Foods to avoid for babies and toddlers

The short list

Most foods are fine for babies from about 6 months, as long as they’re soft and cut safely. A few are not, either because of germs, because a baby’s body can’t handle them yet, or because they’re a choking risk. This guide covers what to avoid under 12 months, and what still applies to toddlers.

Under 12 months

Honey, in any form. Honey can contain the bacteria that cause infant botulism, a serious illness. The CDC and NHS say no honey before 12 months. That includes honey baked or cooked into food, honey in water or formula, and honey on a pacifier. See honey and botulism.

Cow’s, goat’s or sheep’s milk as a main drink. The CDC says cow’s milk before 12 months may put babies at risk of intestinal bleeding, has too many proteins and minerals for their kidneys to handle easily, and doesn’t have the right nutrients. The NHS says goat’s and sheep’s milk also don’t have enough iron and other nutrients for babies under 1. Breast milk or formula stays the main drink in the first year. Small amounts of cow’s milk in cooking from about 6 months are fine (NHS), and plain yogurt and pasteurized cheese can be offered from around 6 months.

Plant-based drinks as a main drink. The NHS says unsweetened, calcium-fortified soy, oat or almond drinks should be avoided as a main drink before 12 months.

Juice. The AAP and CDC say babies under 12 months should not have any fruit or vegetable juice. Whole fruit is better. See juice for babies.

Added salt. Babies’ kidneys can’t cope with much salt. The NHS says don’t add salt to food or cooking water, and avoid stock cubes, gravy and salty foods like bacon, sausages, crackers, crisps (chips), ready meals and takeaways. The AAP says to cook fresh foods for babies with no added salt or seasoning.

Added sugar and sweeteners. The CDC says infants and young children should not have added sugars, which turn up in muffins, flavored yogurts and cookies. This lasts beyond the first birthday: the US Dietary Guidelines (2025–2030) and the NHS say to avoid added sugar up to age 4. Check the label. See salt and sugar for babies.

Choking hazards. Under 1, the AAP says to avoid hot dogs and meat sticks, whole or chopped nuts and seeds, chunks of meat or cheese, whole grapes, popcorn, chunks of peanut butter, raw vegetables, fruit chunks like apple, and hard, gooey or sticky candy. Finely ground nuts and thinned smooth nut butter are fine from around 6 months: see allergens. See the full choking hazards list.

Under 5

Young children are more likely to get seriously ill from food poisoning (CDC). Most of these rules are good sense for older children too.

Raw or undercooked meat, poultry, fish and shellfish. Cook meat and fish all the way through, and only serve shellfish that’s thoroughly cooked (NHS). Use a food thermometer. FoodSafety.gov and the CDC give these safe minimum temperatures:

• All poultry, including ground chicken and turkey: 165°F (74°C)
• Ground meat like beef, pork or lamb, and sausage: 160°F (71°C)
• Whole cuts of beef, pork, lamb or veal (steaks, roasts, chops): 145°F (63°C), then let the meat rest for 3 minutes
• Fish: 145°F (63°C), or until it flakes easily with a fork

Raw or runny eggs. In the US, cook eggs until both the yolk and white are firm. In the UK, the NHS says hens’ eggs with the red British Lion stamp are fine for babies raw or lightly cooked. Other eggs, including duck, goose and quail eggs, should be cooked until white and yolk are solid. Egg is also a common allergen: see egg and allergens.

Unpasteurized milk, juice, yogurt and cheese. The CDC warns these can carry harmful bacteria that cause severe diarrhea. Check labels for “pasteurized”.

Raw sprouts, unwashed produce, and raw dough or batter. For children under 5, the CDC lists raw or undercooked sprouts (such as alfalfa and bean sprouts), unwashed fruit and vegetables, and raw dough or batter made with uncooked flour as riskier choices. Cook sprouts until steaming hot, wash produce, and bake dough before serving.

Slush ice drinks. The NHS says children aged 7 and under should not have slush ice drinks (slushies), because they can contain a lot of glycerol. Too much glycerol can make a young child dizzy and confused, cause low blood sugar, and even make them pass out.

Certain soft cheeses. The NHS advises against mold-ripened soft cheeses like brie and camembert, ripened goats’ milk cheese, and soft blue cheeses like roquefort, because of listeria. These are fine when cooked into a hot dish. Pasteurized hard cheese, cottage cheese and cream cheese are fine from around 6 months.

