At 6 months old, babies can start to be given complementary foods with breast milk. However, not all food and drinks can be given at this time. There are certain foods and drinks that mothers should avoid for babies under one year old. At the beginning of the period of being given complementary foods for breast milk, mothers can provide a variety of healthy foods for babies, ranging from rice, meat, avocado, tomatoes, spinach, to broccoli. When choosing a complementary food menu for breast milk, mothers need to be careful. Because, not all food and drinks can be given to babies under one year old.
Foods and drinks that should not be given to babies
The following are some foods and drinks that should not be consumed by babies under one year old:
- Honey
Honey contains the bacteria Clostridium botulinum which can cause poisoning called botulism if consumed by children under one year old. The bacteria in honey can attack the baby’s nervous system, making their muscles weak or even paralyzed, disrupting the respiratory system, and can even cause death. - Whole nuts
Giving nuts in whole form to babies should be avoided, because they can cause them to choke. Mothers can introduce nuts to babies in soft form, for example peanut butter. Make sure you give it a small portion first. - Vegetables or fruit with a hard texture or too large
When serving vegetables to babies, they should be boiled, steamed or mashed first so that they can be consumed more easily by babies. Apart from that, mothers should also not give babies canned food and whole fruit. - Fruit with a sour taste
Oranges, lemons, grapes and fruits with a sour taste really taste very refreshing. However, these fruits can cause nausea if consumed by babies under one year old. In this age range, mothers should not give too many sour fruits to babies. - Foods containing saturated fat
Foods with high levels of saturated fat, such as potato chips or fried foods, should not be given to babies. This type of food also usually contains a lot of salt. If you want to give your baby packaged food, read the composition on the packaging label first before buying it. Make sure it does not contain excessive saturated fat and salt. For example, biscuits, not all biscuits can be consumed by babies, ma’am. Biscuits that adults usually eat generally contain a lot of saturated fat. This type of biscuit is not recommended for babies under one year old. As an alternative, mothers can give special baby biscuits which contain low saturated fat. - Foods that are high in salt content
It is actually still permissible to add salt to complementary foods for breast milk. However, don’t overdo it because it can increase the risk of damage to the baby’s kidneys. So, this kitchen spice is added to the food just a little. Apart from that, babies are also advised to avoid foods high in salt, namely fast food and instant food. This is done because the kidneys of babies under one year old cannot process salt properly. - Drinks and foods that are sweet or contain a lot of sugar
Regular packaged sweet drinks contain a lot of added sugar. So, avoid giving it to babies. Too many sweet drinks put babies at greater risk of tooth decay and diarrhea. Just like salt, consuming too much sugar can increase the risk of damage to a baby’s newly emerging teeth. Apart from that, avoid giving sweet foods that are high in sugar, such as candy, cakes, ice cream and fizzy drinks. It’s better to give your baby healthy sweet foods, for example fruit. - Caffeinated drinks
Avoid giving your baby drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea and fizzy drinks. Because caffeine can cause babies to experience headaches, calcium deficiency and tooth decay. - Seafood is high in mercury
Seafood does have many benefits for baby’s growth and development. However, avoid giving babies seafood that is high in mercury, such as marlin, grouper, swordfish, mackerel and shark. Exposure to mercury in babies can damage the development of their nervous system. Apart from that, seafood can also trigger allergic reactions. Therefore, pay attention to the baby’s body reaction when the mother gives seafood. If you are in doubt, discuss safety with your doctor or midwife first. - Raw or undercooked eggs
Eggs can be given to babies aged 6 months and over, but make sure the eggs are cooked thoroughly. The thing is, raw eggs or undercooked eggs may contain Salmonella bacteria which can cause infections in babies. - Fruit juice
Fruit juice is not recommended to be given to children under 1 year old. The reason is because the sugar content in fruit juice, especially packaged ones, tends to be higher. If consumed excessively, babies are at risk of becoming overweight, tooth decay and diarrhea. Fruit that is processed into juice has also lost most of its fiber content, making it less healthy than whole fruit. Apart from that, drinking fruit juice before mealtime can make him not have the appetite to eat other foods because he is already full.
Knowing the types of food and drinks that should be avoided for babies under one year old can help mothers create a food menu that is safe for babies. If you are still confused, the mother can consult with a doctor or midwife about the types of food that can and cannot be given to the baby according to their health condition.
