Foods to avoid or limit in first year of life

Weaning baby

·       Adding salt & foods high in salt such as bacon (use herbs & mild spices & baby stock cubes)

·       Adding sugar & foods high in sugar (limit use of fruit purees in a pouch - even though it's fruit sugar they are still high in free sugar)

·       Honey - avoid under 1 year due to risk of infant botulism

·       Whole nuts – avoid until 5 years because they are a choking hazard (use ground nut or smooth nut butter)

·       Limit low-fat, low calorie or high fibre foods –these can fill your baby up before they have room for all the nutritious foods they need and also they don’t contain enough energy and fat for little tummies (a mixture of wholegrain and refined varieties is fine)

·       Liver – can be offered once a week after 6 months but no more due to it’s high vitamin A

·       Avoid shark, swordfish, marlin & raw shellfish

·       Whole and semi-skimmed cows’ milk not as main drink until 1 year (but can be mixed with food from 6 months)

·       Skimmed or 1% milk - not until 5 years as a main drink (can be used in cooking)

·       Goats' and sheep's milk aren't suitable as a drink for babies under 1 year

·       All babies who can’t tolerate cows’ milk under the age of 1 should be either breastfed or on a suitable infant formula – speak to a paediatric dietitian for advice on this

·       Unsweetened calcium and iodine-fortified plant-based alternatives (e.g. soya , oat, coconut) can be used in cooking from 6 months, but should not be given as a main drink before 1 year - speak to a paediatric dietitian. If a milk alternative is given in the second year of life then great care is needed to ensure the diet is sufficient in energy and other nutrients

·       Babies, toddlers and young children under the age of 5 shouldn't be given rice drinks because of the levels of arsenic they contain

·       Follow-on formula is not required after 6 months (and should be avoided before 6 months)

·  Growing up milks should be avoided in the first year and are not necessary after either

·       Eggs should be well cooked, unless they have the ‘British Lion Quality’ stamp – in which case they can be eaten lightly cooked

·       Avoid mould-ripened soft cheeses and cheeses made from unpasteurised milk – these cheeses can be used as part of a cooked recipe though

·       Fruit juice:  milk and water are the best drinks  

·       Ready meals or take-away foods made for adults

·       Ultra-processed foods; go for foods with minimum ingredients

·       Artificially sweetened foods and drinks

·       Soft drinks, squashes and fruit cordials

·       Drinks with added caffeine or stimulants

·       Teas and coffee

·       Alcohol