You should avoid hard, raw vegetables like carrots, celery, or bell peppers (unless cooked soft or finely shredded) and whole, firm vegetables like peas or corn kernels for babies, as they are major choking hazards. Also avoid processed vegetables with added salt/sugar, raw sprouts, and large chunks of any vegetable, focusing on soft, cooked, or mashed versions cut into safe, bite-sized pieces.
Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
When your baby is just starting solid foods, don't serve whole, raw berries – they could be a choking hazard. Start off by serving your baby cooked, pureed berries with no extra ingredients. It's okay if you don't strain the seeds out of your baby's food – they're not a choking hazard.
High-risk Foods for Choking.
These may block the airway and cause sudden death. Raw vegetables (like carrots) and peanuts should also be avoided until 4 years old. Reason: young children can't chew them and they could be inhaled into the lungs. Also, avoid large pieces of any sticky food (such as peanut butter).
🥕Teethers for 5-month-old babies can include hard, resistive food such as a fat carrot stick, or a wide stalk of celery. Here's what you need to know: 1. Always supervise baby with food teethers.
Most common food choking hazards
Offer a variety such as:
When can babies have blueberries? Blueberries may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age.
Nuts and seeds: Remove seeds and pits from fresh fruit such as watermelon, peaches, plums, and cherries before serving. And don't feed your baby nuts or seeds, such as sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Seeds may be too small to choke on but can get stuck in a child's airway and cause an infection.
SIDS is less common after 8 months of age, but parents and caregivers should continue to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death until baby's first birthday. More than 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
The Japanese have discovered an ingenious way to put your baby to sleep in exactly 13 minutes. If your baby can't fall asleep, the trick is to hold him in your arms for five minutes while walking and then for another eight minutes.
Hold your baby until they're in a deeper sleep. Babies start in 'active sleep' (with faster, uneven breathing) and move into a deeper sleep after about 20 minutes. That's a good time to transfer them into their sleeping place. Many babies don't like being put down into a cot.
There's no single "number 1" unhealthy food, but ultra-processed items like sugary drinks, processed meats (bacon, hot dogs), deep-fried foods (fries), and refined snacks (donuts, chips, sugary cereals) consistently top lists due to high sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and additives linked to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. These items offer little nutritional value while increasing risks for chronic diseases.
Introducing peanut butter to babies around 4-6 months is an ideal time to test. To introduce peanut butter, we recommend mixing 1-2 teaspoons of peanut butter with 2-3 teaspoons of water, breast milk or formula to thin it out. “I would recommend picking a peanut butter without too many fillers in it,” said Dr. Anvari.
10 Natural & Healthy Alternatives to Sugar for Babies
'Blueberry muffin syndrome' is the descriptive term used for an infant born with multiple blue/purple marks or nodules in the skin. These are due to the presence of clusters of blood-producing cells in the skin (extramedullary erythropoiesis), or bleeding into the skin (purpura), or spreading cancer (metastases).
The main concerns are the natural sugars in blueberries. They can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. There's also a worry about their impact on digestive health, especially for people with certain conditions.
Constipation in kids can occur due to factors such as inadequate fiber intake, dehydration, and lack of physical activity. Symptoms may include infrequent bowel movements, difficulty passing stools, and abdominal discomfort. Incorporating foods like blueberries into a kid's diet can help address these issues naturally.
4. Berries (Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries) Berries are antioxidants, which protect your growing baby's brain from oxidative stress. Berries contain vitamin C, fiber, and good carbs, so they can be eaten as a healthy snack during pregnancy.
Around 6 months, you can start offering your baby a little bit of water (4-8 oz/day, 0.5-1 cup/day) in an open, sippy, or strawed cup. This helps develop cup drinking skills and familiarity with water. If you live in an area where the water is fluoridated, drinking water will also help prevent future tooth decay.
While there's no single "number 1" healthiest fruit, blueberries are consistently ranked at the top for their exceptional antioxidant power (anthocyanins), supporting brain health, heart function, and potentially reducing inflammation and risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Other top contenders include avocados for healthy fats and fiber, raspberries for fiber, and pomegranates for antioxidants, but blueberries often stand out as a top choice.
To prevent food poisoning, some foods are safer choices than others. That's because some foods—such as undercooked meat and eggs, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and unpasteurized milk—are more often associated with foodborne illnesses.
Any food that is "large, round and solid" can be a potential choking hazard, Altmann said. That's why hot dogs often rank at the top of lists of foods to avoid giving young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that hot dogs should be kept away from children younger than 4 years old.
Silent aspiration refers to swallowing food or liquids into the respiratory system without any obvious symptoms of coughing or a wet voice. It is a condition most common among patients with swallowing difficulties. The disorder is capable of affecting anyone of any age or gender.