故事
宝宝辅食 · 6 个月起身体在要什么
宝宝出生时带的铁约够用到 6 个月,之后靠富含铁的辅食补上。花生、鸡蛋不必推迟,拖太晚可能更容易过敏。噎住咳不出声,或吃后嘴唇舌头肿、喘不上气,立即打急救电话。
最后更新:
先读这一段 宝宝出生时,身体里已经存了一批铁。
科普内容,不替代医师诊断或处方;有症状或在服药请咨询医师。
故事路径
第 1 章
为什么是 6 个月左右
Why around 6 months
宝宝出生时,身体里已经存了一批铁。宝宝生长需要的铁,大约一半是妈妈在孕晚期运给胎儿的。所以大多数足月出生的健康宝宝,这批储备够用到 6 个月左右。
到了这个时候,储备慢慢用完,宝宝又长得飞快。母乳里的铁含量本来就低,单靠母乳已经补不上了。这就是辅食要在 6 个月左右开始的身体原因。
欧洲儿科胃肠肝病和营养学会的建议是:不早于 4 个月,不晚于 6 个月。英国国家医疗服务体系(NHS)建议在 6 个月左右开始。早产或出生体重不到 2500 克的宝宝,出生时储备的铁更少,什么时候开始要问儿科医生。
宝宝呛到后咳不出声、吸不进气,或者吃了东西后嘴唇、舌头肿起来、喘不上气,立即打急救电话。
到了这个时候,储备慢慢用完,宝宝又长得飞快。母乳里的铁含量本来就低,单靠母乳已经补不上了。这就是辅食要在 6 个月左右开始的身体原因。
欧洲儿科胃肠肝病和营养学会的建议是:不早于 4 个月,不晚于 6 个月。英国国家医疗服务体系(NHS)建议在 6 个月左右开始。早产或出生体重不到 2500 克的宝宝,出生时储备的铁更少,什么时候开始要问儿科医生。
宝宝呛到后咳不出声、吸不进气,或者吃了东西后嘴唇、舌头肿起来、喘不上气,立即打急救电话。
临床 · 宝宝准备好了的三个信号
NHS 列了三个信号,同时出现时说明宝宝准备好吃第一口辅食了:能坐稳,头能保持稳定。眼、手、嘴能配合:看到食物,抓起来,自己送进嘴里。能把食物咽下去,而不是吐出来。
有几种表现常被误当成信号,其实都是正常行为:啃拳头、夜里醒得比平时多、想多喝几次奶。辅食也不会让宝宝一觉睡到天亮。
刚开始,吃多少不重要。宝宝的能量和营养大部分仍然来自母乳或配方奶,辅食是让他熟悉新味道、学会在嘴里移动食物和吞咽。
第 2 章
第一件事是铁
Iron comes first
欧洲儿科学会的两份立场文件说法一致:从 6 个月起,每个宝宝都要吃富含铁的辅食,包括肉类和/或强化了铁的食物。
铁有两种。肉里有血红素铁,身体吸收得很好,是最好的铁来源;孩子吃进去的铁大多是非血红素铁,吸收不如它。在吃肉的人群里,孩子饮食中的铁也只有大约 10% 是血红素铁,所以肉泥、强化铁的婴儿米粉这类食物要排在前面。
还有一件容易做错的事:1 岁前,普通牛奶不能当主要的奶。牛奶里的钙和酪蛋白会拖慢非血红素铁的吸收,还可能让肠道悄悄渗一点血,两样加起来伤铁。1 岁以后的幼儿,每天牛奶也要少于 500 毫升。
这些做法都在把铁送进来,下一步是让宝宝愿意吃、吃得下。
铁有两种。肉里有血红素铁,身体吸收得很好,是最好的铁来源;孩子吃进去的铁大多是非血红素铁,吸收不如它。在吃肉的人群里,孩子饮食中的铁也只有大约 10% 是血红素铁,所以肉泥、强化铁的婴儿米粉这类食物要排在前面。
还有一件容易做错的事:1 岁前,普通牛奶不能当主要的奶。牛奶里的钙和酪蛋白会拖慢非血红素铁的吸收,还可能让肠道悄悄渗一点血,两样加起来伤铁。1 岁以后的幼儿,每天牛奶也要少于 500 毫升。
这些做法都在把铁送进来,下一步是让宝宝愿意吃、吃得下。
证据 · 要不要给宝宝补铁剂
这一点各国做法不一样。美国儿科学会建议,纯母乳或大部分母乳喂养的宝宝,从 4 到 6 个月起按体重补铁。意大利的专家组则只给确诊缺铁的宝宝补,因为担心给不缺铁的宝宝补铁反而带来坏处。欧洲儿科学会认为,正常出生体重的健康宝宝,没有足够证据支持人人都补;出生体重在 2000 到 2500 克之间的,要补。
所以别自己去买铁剂。先把富含铁的辅食吃起来,要不要额外补,交给儿科医生按宝宝的情况决定。
出生时晚一点夹脐带,能降低宝宝缺铁的风险。
第 3 章
口味和咀嚼要练
Taste and chewing take practice
宝宝第一次吃到一种蔬菜,常常皱眉、往外吐。这不代表他不喜欢,而是还不熟悉。
一项研究给 36 个 4 到 6 个月的宝宝,连续 10 天每天喂同一种蔬菜(豌豆或四季豆)。10 次之后,所有宝宝吃得都明显多了;母乳喂养的宝宝涨得更多。NHS 也说,宝宝可能要试 10 次以上,才能习惯一种新食物、新味道、新质地。欧洲儿科学会建议给宝宝各种口味,包括带苦味的绿叶菜。
咀嚼也要练。NHS 建议一旦宝宝能应付,就从糊状往捣碎的、带颗粒的、能用手抓的食物过渡。英国一项 7821 个家庭的队列里,9 个月以后才第一次吃颗粒食物的孩子,到 7 岁时吃的水果蔬菜更少,喂养问题也更多。这是观察性研究,但方向和建议一致。
怎么喂也有讲究:跟着宝宝的节奏,闭嘴、扭头就是饱了,别硬喂;吃饭时关掉电视和手机;也别拿食物去哄、去奖励。
一项研究给 36 个 4 到 6 个月的宝宝,连续 10 天每天喂同一种蔬菜(豌豆或四季豆)。10 次之后,所有宝宝吃得都明显多了;母乳喂养的宝宝涨得更多。NHS 也说,宝宝可能要试 10 次以上,才能习惯一种新食物、新味道、新质地。欧洲儿科学会建议给宝宝各种口味,包括带苦味的绿叶菜。
咀嚼也要练。NHS 建议一旦宝宝能应付,就从糊状往捣碎的、带颗粒的、能用手抓的食物过渡。英国一项 7821 个家庭的队列里,9 个月以后才第一次吃颗粒食物的孩子,到 7 岁时吃的水果蔬菜更少,喂养问题也更多。这是观察性研究,但方向和建议一致。
怎么喂也有讲究:跟着宝宝的节奏,闭嘴、扭头就是饱了,别硬喂;吃饭时关掉电视和手机;也别拿食物去哄、去奖励。
第 4 章
易过敏食物,早一点反而好
Allergy foods: earlier is better
很多家长以为,容易过敏的食物越晚吃越安全。证据说的正相反。
一种解释叫双重暴露假说:湿疹弄破了皮肤屏障,食物蛋白从皮肤进去,免疫系统容易把它当成敌人;而按时从嘴里吃进去,免疫系统反而学会接受它。所以湿疹是早年食物过敏最强的风险因素。
LEAP 试验给 640 个有重度湿疹、鸡蛋过敏或两者都有的宝宝,在 4 到 11 个月之间随机分组:一组定期吃花生,一组一直避开。到 5 岁时,在起初皮肤试验阴性的宝宝里,避开组 13.7% 花生过敏,吃的那组只有 1.9%;起初皮肤试验阳性的宝宝里,是 35.3% 对 10.6%。
NHS 现在的建议是:从 6 个月左右起,把容易过敏的食物(鸡蛋、花生和坚果、牛奶、含麸质的谷物、鱼、大豆、芝麻等)一次加一样,好看清是哪一样引起反应;吃得没问题,就留在日常饮食里。把花生和鸡蛋推迟到 6 到 12 个月以后,反而可能更容易过敏。
宝宝有湿疹、已经确诊过食物过敏,或者家里有人有食物过敏、湿疹、哮喘、花粉症,加这些食物前先问医生。
