5 foods to avoid giving your infant

It can be stressful introducing new foods to your little one while worrying about choking, allergies and more. To help put your mind at ease, our team has put together a list of some foods you should avoid giving a baby under 12 months old.

Honey

Although this delicious natural food is good for adults, it contains a bacteria that can lead to infant botulism, a dangerous and serious illness. Honey is also a form of sugar which can cause tooth decay, so should be given sparingly for young children over 12 months old as well.

Unpasteurized milk

Just like honey, unpasteurized milk contains bacteria that can be dangerous for babies. Without proper heat treatment, milk is not safe for under 1 year olds and should never be given as a drink. If used in cooking where the milk is boiled, such as pasta sauces, then it is safe.

Raw fish

Though delicious, raw fish can give babies food poisoning and should be avoided.

Undercooked eggs

Egg can contain bacteria, such as salmonella that can make your baby very ill. We recommend starting babies on well-cooked (hard boiled) eggs from about 6 months old. Some foods contain uncooked eggs, including mayonnaise, uncooked cake and cookie batter should also be avoided.

Whole nuts or peanuts

Nuts are a choking hazard for all children under the age of 5. If you want to give your baby under 12 months nuts, you should grind or crush them. However, it’s important to talk to your GP or Plunket Nurse about the risk of an allergic reaction before introducing any nuts or peanuts.

There are many foods you should skip giving baby, but plenty that are safe. Introducing foods slowly is always the key.

Interested in finding out more about the Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures programme?

If you are:

• of Pacific descent
• pregnant or the main caregiver of a child under 4 years old
• and live in the Waitemata District, West Auckland or North Shore

you could be eligible to join the free Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures Programme.