Feeding Your Baby: Foods to Avoid
  
There are certain foods that your baby should not be eating because they are unsafe or your baby might be allergic to them. Click on each food topic to find out why to avoid each food when your baby is young.
If your baby shows any of these following signs or symptoms, your baby might have a food allergy:
- bloating or gas
- a rash around the mouth or anus
- diarrhea
- runny nose or eyes
- unusual crankiness
Contact your doctor for treatment if you think your baby has a food allergy.
Citrus products: Introducing citrus juices before the age of 1 may cause an allergic reaction.
Egg whites: Your baby can have egg yolks, but do not give your baby egg whites before his or her first birthday.
Honey: Do not give your baby honey because it can produce life-threatening toxins in your baby's body.
Peanut butter: Peanuts are highly allergenic. Wait until your child is 1 year old before giving him or her peanut butter. If you have a family history of allergies to peanut butter, wait until your child is at least 3 years old before feeding them this food item.
Wheat products: Most babies can have wheat cereals when they are about 6 to 8 months old. Wheat is the most common grain allergen, so you may want to wait until your baby is 1 year old.
Shellfish: Do not give your baby shellfish until his or her first birthday because they are highly allergenic. Wait until your baby is 3 or 4 years old if you think he or she may be at risk of being allergic.
Nuts (like pecans and walnuts): You can give your baby nuts around his or her first birthday as long as they're pureed in food or in nut butters. Small pieces of nuts may pose a choking hazard. If you think your baby may be at risk for a nut allergy, you should wait until he or she is 3 or 4 until giving her nuts.
Cow's milk: Do not give your baby cow's milk until after his or her first birthday because your baby can't digest it well, and it doesn't have all the nutrients your baby needs.
Small, hard foods: Do not give your baby small, hard foods such as hard candies and pieces of a bagel because they may choke.
Hot dogs: Your baby can easily choke on bite-size pieces of hot dogs. Try slicing the hot dog lengthwise before cutting it into small pieces.
Raw vegetables: Vegetables should be cooked and cut up, so your baby won't choke. For raw vegetables such as carrots, try shredding.
Large chunks of any fruit, vegetable (cooked or raw), or meat: Give your baby pea-size pieces of any fruit, vegetable (cooked or raw), or meat so that they will not choke. You should also peel and cut grapes to avoid choking.
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