一种解释叫双重暴露假说:湿疹弄破了皮肤屏障,食物蛋白从皮肤进去,免疫系统容易把它当成敌人;而按时从嘴里吃进去,免疫系统反而学会接受它。所以湿疹是早年食物过敏最强的风险因素。
LEAP 试验给 640 个有重度湿疹、鸡蛋过敏或两者都有的宝宝,在 4 到 11 个月之间随机分组:一组定期吃花生,一组一直避开。到 5 岁时,在起初皮肤试验阴性的宝宝里,避开组 13.7% 花生过敏,吃的那组只有 1.9%;起初皮肤试验阳性的宝宝里,是 35.3% 对 10.6%。
NHS 现在的建议是:从 6 个月左右起,把容易过敏的食物(鸡蛋、花生和坚果、牛奶、含麸质的谷物、鱼、大豆、芝麻等)一次加一样,好看清是哪一样引起反应;吃得没问题,就留在日常饮食里。把花生和鸡蛋推迟到 6 到 12 个月以后,反而可能更容易过敏。
宝宝有湿疹、已经确诊过食物过敏,或者家里有人有食物过敏、湿疹、哮喘、花粉症,加这些食物前先问医生。
实操 · 第一次喂花生
美国 2017 年的补充指南按风险把宝宝分成三类:重度湿疹、鸡蛋过敏,或两者都有:4 到 6 个月就可以开始,但要先让医生评估(查血或皮肤试验),由医生决定能不能在家喂、还是在诊室喂。轻到中度湿疹:6 个月左右开始,可以在家里试。没有湿疹、没有食物过敏:和别的辅食一起,正常加进去。
都要先吃过别的辅食,说明宝宝准备好了。指南给医生评估过、可以在家试的宝宝写了第一次喂法:
宝宝健康时才喂,感冒、呕吐、腹泻时不喂;在家里喂,不在托儿所或餐馆;至少一个大人专心看着。先用勺尖喂一点点,等 10 分钟;没反应,再按平时的速度喂完。喂完陪着宝宝观察 2 个小时。
加进饮食以后,指南建议每周大约吃 6 到 7 克花生蛋白,分 3 次以上。
形式很重要。用顺滑花生酱加热水调稀、放凉,或者拌进宝宝吃惯的果泥、菜泥里。整粒花生和坚果 5 岁前都不要给,一勺一勺、一坨一坨的花生酱 4 岁前也不要给,都会噎住。
这些研究大多在花生过敏常见的西方国家做的;在花生过敏少见的日本,早吃花生的效果似乎没那么明显。
第 5 章
哪些先不给,怎么防噎
What to skip, and preventing choking
有几样东西,原因都在宝宝的身体里:
不加盐,也不用浓汤块、鸡精这类咸的调味料:宝宝的肾还应付不了多余的盐。家里做饭,给宝宝那份在加盐前盛出来。不加糖,也不给果汁、甜饮料:会蛀牙。吃水果没问题。1 岁前不吃蜂蜜:蜂蜜偶尔带有一种细菌,它在宝宝肠道里会产生毒素,引起婴儿肉毒中毒,这是很严重的病。5 岁前不喝米浆代替奶:可能含砷太多。鸡蛋要做熟,直到蛋白、蛋黄都凝固;不给生的或半生的贝类;避开未经巴氏消毒的奶酪和软质霉菌奶酪。
防噎同样要从食物的大小、形状和软硬入手:
硬的东西先不给,比如整粒坚果、生胡萝卜、生苹果块。去掉果核、鱼刺和骨头。葡萄、小番茄这类又小又圆的,切成四瓣。宝宝吃东西时,大人一直在旁边。
宝宝作呕(流眼泪、舌头往外顶、干呕把食物推到嘴前面)是在学着处理食物,和噎住不是一回事。
不加盐,也不用浓汤块、鸡精这类咸的调味料:宝宝的肾还应付不了多余的盐。家里做饭,给宝宝那份在加盐前盛出来。不加糖,也不给果汁、甜饮料:会蛀牙。吃水果没问题。1 岁前不吃蜂蜜:蜂蜜偶尔带有一种细菌,它在宝宝肠道里会产生毒素,引起婴儿肉毒中毒,这是很严重的病。5 岁前不喝米浆代替奶:可能含砷太多。鸡蛋要做熟,直到蛋白、蛋黄都凝固;不给生的或半生的贝类;避开未经巴氏消毒的奶酪和软质霉菌奶酪。
防噎同样要从食物的大小、形状和软硬入手:
硬的东西先不给,比如整粒坚果、生胡萝卜、生苹果块。去掉果核、鱼刺和骨头。葡萄、小番茄这类又小又圆的,切成四瓣。宝宝吃东西时,大人一直在旁边。
宝宝作呕(流眼泪、舌头往外顶、干呕把食物推到嘴前面)是在学着处理食物,和噎住不是一回事。
第 6 章
什么时候必须就医
When to get help
噎住了:宝宝大声咳嗽,就鼓励他继续咳,大人守在旁边;咳不出声、吸不进气,马上喊人帮忙,让人打急救电话。1 岁以下的宝宝,在清醒时:
让宝宝脸朝下趴在你的大腿或前臂上,托住头颈,用掌根在两肩胛骨之间用力拍背,最多 5 下,每拍一下看看东西出来没有。还没出来,把宝宝翻成脸朝上、头低脚高,两根手指放在胸口正中、两乳头连线稍下方,用力按压,最多 5 下。一轮做完还没出来,打急救电话,然后继续两样交替,直到急救人员赶到。不要用手指在嘴里盲目去抠。东西出来了,也要去看医生。宝宝失去意识:放在硬的平面上,立即打急救电话(开免提),开始心肺复苏。
严重过敏,立即打急救电话:嘴唇、脸或舌头肿起来,喘不上气、喘鸣、一直咳,呕吐,全身起风团,脸色发白发青,突然软下来、没精神。
轻的过敏反应(嘴边、脸上起一点疹子或几个风团):联系医生,问清楚接下来怎么喂。不要自己把牛奶这类主要食物整个断掉,可能让宝宝缺营养。
让宝宝脸朝下趴在你的大腿或前臂上,托住头颈,用掌根在两肩胛骨之间用力拍背,最多 5 下,每拍一下看看东西出来没有。还没出来,把宝宝翻成脸朝上、头低脚高,两根手指放在胸口正中、两乳头连线稍下方,用力按压,最多 5 下。一轮做完还没出来,打急救电话,然后继续两样交替,直到急救人员赶到。不要用手指在嘴里盲目去抠。东西出来了,也要去看医生。宝宝失去意识:放在硬的平面上,立即打急救电话(开免提),开始心肺复苏。
严重过敏,立即打急救电话:嘴唇、脸或舌头肿起来,喘不上气、喘鸣、一直咳,呕吐,全身起风团,脸色发白发青,突然软下来、没精神。
轻的过敏反应(嘴边、脸上起一点疹子或几个风团):联系医生,问清楚接下来怎么喂。不要自己把牛奶这类主要食物整个断掉,可能让宝宝缺营养。
参考文献 · 13
- Miniello, V. L., Verga, M. C., Miniello, A., Di Mauro, C., Diaferio, L., & Francavilla, R. (2021). Complementary feeding and iron status: 'the unbearable lightness of being' infants. Nutrients, 13(12), 4201. Narrative review: about half the iron needed for infant growth is transferred from the mother in the third trimester, so most healthy term infants have iron stores at birth adequate for about six months; stores become gradually depleted around then and breast milk alone, whose iron content is low, can no longer meet requirements; preterm or under-2500 g infants have low stores at birth; heme iron is highly