Discovering food is a real adventure for baby 🤍
Textures, tastes, shapes… everything is new.
But this exploration phase also requires some vigilance, as some foods can present risks.
👉 No need to panic: it's not about banning, but about understanding and adapting.
In BLW , the food itself isn't the problem... but its shape
Whether you are using traditional weaning or BLW , some foods may be risky.
👉 Not because of their nature…
👉 but because of their size, texture or shape.
Some may:
- get stuck in the throat
- stick to the palate
- be difficult to chew
👉 And therefore increase the risk of suffocation.
⚠️ Baby's safety comes first
Even before discussing food, safety begins with:
✔️ A good position (straight back at 90°)
✔️ baby well-positioned and stable
✔️ Constant supervision
👉 And above all: stay calm during meals.
How to offer food to a baby safely?
Introducing risky foods to a baby can be scary. However, don't panic, there are ways to introduce foods risky safely several !
Discover the different ways to offer them to your little one.
Small, round, and hard foods
- Grapes, cherry tomatoes, candies, nuts, seeds from fruits and vegetables such as squash, watermelon, etc.
- The fruit: cut into quarters lengthwise
- Oilseeds: in puree, powder or in plant-based milks
- Seeds and sweets: do not give them
Raw and hard foods
- Apples, carrots, cucumbers, etc.
- Offer them to baby cooked and soft, grated, in smoothies, in compote, or in very thin slices
Flat and sticky foods
- Ham, crepes, salad, sliced bread, etc.
- Bread: toasted
- Salad, leafy greens, ham: to be given shredded or in a recipe
- Crepes: to be given shredded
Long foods
- Sausages, asparagus, beans, etc.
- Offer them to the baby cut into 4 lengthwise
- The vegetables: cooked and tender
Other small precautions will also need to be taken when offering certain foods to the baby.
- The skin, seeds, or pits of the fruit must be removed
- Crunchy fruits and vegetables will always be offered to baby cooked and soft
- The dried fruit will need to be rehydrated and incorporated into recipes
- The fish bones and meat bones will need to be removed
✨ Practical guide: simple rules to remember
👉 Before offering a food item:
- Is it melt ?
- Is it big enough to be caught ?
- Can it be crushed between two fingers ?
👉 If yes → it's generally OK
Foods to avoid in a baby's diet
Some foods should be avoidedinitially in a baby's diet because they pose a health risk. Some foods do n't have a sufficiently good nutritional profile to be offered to babies during meals. And others offer no nutritional value whatsoever for your little one.
Let each age enjoy the pleasure of discovery by offering babies foods following these recommendations:
Foods to avoid from a nutritional standpoint:
- : Caffeinated beveragesnot recommended for children under 12 years of age
Example: coffee, tea, energy drinks, cola, etc.
- Foods containing preservativesare not recommended for children under 3 years old. They can be served with a piece of fresh fruit rich in vitamin C, which neutralizes the negative effects of nitrites.
Example: industrial deli meats, commercially produced purees and yogurts, etc.
- Foods : rich in phytoestrogensnot recommended before the age of 3
Example: tofu, soy juice, soy sauce, miso, etc.
- Foods containing contaminants: not recommended before the age of 3
Example: eel, carp, catfish, monkfish, sea bass, pike, sea bream, tuna, etc.
- Chocolate :forbidden before the age of 12 months and not recommended before the age of 3 years
- Foods drinks and with sweeteners (such as aspartame, etc.): prohibited before the age of 3.
Example: low-fat products, diet drinks, etc.
Foods to avoid from a nutritional point of view:
- Foods drinks and recommended containing refined sugarsbefore the age of 3
Example: cakes, candies, biscuits, commercial ice cream, etc.
- Foods : high in sodium (saltnot recommended before the age of 3
Example: biscuits, crisps, commercial sauces, commercially available breaded fish and chicken, commercially available soups and bouillon cubes, industrially produced deli meats, etc.
- foods : Ultra-processed high in unhealthy saturated fatsnot recommended before the age of 3
Example: industrial deli meats, commercial fries and croquettes, commercial nuggets and breaded fish, etc.
- not fat foods Low- :recommended before the age of 3.
Example: yogurts containing less than 2% fat, skimmed milk, etc.
Foods to avoid from a microbiological point of view:
- Honey a food containing the Clostridium botulinum bacteria): prohibited before the age of 12 months
- meats before Raw or undercookedthe age of 4
Example: tartare, carpaccio, etc.
- Raw cured meats: not before the age of 4
Example: sausage, raw ham, etc.
- fish : and shellfish Rawprohibited before the age of 4
Example: smoked salmon, sushi, ceviche, scallop carpaccio, raw oysters, etc.
- eggs . Raw or undercooked in preparations: prohibited before the age of 4
Example: soft-boiled egg, medium-boiled egg, poached egg, unpasteurized mayonnaise or Caesar dressing, dessert mousse, etc.
- and Raw milk raw milk cheesesare prohibited before the age of 4. Raw milk cheeses can be added to a recipe if they are cooked thoroughly.
Example: Reblochon, Roquefort, Brie, etc.
Don't panic ! Keep this little reminder in mind and refer to it when planning your baby's weekly menu. Unsure about a safe format ? Find all the answers to your questions in our dedicated blog post!
🌿 In summary
In BLW , there aren't really any forbidden foods.
👉 There are mainly foods that need to be adapted.
With the right formats, the right textures and a little vigilance…
👉 baby can safely discover a wide variety of foods.
Of course, these guidelines apply to a healthy baby who is following their growth curve correctly.
💬 Key phrase to remember
“It’s not the food that’s dangerous… it’s the way it’s presented.”
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