Checklist: 10 Foods You Shouldn't Feed Baby

from American Baby

___ Cow's milk and egg whites, which can cause tummy upset, eczema and other tummy troubles in kids under 12 months.

___ Food that is either sticky or really hard (popcorn, peanut butter, marshmallows); they can cause your baby to choke.

___ Raw veggies (grapes, carrots) or whole pieces of canned fruit--all choking hazards.

___ Nuts. All kinds present choking hazards in children under 4.

___ Honey. There's an off chance it may contain bacteria that can cause infant botulism (it doesn't typically happen in babies over 1 or adults, however).

___ Anything caffeinated, such as soda or iced tea. Hey, the kid keeps you up enough as it is!

___ More than 4 ounces of fruit juice per day. It can cause diarrhea in infants.

___ Unpasteurized cheese, which has a slight food poisoning risk in young babies. Most cheeses sold in the U.S. are pasteurized, but just check the label or ask.

___ Fish, especially shellfish like shrimp, lobster, crab, scallops--these can trigger an allergic reaction in babies under 1. If fish allergies run in the family, then avoid fin fish until baby's at least 2 (it gives his immune system time to strengthen).

___ Swordfish, shark, tilefish or king mackerel, which are high in mercury. Even adults shouldn't eat these very often.

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