages, rashers and chicken nuggets. Soy sauce has a lot of salt in it, too, since it is made from fermented soya beans in a saline solution and should be avoided. You should also not give salty snacks, like crisps to babies.
Sugar: Avoid giving your baby sugar as it encourages a sweet tooth. Instead, try sweetening cereals or desserts with mashed banana or a purée of stewed dried fruit.
Honey: Even if he has a cough, your baby shouldn't have honey until he is at least a year old. It can contain a type of bacteria that can be toxic to a baby's intestines.
Additives: Artificial colourants, sweeteners and flavourings have no nutritional value and can be unhealthy. It is best not to give them to your baby as you don’t want your baby to develop a sweet tooth!
Eggs: Eggs are fine for your baby provided they are cooked thoroughly. That means no soft-boiled eggs, fried eggs should have a hard yolk, and omelettes should be cooked until they start to brown. Remember, eggs are a source of salmonella, so don’t take the risk!
Whole nuts: Babies can’t chew nuts, so they are a dangerous choking hazard.
Mould ripened cheese: Cheeses such as brie and blue cheese are ripened by allowing mould to grow on them. Your baby is not ready to process these microorganisms, so you should avoid them altogether.
Certain fish: Shark, swordfish, and king mackerel all contain high levels of mercury, which is a poisonous element. Certain shellfish also contain traces of this substance, so it is best to avoid them.
Added fibre foods: Too much fibre (bran in particular) can interfere with your baby’s digestion. It can hinder them from absorbing important minerals such as calcium, zinc and iron, as well as certain vitamins.
Tea or coffee: Don't be tempted to add a little tea to your baby's bottle to warm his milk. The tannin in tea may prevent him from absorbing the iron in his food properly. Any caffeinated drink is unsuitable for your baby.
If you know something is tough to digest you should avoid giving it to your baby. Their digestive systems are underdeveloped, so something that might be difficult for you could be disastrous for them. Always remember the golden rule; If in doubt, leave it out! For a list of some great first food ideas click here.
It is also a good idea to base what you give your baby on what you can eat yourself. If you have trouble processing a certain kind of food, or are allergic to something, be wary of giving it to your baby as she could easily have inherited your intolerance.