bioavailable but only about 10% of dietary iron in children of meat-eating populations; unmodified cow's milk harms iron status through calcium and casein lowering non-heme iron absorption and occult intestinal blood loss, so it should not be used in the first 12 months; the AAP recommends iron supplements of 1 mg/kg/day from 4 to 6 months for exclusively or mostly breastfed infants, whereas the Italian expert panel gives iron only to infants with confirmed iron deficiency because of concerns about supplementing iron-replete infants (full text PMC8707490). 10.3390/nu13124201
- Fewtrell, M., Bronsky, J., Campoy, C., Domellöf, M., Embleton, N., Fidler Mis, N., Hojsak, I., Hulst, J. M., Indrio, F., Lapillonne, A., & Molgaard, C. (2017). Complementary feeding: a position paper by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Committee on Nutrition. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 64(1), 119–132. Complementary foods should not be introduced before 4 months (17 weeks) and not delayed beyond 6 months (26 weeks); offer a variety of flavours and textures including bitter green vegetables; whole cows' milk should not be the main drink before 12 months; allergenic foods may be introduced any time after 4 months; infants at high risk of peanut allergy (severe eczema, egg allergy or both) should have peanut introduced between 4 and 11 months after specialist evaluation; gluten between 4 and 12 months, avoiding large quantities in the first weeks; all infants should receive iron-rich complementary foods including meat and/or iron-fortified foods; no added sugar or salt, avoid fruit juice and sugar-sweetened drinks; respond to hunger and satiety cues and avoid feeding to comfort or reward (abstract, PMID 28027215). 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001454
- NHS. (2026). Your baby's first solid foods. Start at around 6 months; breast milk or first infant formula provide the energy and nutrients needed until then (except vitamin D in some cases); premature babies: ask a health visitor or GP. Three signs together show readiness: sits and holds head steady, coordinates eyes, hands and mouth to pick up food and put it in the mouth, swallows rather than spits out; chewing fists, waking more at night or wanting extra milk feeds are normal and not signs of readiness, and solids will not make a baby sleep through the night. Do not add sugar or salt (salt is not good for babies' kidneys; sugar causes tooth decay). Go at the baby's pace, stop at signs of fullness such as closing the mouth or turning the head away, do not force; it may take 10 tries or more to get used to new foods; minimise screens at meals. Move from purées to mashed, lumpy or finger foods as soon as the baby can manage. Avoid hard foods like whole nuts, raw carrot or apple; remove pips, stones and bones; cut small round foods like grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters; always stay with the baby while eating; gagging (watering eyes, tongue pushing forward, retching) is different from choking (page last reviewed 2026). www.nhs.uk/baby/weaning-and-feeding/babys-first-solid-foods
