FOODS TO AVOID WHEN WEANING

Foods to avoid from 6 months

There are some foods that babies can’t have during weaning. They are:

● Cow’s milk as a drink instead of breast or formula milk (though it’s fine to use it in cooking or on cereal)

● Sugary, salty and processed foods aimed at older children or adults

● Low-fat/diet products

● Honey (should be avoided until 12 months of age to minimise the risk of food poisoning)

● Foods with additives or E-numbers (check the ingredients of anything that comes in a packet)

● Unpasteurised cheese, milk or dairy foods (to minimise the risk of food poisoning)

● Shark, marlin and swordfish (due to high levels of mercury)

● Whole nuts and jelly cubes (to minimise the risk of choking)

● Rice milk (as it contains high levels of inorganic arsenic)

● Lightly cooked shellfish (to minimise the risk of food poisoning)

More foods to avoid if you’re weaning early

If you’ve been advised to wean early and your baby is under 6 months of age, there are some additional foods that it’s best to steer clear of. They are:

● Foods containing wheat and gluten

● Milk and dairy foods, including yoghurt

● Fish and shellfish

● Eggs

There are exceptions to some of these timings if your baby happens to be at high risk of developing a food allergy. Please refer to our article about ‘introducing allergens’ for more information.