Baby Food Safety

As we are introducing solid foods to baby, I've struggled to figure out what is the "right" thing to do. Pediatricians aren't fully trained in baby nutrition and of course every website has a different story.

I've put this list together for my own reference, but hopefully some of my followers can also use it in the future with their babies!

The latest on children and allergies

Doctors used to recommend waiting until age 1 or even much later to introduce solid foods that are common allergens, especially with children at risk for allergies. But the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has changed its tune because studies show that these delays probably don't help keep allergies from developing.

It's still a wise idea, though, to introduce new foods gradually, waiting several days after each new menu item to make sure your baby doesn't react badly to it. And if you believe that your baby is likely to have food allergies – for example, if allergies run in your family or your baby has moderate to severe eczema – check with his doctor to determine the best strategy for introducing allergenic foods like eggs, milk, peanuts, wheat, soy, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish.

0-6 Months: 

Until six months of age baby should be exclusively breastfed. If breastfeeding is not an option, baby should be exclusively formula fed.
AVOID- Rice Cereal

6-8 Months:
If doing BLW, Fully cooked or mushy fruits and vegetables (steamed apples, ripe avocados)
If doing Purees, see 8-10 months and just ignore the "no need to puree" part.
AVOID- Honey, Soy Milk, Cow's Milk, Choking Hazards (uncut Grapes, Raisins, Nuts, Hard Candy, Sticky Candy

8-10 Months:

Mashed fruits and vegetables	No need to puree; just cook foods such as carrots and sweet potatoes until soft, or mash up soft foods like bananas and avocados.
Finger foods like small o-shaped cereals, teething crackers, or small pieces of cooked pasta	Cut up to make sure the pieces are small enough for your baby to swallow without choking.
Dairy: small amounts of yogurt, cottage cheese, or any pasteurized cheese AVOID- Honey, Soy Milk, Cow's Milk, Choking Hazards (uncut Grapes, Raisins, Nuts, Hard Candy, Sticky Candy	Cut cheese into small pieces.

10-12 Months:

Baby can try eating most of the foods you eat now, if they are cut up or mashed properly so that he can safely chew and swallow. Unless you have a strong family history of allergies, the American Academy of Pediatrics now says there is no need to avoid peanut products, eggs, wheat, or fish until after one year, although many pediatricians are still cautious about peanuts and shellfish due to the strong allergic reactions sometimes associated with them. 
AVOID- Honey, Soy Milk, Cow's Milk, Choking Hazards (uncut Grapes, Raisins, Nuts, Hard Candy, Sticky Candy

12 Months:

Avoid whole cow’s milk and honey until at least one year. Honey can cause a dangerous illness called infant botulism.

GENERAL FOOD SAFETY for Babies

Baby Food      

The most important action that you can take to prevent foodborne illness in your babies and children is to wash your hands. Your hands can pick up harmful bacteria from pets, raw foods (meat, poultry, seafood, eggs), soil, and diapers.

Always wash your hands:

• Before and after handling food
• After using the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets.

Other ways to keep your baby’s food safe:

• Check the packaging of commercial baby food before serving: The following may indicate that the food is contaminated or at risk of bacterial contamination:
  • For jars: Make sure that the safety button on the lid is down. Discard any jars that don’t “pop” when opened or that have chipped glass or rusty lids.
  • For plastic pouches: Discard any packages that are swelling or leaking.
• Don’t “double dip” with baby food: Never put baby food in the refrigerator if the baby doesn’t finish it. Your best bet: Don’t feed your baby directly from the jar of baby food. Instead, put a small serving of food on a clean dish and refrigerate the remaining food in the jar. If the baby needs more food, use a clean spoon to serve another portion. Throw away any food in the dish that’s not eaten. If you do feed a baby from a jar, always discard any remaining food.
• Don’t share spoons: Don’t put the baby’s spoon in your mouth or anyone else’s mouth – or vice versa. If you want to demonstrate eating for your baby, get a separate serving dish and spoon for yourselv.
• Never leave any open containers of liquid or pureed baby food out at room temperature for more than two hours:Harmful bacteria grows rapidly in food at room temperature.
• Store opened baby food in the refrigerator for no more than three days: If you’re not sure that the food is safe, remember this saying: “If in doubt, throw it out.”

General Information on Baby Food

Once Baby Arrives: Food Safety for Moms-to-Be(FDA)
Do’s and don’ts for feeding your baby, plus tips on microwaving baby food and when to call the doctor. 

Sources:

1) http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/exclusive_breastfeeding/en/

2) http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/baby-food-timeline

3) http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/types/babyfood/

4) http://www.babycenter.com/0_foods-that-can-be-unsafe-for-your-baby_9195.bc