Many foods can be hazardous for babies, especially when they first eat solid food. Not every food is safe for a baby to eat. Some foods require extra preparation to be safe for babies to swallow without choking on. However, some other foods can elicit an allergic reaction in babies and should be avoided when they first begin eating solid foods.
Food Hazards for Babies
Not all food is safe for babies. Some food can cause a baby to choke or have an allergic reaction. Parents need to be aware of how to make safe choices when it comes to their baby’s food.
Choking Hazards
When a baby has teeth that aren’t fully developed, especially a baby under 12 months, it may easily choke on many different kinds of foods. At this age and development, babies can’t chew their food properly and may try to swallow it whole most of the time. This makes even food you wouldn’t suspect a choking hazard for babies.
Meats
Certain meats can be serious choking hazards for babies. For example, one of the most severe choking hazards in food is a hot dog. A hot dog is a cylindrical shape and can easily block the airways. Even if you cut a hot dog, unless you cut it until the pieces are tiny and not round at all, that circular shape of the hot dog can easily block the airways. Large chunks of any meat or meat that may contain any bones should also be avoided.
Sweets
Some types of candy and sweets can cause a baby to choke. Taffy should not be given to babies, especially the younger ones. Taffy requires too much chewing, and most babies will try to swallow it. The worst thing about taffy and chewing gum is that it can form into the exact shape of the throat and cause a baby to choke and can be more difficult to dislodge from the airways due to how sticky it is. Parents should keep round, hard, and chewy candy away from babies because they will try to swallow it. Marshmallows can also be known to cause similar problems.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables can also become choking hazards when fed to a baby incorrectly. Corn should mostly be avoided whether cooked or raw due to its size, especially in the youngest babies. Most raw vegetables are too hard for a baby to eat. If you cook and mash all your baby’s vegetables, they can eat almost all of them without any problems. Fruits such as grapes cause similar issues to other cylindrical foods such as hotdogs. With round fruits, it’s essential to cut them into small slices that won’t block your baby’s throat.
Other Common Choking Hazards
Nuts and seeds can be a dangerous hazard for babies to eat as they are hard and can get stuck in the throat easily. Peanut butter can also act like taffy or gum and form to be the perfect size to block the airways. Crunchy snack foods such as chips, cookies, pretzels, and popcorn are too hard to chew for babies and can easily cause them to choke. String cheese is in that concerning hotdog shape can cause much the same issue of being the shape or a baby’s throat and easy to get stuck.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are very common and can affect babies as well. Some food allergies are developed as a person gets older and is overexposed to specific allergens. Other food allergies can be present at birth.
Common Food Allergies
There are some common food allergies to be on the lookout for. Milk can be a very common food allergy that you may discover early in your baby’s development. It’s also common to see allergies associated with eggs. Wheat is another common allergy. Babies can also be allergic to soy. Tree nuts and peanuts can be severe allergies as well. Fish and shellfish are also common allergies that are present at birth.
Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction
Knowing the symptoms of an allergic reaction to food is vital for parents. Symptoms of an allergic reaction usually begin to show quickly after being exposed to the allergen. The symptoms someone experiences may vary from the experience of others. Some signs to watch out for include: stomach and digestive-related problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, pain or nausea, itchiness specifically in the tongue, lips, mouth or throat, a tight swollen throat, tongue or face, a rash, and dizziness.
Anaphylaxis
The previous symptoms display what an allergic reaction looks like on a somewhat mild level, but allergic reactions can also cause anaphylaxis. This is a serious life-threatening situation. If you think your baby could be experiencing symptoms of anaphylactic shock, you should call emergency services immediately.
Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction that could cause anaphylaxis:
- Wheezing or extreme difficulty breathing
- Cool, clammy, or even blue skin, especially around the mouth
- Irregular heartbeat most likely too fast
- Severe vomiting
- Fainting
- Acting confused or disoriented
- Seizure
- Throat closing causing a very hoarse voice