- NHS. (2024). How to stop a child from choking. If the child is coughing loudly, encourage coughing and stay; if the cough is silent or they cannot breathe in properly, shout for help; while conscious, for babies under 1 give up to 5 back blows (face down along your thigh or forearm, head supported, heel of the hand between the shoulder blades) then up to 5 chest thrusts (face up, head lower, 2 fingers just below the nipple line), checking between each; for children over 1, give up to 5 back blows in a forward-leaning position, then up to 5 abdominal thrusts, checking between each; call 999 if the blockage does not come out and keep repeating until help arrives; get medical help even if the object comes out; don't poke blindly with fingers; if the child becomes unconscious, call 999 and start CPR (page last reviewed 28 October 2024). www.nhs.uk/baby/first-aid-and-safety/first-aid/how-to-stop-a-child-from-choking
- NHS. (2024). Food allergies in babies and young children. Introduce foods that can trigger allergy from around 6 months, one at a time, so a reaction can be spotted; if the baby has eczema or a diagnosed food allergy, or there is a family history of food allergy, eczema, asthma or hay fever, talk to a GP or health visitor first; once introduced and tolerated, keep these foods in the usual diet; delaying peanut and hen's egg beyond 6 to 12 months may increase the risk of allergy to them. Reactions usually start within minutes, up to 2 hours (cow's milk allergy up to 3 days): swollen lips or face, itchy watery eyes, wheezing and coughing, red itchy rash, worse eczema, vomiting, tummy pain, diarrhoea; anaphylaxis (breathing problems, swollen throat or tongue) is a medical emergency; do not cut out a major food such as milk without advice (page last reviewed 22 October 2024). www.nhs.uk/baby/weaning-and-feeding/food-allergies-in-babies-and-young-children
- Domellöf, M., Braegger, C., Campoy, C., Colomb, V., Decsi, T., Fewtrell, M., et al. (2014). Iron requirements of infants and toddlers. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 58(1), 119–129. ESPGHAN position paper: rapid growth gives young children high iron requirements; risk factors for iron-deficiency anaemia include low birth weight, high cow's-milk intake and low intake of iron-rich complementary foods; no evidence that iron supplementation of pregnant women improves their offspring's iron status in a European setting; delayed cord clamping reduces the risk of iron deficiency; insufficient evidence for general iron supplementation of healthy normal-birth-weight European infants; marginally low-birth-weight infants (2000-2500 g) should receive iron supplements of 1-2 mg/kg/day; formula-fed infants up to 6 months should get iron-fortified formula; from 6 months all infants and toddlers should receive iron-rich foods including meat products and/or iron-fortified foods; unmodified cow's milk should not be the main milk drink before 12 months, and toddlers should have under 500 mL a day (abstract, PMID 24135983). 10.1097/MPG.0000000000000206
