Christmas Foods for New Eaters!

Christmas Foods to Avoid For Babies!

Christmas is such a wonderful and joyous time of year…and all the more so when you have little people in the house! 

If your baby has started solids, then you are likely in a bit of a routine at home when it comes to feeding. However, the holidays often mean more meals out and about or on the go. It can be tricky to know what foods to look out for when it comes to feeding your little one food you haven’t prepared yourself. 

We have put together a list of the most common foods to watch out for these holidays:

Honey and alcohol

• Roasted veggies and salad dressings- always check that there hadn’t been honey added. Honey poses a higher food safety risk due to the potential risk of infant botulism. This is why we avoid honey for infants under 12 months of age.
• Many desserts and glazes for meat may contain alcohol. Even when cooked, we cannot guarantee that there is no alcohol left.

Choking Hazards

Often at parties and Christmas gatherings there are lots of platters and food aplenty on offer grazing style. This means it is easy for little people to get their hands on things without you realising. Foods to keep in mind and avoid include:

• Dried fruit
• Whole nuts and popcorn
• Marshmallows 
• Cubed cheese 
• Any chewy or hard lollies
• Whole grapes and berries 
• Whole prawns

Food Safety

Some foods pose more of a food safety risk than others. Especially during the holidays on warm days where foods can sit out on platters for long periods of time. Foods to avoid may include:

• Deli meats 
• Mould ripened and unpasteurised cheese 
• Undercooked meat 
• Cooked and cooled seafood that is sitting around 
• Mayonnaise made with raw egg

New foods and Allergens

Other foods to keep in mind may include:

• Foods containing top 9 allergens that haven’t been introduced yet 
• If your little one has food allergies, foods that might contain allergens (sauces, glazes,  stuffing, cakes etc)
• New foods that are not texture appropriate yet (i.e pieces that are too big or too hard)

Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list but just some common foods that tend to make an appearance with the holiday festivities! 

It can be hard to know what your little one is putting in their mouth when you might not have them in eye site 24/7.  With every Aunty, cousin and grandparent wanting a cuddle no doubt it can become a little stressful and difficult to monitor what they are eating!

So, if you are worried, it can be helpful to provide a heads up and remind everyone that your bub is only just starting solids and not to feed them anything you haven’t okayed. It can be as simple as saying:

 “We are very excited that (your bub’s name here) is able to enjoy some special Christmas foods with us this year. But, there are still some foods that aren’t safe for them yet. Are you able to check with us before offering them anything?”

You might also be concerned about foods that have more sodium or sugar than you would usually offer. However, this is just one day of the year! If your little one has something with more sugar or more salt than usual, this is okay too! It is what you do most of the time that matters most.