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110 4.2­ Weaning onto Solid Foods – Complementary Feeding

Table 4.2.6 Foods to limit and avoid

Foods Reason
Foods to limit

Foods with added sugar They provide excess calories with fewer nutrients
Infants are born with a preference for sweet foods and weaning is a
Foods with added salt such as adult time for learning to like other tastes
ready meals and commercial sauces, In homemade puddings and cooked fruit a small amount may be
soups and packet snacks added if necessary to reduce the tart flavour of sharp fruits
Liver
Foods to avoid An excess of salt could cause dehydration if an infant becomes ill.
However, nutritious foods that are preserved with salt, such as bread
and cheese, do not need to be limited as infants need a certain
amount of sodium to grow. See Chapter 1.2, page 19

Should be limited to one small serving per week because of the high
levels of vitamin A

Honey Carries a very small risk of botulism
Likely to cause gastroenteritis
Under-cooked eggs, meat, fish and
shellfish May contain mercury
Unpasteurized soft cheeses A choking hazard and can cause severe reactions if inhaled

Large fish such as marlin, swordfish and
shark

Whole nuts

●● Breastfed infants should begin from 6 months if UK most at risk of low vitamin D are those of
their mother was well nourished during Asian, Black or Middle Eastern origin whose
pregnancy. If there is any doubt about a mother’s mothers did not take a vitamin D supplement
vitamin status during pregnancy then breastfed during pregnancy.
infants should begin this supplement at 1 month
of age. Suitable supplements available

●● Formula-fed infants should begin taking a Healthy Start children’s vitamin drops are available
supplement once they are over 6 months and free for Healthy Start beneficiaries through some,
drinking less than 500 mL formula per day. This but not all, NHS Trusts/Boards. A variety are
is because infant formula is supplemented with available in retail pharmacies and outlets, but most
vitamins A and D. This is usually about 11–12 are expensive because they contain additional
months. vitamins and minerals. Some are prescribable.

This policy may vary locally: in areas where the Activity 2
incidence of rickets is high due to low vitamin D
status of mothers and infants, some NHS Trusts/ Make up some weaning meals for each of the
Boards recommend this supplement from birth for three weaning stages, taking care to mix them
all infants. to the correct texture. Buy some commercial
baby foods and compare the flavour and
Unfortunately, in some areas a vitamin A and texture to those you have prepared from fresh
D supplement is not widely recommended to ingredients.
parents and the recent rise in rickets is linked to
the poor uptake of this supplement. Infants in the