Fresh pâté. The NHS lists pâté made from meat, fish or vegetables as a food poisoning risk.

High-mercury fish (all children, not only under 5). The CDC and FDA list king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico and bigeye tuna. The NHS says children under 16 should avoid shark, swordfish and marlin. Plenty of fish are lower in mercury, like salmon, cod, sardines and canned light tuna. See fish for babies.

Rice drinks. The NHS says children under 5 shouldn’t have rice drinks instead of breast milk, formula or cow’s milk, because they may contain too much arsenic. Rice itself is fine. See rice and arsenic.

Caffeine. The CDC says children under 2 should avoid caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee and soft drinks, and that there’s no established safe limit for young children. The NHS says caffeine isn’t suitable for babies or young children.

Toddlers (12 months to 3 years)

From 12 months, honey no longer carries a botulism risk (AAP), and plain pasteurized cow’s milk can become a main drink. Honey is still an added sugar, though, so the US Dietary Guidelines and the NHS advise avoiding it, like other added sugars, up to age 4. The AAP suggests whole milk, about 16 oz (480 ml) a day, from 12 to 24 months. See cow’s milk at 12 months. Some things still need care:

• Choking hazards. The AAP suggests keeping high-risk foods away until 4 years or older. Keep quartering grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthwise, cut sausages into thin strips (never coins), and skip whole nuts, popcorn and hard candy.
• Sugary drinks. The US Dietary Guidelines (2025–2030) and the NHS say to avoid added sugar up to age 4, which rules out soda, flavored milk, sports drinks and juice drinks.
• Juice. It isn’t needed. If you offer it, the AAP says only 100% juice, no more than 4 oz (120 ml) a day for ages 1 to 3, in a cup.
• Sweetened and diet drinks. The AAP advises avoiding drinks with stevia or artificial sweeteners.
• Salty and processed foods. The CDC lists processed meats like lunch meat, sausages, hot dogs and ham among foods high in salt for young children.
• Toddler milks. The AAP says they’re unnecessary for most children.

Where US and UK advice differs

• Eggs. In the US, cook all eggs until yolk and white are firm. The NHS allows runny or raw British Lion eggs for babies.
• How long to avoid whole nuts and popcorn. The AAP suggests waiting until 4 years or older. The NHS says not under 5 years.
• Juice. The AAP and CDC say no juice at all under 12 months. The NHS says it’s best avoided before 12 months, and if you do offer it, dilute it 1 part juice to 10 parts water, with a meal, in an open cup.
• Rice drinks. The NHS says none under 5, because of arsenic. The AAP also says not to use rice milk as a substitute for cow’s milk, but doesn’t give an age.
• Cow’s milk in cooking. The NHS says small amounts of cow’s milk in cooking are fine from about 6 months. The CDC says giving cow’s milk before 12 months may put babies at risk of intestinal bleeding. If you follow US advice, use breast milk or formula in your baby’s food instead.
• Plant-based drinks after 12 months. The NHS allows unsweetened, calcium-fortified soy, oat or almond drinks as a main drink from 1 year. The AAP considers only soy milk nutritionally equivalent to cow’s milk.
• Soft cheeses and pâté. The NHS names specific soft cheeses and fresh pâté to avoid. US guidance focuses on avoiding unpasteurized cheese.
• Sugar. The US Dietary Guidelines (2025–2030) and the NHS now agree: avoid added sugar up to age 4. The NHS also names honey, syrup, juice and smoothies.
• Slush ice drinks. The NHS gives an age (7 and under). US agencies don’t single them out.

Signs of infant botulism

The CDC lists signs of infant botulism as constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, a face showing less expression than usual, and a weak cry that sounds different. Botulism is a medical emergency. If constipation is the only sign, call your pediatrician or GP the same day and tell them about any honey. Constipation with any other sign, or any of the other signs on their own, is an emergency.

If your baby has any of the other signs, especially after eating honey, or seems weak or floppy, call 911 or go to the emergency room straight away.If your baby has any of the other signs, especially after eating honey, or is limp or floppy, call 999. Don’t drive yourself to A&E.If your baby has any of the other signs, especially after eating honey, or seems weak or floppy, call your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia) or go to the nearest emergency department straight away.

When to talk to your doctor

If you’re unsure whether a food is safe for your child, ask your pediatrician or health visitor.