Feeding Babies: Foods to Avoid

We've already discussed why cereals are best avoided before the age of 1 year, (and preferably until the age of 2, or whenever the final molars arrive) but are there any other foods best left untouched by baby?

Here's a summation of foods to avoid, written by Jen Allbritton of the Weston A. Price Foundation, which has really helped me figure out what to feed my little ones!

Foods to avoid

Up to 6 months: Certain foods, such as spinach, celery, lettuce, radishes, beets, turnips and collard greens, may contain excessive nitrate, which can be converted into nitrite (an undesirable substance) in the stomach. Leafy green vegetables are best avoided until 1 year. When cooking vegetables that may contain these substances, do not use the water they were cooked in to purée.

Up to 9 months: Citrus and tomato, which are common allergens.

Up to 1 year: Because infants do not produce strong enough stomach acid to deactivate potential spores, infants should refrain from eating honey.¹ Use blackstrap molasses, which is high in iron and calcium. Egg whites should also be avoided up to one year due to their high allergenic potential.

ALWAYS: Commercial dairy products (especially ultra-pasteurized), modern soy foods, margarines and shortening, fruit juices, reduced-fat or low-fat foods, extruded grains and all processed foods.

I also wanted to add that this article also discusses how fresh fruits with high pectin contents like berries, apples and peaches, should always be cooked before feeding baby, since the pectin can be very irritating to their digestive systems.

See the original article for a great recipe for baby's first fruit sauce!