Top 7 Foods To Avoid When Starting Baby Led Weaning
While baby led weaning focuses on one meal for the whole family, baby’s independent movement, and soft, safely shaped table foods from the start, some foods just aren’t safe for your child to consume yet, due to their immature digestive systems. Luckily, out of all the foods out there, there are only 7 top ones that you will need to avoid.Of course, always check with your pediatrician about concerns or questions and take special precautions if your baby has or is predisposed for allergens.
Here are 7 foods to steer clear of when starting baby led weaning (before 12 months old)…
1. Honey
Babies under 12 months should not eat honey because they are at risk of getting botulism. Don’t serve foods with honey, and opt for fruits and so forth to add sweetness to dishes. For example, to sweeten pancakes, you can add some muddled strawberries to the batter.
Raw or undercooked eggs could contain salmonella which can cause food poisoning. Do not serve undercooked eggs to your baby, or anything that may contain raw eggs such as, cookie dough, cake batter or mousse.
Infants are not able to digest cow’s milk completely yet. Breastmilk and formula are more easily digested. Anemia and allergic reactions may also occur if an infant is given milk too early (before 12 months old).
4. Low-fat products
Serving low-fat products could lead to nutritional shortages and potentially slow your child’s growth. Serve full fat products instead.
Infants have tiny stomachs so we need to make sure that we are filling them with the nutritious foods their bodies need. Additionally, research shows that the more children are exposed to sugary foods, the more they want them. It’s best to avoid sugary foods until toddlerhood, and then make your best informed decisions from there.
6. Salty foods (spicy, too!)
Your baby’s kidneys are still immature and developing. They can’t process much salt just yet. Avoid salty foods and skip seasoning with salt until your child is older. Just like salty foods, spicy foods will be too intense and harsh for your baby.
Many packaged foods contain high amounts of sodium, sugar and other ingredients that do no benefit your child and are unsafe for their kidneys. Opt for wholesome whole foods that have been minimally altered.
If you want more information about how to start baby-led weaning including how to serve foods, what to expect and common myths, click hereto download a free copy of The Low-Stress Baby-Led Weaning How To Guide Cheat Sheet.
