As a parent, it can feel overwhelming to deal with all the different information out there about what your baby can and can’t eat.

We would like to explain clearly which foods are not recommended for your baby before the age of one year.

What foods should I avoid giving my baby?

Choking hazards. For obvious reasons, foods such as whole grapes, nuts, and boiled sweets should be avoided. Babies choke very easily, so remember to chop grapes up into digestible chunks, and instead of whole nuts, give your baby spoonfuls of nut butter. In general, all sweets and chocolates are never recommended for your baby.

Cow’s milk. Although it's important to bring in some milk-based foods to avoid allergies, such as yoghurt and cheese, cow's milk should not be offered to babies before the age of one year. Your baby’s digestive system is unable to handle large quantities of cow’s milk. In terms of nutrients, if a baby is fed cow’s milk as their primary source of milk, they are likely to become iron deficient. However, occasionally, a small amount mixed with cereal or oatmeal or cooked in other foods—provided your baby is not allergic—should not be a problem.

Certain cheeses. Full-fat cheese like mild cheddar or cream cheese is fine to introduce in small amounts for six months. Babies should not eat any cheese that carries a risk of listeria, so avoid unpasteurised cheese, mould-ripened cheeses, ripened goats' milk cheese, and soft blue-veined cheese.

Raw or undercooked egg. Babies can have eggs from around 6 months, but only if fully cooked until the yolk and white are solid. Raw eggs carry a salmonella risk, so don’t give your baby cake batter, homemade ice cream, homemade mayonnaise, or desserts that contain uncooked eggs.

Honey. Honeys can contain bacteria that cause infant botulism, a potentially fatal disease that causes muscle weakness and trouble breathing, among other problems. Babies under six months are most vulnerable. Avoid honey in your little one’s diet until they’re at least a year old.

Certain seafood and fish. Mussels, clams, and oysters pose a risk of food poisoning when you eat them raw or lightly cooked (and who likes well-done clams?), so don’t feed them to your baby. And if you’re into marlin, shark, or swordfish, keep them to yourself until your child is older. The mercury in these fish can impact brain development.

Sugary or acidic soft drinks. Sodas, fizzy drinks, squashes, flavoured milk, and fruit-flavoured drinks are not suitable for young babies. They often contain sugar and can cause tooth decay, even when diluted. Diet, low-calorie, or low-sugar drinks are not healthy alternatives for babies.

Which foods should I avoid feeding to my baby?

From Unii’s Baby Nutrition Journey, we share advice on what not to feed your baby.