- Sullivan, S. A., & Birch, L. L. (1994). Infant dietary experience and acceptance of solid foods. Pediatrics, 93(2), 271–277. 36 infants aged 4 to 6 months were randomly assigned to be fed one vegetable (peas or green beans, salted or unsalted) on 10 occasions over 10 days; after 10 exposures all infants significantly increased their intake; breastfed infants increased more than formula-fed infants (abstract, PMID 8121740). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8121740
- Coulthard, H., Harris, G., & Emmett, P. (2009). Delayed introduction of lumpy foods to children during the complementary feeding period affects child's food acceptance and feeding at 7 years of age. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 5(1), 75–85. ALSPAC cohort of 7821 mothers in England: 12.1% introduced lumpy solids before 6 months, 69.8% at 6 to 9 months, 18.1% after 9 months; children first given lumps after 9 months ate less of many food groups at 7 years, including all 10 fruit and vegetable categories, and had more feeding problems than those introduced at 6 to 9 months; observational, mother-reported (abstract, PMID 19161546). 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2008.00153.x
- Yamamoto-Hanada, K., Koplin, J. J., Groetch, M., du Toit, G., & Ohya, Y. (2026). Preventing food allergy by early food introduction: East meets West with the Lack dual-allergen exposure theory. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 14(4), 740–750. Eczema is the strongest early-life risk factor, supporting the dual-allergen exposure hypothesis that a disrupted skin barrier facilitates sensitization while timely oral exposure promotes tolerance; early peanut introduction has strong preventive effects in Western countries with high peanut allergy prevalence but appears less impactful in Japan, where consumption and prevalence are low; early egg results are mixed; moisturizers alone are insufficient, eczema management may be crucial; sustained regular intake after introduction likely supports tolerance (abstract, PMID 41187903). 10.1016/j.jaip.2025.10.036
- Du Toit, G., Roberts, G., Sayre, P. H., Bahnson, H. T., Radulovic, S., Santos, A. F., et al. (2015). Randomized trial of peanut consumption in infants at risk for peanut allergy. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(9), 803-813. The LEAP trial (640 high-risk infants 4-11 months); early regular peanut consumption reduced peanut allergy at age 5 (3.2% vs 17.2% with avoidance, ~80% relative risk reduction), reversing prior 'avoid early' guidance. Participants had severe eczema, egg allergy or both and were randomized at 4 to under 11 months; in the 530 skin-prick-negative infants, peanut allergy at 60 months was 13.7% with avoidance vs 1.9% with consumption; in the 98 skin-prick-positive infants, 35.3% vs 10.6%; no significant difference in serious adverse events; peanut-specific IgG4 rose mainly in the consumption group (abstract, PMID 25705822). 10.1056/NEJMoa1414850
