Parents are always eager to introduce different foods in their child’s life. Not all foods are safe for infants, toddlers and young children. Read on to learn about the foods unsafe for kids at different stages.Infants and toddlers have delicate digestive system and they also cannot chew food well. Therefore, there are some foods that can prove dangerous for them and such foods should be avoided completely.
Being a new parent it is very important you become aware of the
foods unsafe for kids and avoid giving them to infants and toddlers. Moreover, it is good to stay worry-free and provide nutritious food to kids so that they develop
healthy eating habits at the earliest in life.
Foods Unsafe For Small Kids
Have a quick look at some foods that can cause health hazards to small kids.
1. Large Pieces of Foods
The pieces of foods you give to your toddler to eat must not be more than the length of your fingertips. Make sure you offer soft and properly cooked pieces and in case of fruits they must be ripe and soft.
2. Grapes
Whole grapes are very dangerous for kids because you are not sure whether your child will chew the food before eating or not. Take precaution and spend some time to make puree of the grapes or cut them into very small pieces so that your child has them without any difficulty.
3. Honey
Honey is one of the foods that is said to be unsafe for kids because it causes botulism. The intestinal tracts of adults are capable enough to prevent the growth of the spores, but they can grow and become life threatening in kids.
4. Hard and Sticky Foods
Avoid giving small kids hard or chewy foods because they mightget stuck in your child’s throat.
5. Any Nut Butter
Peanut butter or any nut butter should be avoided because they have pasty consistency. The kid might find it very difficult to swallow.
6. Popcorns
Popcorns are not just small, but also can get stuck in child’s throat because of its dryness.
7. Raw Vegetables
It is good to avoid giving very young children raw
vegetables. Steam them and make them soft so that they can chew and digest them properly.
8. Nuts
Nuts are hard and can choke very easily. Crush and mix them with fluid or
milk so that your child gets the benefits.
9. Low Fat Milk
Children need fat and protein that are present in milk. So, you should start giving slightly lower fat milk only after your child turns two.
10. Tinned Foods
No matter how tasty or safe any tinned food appears to be, it is not safe for very young kid. The preservative and the added artificial flavours are harmful for them.
Feeding and Food Safety Tips
Here is what you can do to prevent hazards caused to kids due to food.
- Avoid giving foods that can cause choking hazards to small children.
- Give only mashed, grated or very small pieces of food to toddlers.
- Make your child sit on the kid’s dining chair when feeding her solid food.
- Teach your child not to talk when food is in mouth.
- If the child has an elder sibling, make sure she does not share food with the younger one.
- Do not leave small items or food pieces accessible to your toddler
- Look out for any kind of food allergy in your child and always avoid giving her that food
- Due to higher level of mercury, experts nowadays ask to avoid giving fish to very young children
Avoid giving sugary drinks and fast food to your toddler. It is important to establish healthy eating habits in your kid’s right from the time she starts taking solid food. Provide nutritious meals and
snacks to your kid because good habits developed now will save her from lots of health problems in life.
Besides taking care of not giving unsafe or dangerous foods, parents should also switch to nutritious food, if they prefer having fast food and quick fix meals. The first few years of children are very important and parents have to look out for many things, take plenty of precautions even after they have celebrated the first birthday of their kid.
Although choking can occur to anyone, anytime, it is very common among young kids. It leads to hazardous situation because children of this age do not have the ability to recognize this. This is the reason why it is advisable to be with your toddler when he or she is being fed. Also, avoid feeding or allowing your child to eat anything when travelling in a car because it is not possible for you to drive and take care of your child simultaneously.
Taking some precautions, being alert and staying calm are the most important things to keep in mind when you have a toddler at home. Keep a track of health and safety always and prefer making your own baby food.
Which foods can cause health hazards in small kids? What kind of foods can cause choking hazard in kids? Which foods are not safe for small kids? Discuss here.
