Preparing for weaning your baby

Foods to avoid when weaning your baby

However you choose to wean your baby, there are certain foods that should be avoided:

• Sugar, as this causes tooth decay.
• Salt, as this puts strain on the baby’s kidneys and can cause dehydration.
• Gluten (wheat, oats, rye) before 6 months.
• Honey must not be given to children under 1 year old. This is because honey can sometimes carry a bacteria which causes a serious illness in young children called ‘infant botulism’.
• Processed foods and fizzy drinks.
• Raw or lightly cooked eggs before 6 months, as this carries a risk of salmonella.
• Shellfish should not be given until the child is over 1 year old as it can cause food poisoning and can be linked to allergies.
• Unpasteurised cheeses such as brie and camembert should only be given after 1 year of age due to the risk of listeria.
• Nuts should not be given in the chopped or whole form as they pose a choking risk. It is advised not to give children nuts until after the age of 5 years due to the risk of allergic reactions.
• Chopped or whole nuts should not be given to children under the age of 5 years old as they are a choking hazard. However you can give your child nuts and peanuts from six months old if they are crushed, ground or in the form of peanut or almond butter.

Slow and steady

Weaning is a long, gradual process, whichever approach you decide to take. In the beginning, it’s all about introducing new foods to your child. They are still getting the nutrients they need from their milk feeds so don’t worry if at first, it seems like nothing’s actually going in. It’s as much a process of exploration as anything else.

However you choose to handle weaning baby at home is what we will replicate at N Family, it’s important to remain consistent to help your baby build a positive relationship with food and we will always facilitate that.