- Togias, A., Cooper, S. F., Acebal, M. L., Assa'ad, A., Baker, J. R., Beck, L. A., et al. (2017). Addendum guidelines for the prevention of peanut allergy in the United States: report of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-sponsored expert panel. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 139(1), 29–44. Guideline 1: infants with severe eczema, egg allergy or both should have age-appropriate peanut-containing food as early as 4 to 6 months, with peanut-specific IgE and/or skin-prick testing strongly considered first; Guideline 2: mild-to-moderate eczema, around 6 months, may be at home; Guideline 3: no eczema or food allergy, introduce freely with other solids; other solids first to show developmental readiness; about 6 to 7 g of peanut protein a week over 3 or more feedings; whole nuts not under 5 years, peanut butter from a spoon or in lumps not under 4 years; home first feeding: give a small taste on the tip of a spoon, wait 10 minutes, then the rest at the usual pace, and stay with the infant for 2 hours; mild signs are a new rash or a few hives around the mouth or face; lip swelling, vomiting, widespread hives, face or tongue swelling, difficulty breathing, wheeze, repetitive coughing, pale or blue skin or sudden limpness need immediate medical attention (full text PMC5226648). 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.10.010
- NHS. (2026). Foods to avoid giving babies and young children. No added salt, stock cubes or gravy, as salt is not good for babies' kidneys; no sugar or sweeteners including honey, syrup, fruit juice and smoothies (tooth decay), though fruit is fine; honey occasionally contains bacteria that can produce toxins in a baby's intestines causing infant botulism, so no honey before 1 year; no whole nuts under 5 years (choking), but crushed or ground nuts and nut butter spread on food are fine from around 6 months, and talk to a GP first if there is a family history of allergies; avoid mould-ripened soft and unpasteurised cheeses (listeria); hens' eggs without the British Lion mark should be cooked until white and yolk are solid; no rice drinks instead of milk under 5 (arsenic); avoid raw shellfish and shark, swordfish and marlin (mercury); raw jelly cubes are a choking hazard (page last reviewed 18 February 2026). www.nhs.uk/baby/weaning-and-feeding/foods-to-avoid-giving-babies-and-young-children
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). Botulism prevention. Honey can contain the bacteria that cause botulism; do not feed honey to a child who is younger than 1 year old. www.cdc.gov/botulism/prevention/index.html