At around six months of age, your baby is ready for solid foods. While this is an exciting milestone, parents might be overwhelmed by the number of guidelines that come with this transition. For instance, when is it okay for babies to have peanuts? And what about eggs, or honey?
Some foods are more allergenic than others, which is why parents need to be careful when giving their infant certain foods. However, while experts previously deemed allergenic foods, such as peanuts, off limits to babies, new studies have caused Health Canada to revise their guidelines.
Here, we break it all down for you.
Baby Feeding Guide
Peanuts(01 of13)
Peanut allergies are the most common, which make them the most worrisome. While parents were previously told to delay introduction to peanuts, a 2008 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that there was no evidence that this helped prevent allergies. While Canadian pediatricians say babies can have peanut products as early as six months old, many doctors still recommend waiting until at least 12 months of age. At that time, infants can be fed peanuts through spreads, such as peanut butter. Parents should never give whole nuts to children under five because they can be a choking hazard. Additionally, families with a history of peanut allergies should consult their pediatrician before giving peanuts to their babies. (credit:Jack Andersen via Getty Images)
Honey(02 of13)
Health Canada advises parents not to give honey to kids under one year of age. This is because honey occasionally contains a bacteria that can give your child infant botulism, a rare form of food poisoning. (credit:JGI/Jamie Grill via Getty Images)
Eggs(03 of13)
Babies can be introduced to eggs at the age of six months. Eggs should be one of the first solid foods introduced to your infant because they are a good source of iron. However, make sure you do not serve raw or lightly cooked eggs to prevent salmonellosis, which is an infection with salmonella bacteria. According to Mayo Clinic, egg yolks and egg whites both contain proteins that can cause allergies, but egg white allergies are more common. Do not introduce egg to your infant with any other food allergens so that you can watch and see if your child has an allergic reaction. (credit:J Shepherd via Getty Images)
Cow Milk(04 of13)
Parents should delay giving their infants cow milk until they are between the ages of nine and 12 months. At that time, Health Canada recommends giving no more than 750 ml of cow milk per day. This is because cow milk is low in iron and can displace iron-rich foods. If cow milk is consumed by babies before six months of age, it can cause gastrointestinal bleeding.BabyCenter Canada advises giving your baby whole milk (3.25% fat) until the age of two. Skim and partly skimmed milk, as well as soy, rice and other vegetarian milks, are not recommended, as they are low in essential fatty acids that baby’s need to grow. (credit:Steven Errico via Getty Images)
Shellfish(05 of13)
Shellfish is a top allergenic food, which is why parents are often hesitant to give it to their kids. If your infant has chronic eczema or already has a food allergy, then BabyCenter advises talking to your doctor first before serving. If your baby has neither of these, then you can introduce shellfish to your baby when they begin eating solid foods at around six months. When feeding shellfish to younger babies, serve as a puree to prevent choking. When your baby can chew finger foods, you can then give small pieces of shrimp and other shellfish. Watch for signs of allergies including facial swelling, skin rash, diarrhea, wheezing and vomiting. (credit:LifesizeImages via Getty Images)
Wheat(06 of13)
Wheat can be introduced to infants at six months of age. Wheat can be given in the form of cereal, pita bread, crackers, pancakes and so on. (credit:Jupiterimages via Getty Images)
Yogurt(07 of13)
According to Health Canada, babies between the ages of six and nine months can be introduced to yogurt, along with a variety of iron-rich foods. When serving yogurt, make sure it is plain, unsweetened, pasteurized, whole-milk yogurt. Plain Greek yogurt is also fine. However, do not give yogurt if your baby has been diagnosed with a milk allergy. Always consult your doctor first. (credit:Dave King Dorling Kindersley via Getty Images)
Fish(08 of13)
At six months old, babies can begin eating fish, which is a great source of iron and will help your baby’s growth. At this time, parents should encourage their baby’s intake of fish and work them up to two servings of fish per week by the age of 24 months. However, certain fish should be avoided or limited to 75 grams per month to avoid the risk of overexposure to mercury. This includes: tuna, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy and escolar. (credit:Richard Jung via Getty Images)
Soy(09 of13)
Soy should not be used as a main milk source for children younger than two years old because it is often low in energy, fat and protein. However, soy can be introduced to children as young as six months. (credit:Jamie Grill via Getty Images)
Cereal(10 of13)
When your baby reaches six months of age, they can be introduced to cereal. However, it’s important that the cereal be iron-fortified because iron is critical for brain development. At six months old, babies should also be fed other iron-rich foods two or more times a day. (credit:James Woodson via Getty Images)
Water(11 of13)
Do not give babies water until they are at least six months old. Until then, they get their hydration from breastmilk or formula. At age one, you can then give your child water one to two times a day, exceeding no more than a half to three-quarters of a cup a day. (credit:RUNSTUDIO via Getty Images)
Juice(12 of13)
Juice is not a necessary part of your baby’s diet. While parents might want to give their kids juice when they start eating solid foods, the sugar in the drink can actually interfere with a baby’s healthy, growing teeth. Additionally, juice can make your baby feel full faster, leaving less room for more nutritional things needed for them to grow healthy and strong. As a result, Health Canada advises parents wait until their infant is at least 12 months old before serving juices and sweetened beverages. However, these drinks should be limited and parents are encouraged to offer water instead. (credit:JGI/Jamie Grill via Getty Images)
Baby Food(13 of13)
At six months old, you can introduce your infant to baby food. You can also offer your baby other solid foods at this time. (credit:Catherine Delahaye via Getty Images)
When introducing food allergens to your baby, Health Canada advises only doing so one at a time. Always monitor your baby for any allergic reactions, such as sneezing, itching or an upset stomach. For a full list of symptoms to watch for, visit WedMD.