1 June 2026 · 4 min read
Spoon in hand, baby watching expectantly. Is that actually safe? In the first year of life, there's a manageable list of foods that genuinely warrant caution. Some rules change after the first birthday, while others remain important into toddlerhood.
Here's what you need to know.
Honey, including honey in baked goods, should be avoided completely in the first year. It can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum, which in infants can cause a rare but serious illness (infant botulism). From the second year onwards, honey is safe.
Raw or undercooked eggs and raw meat carry a salmonella risk. Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) recommends that scrambled eggs, omelettes and meat must be fully cooked through for infants.
Raw milk and raw-milk products, including raw-milk cheese, can contain harmful germs and are not suitable for babies and toddlers.
Cow's milk as the main drink is not suitable under 12 months. It contains too much protein and salt, and too little iron for infant needs. In small amounts in porridge or meals, cow's milk is fine from the start of solids. For how much cow's milk in the first year fits and when it becomes a drink, see our dedicated article.
Choking hazard: Whole nuts, hard raw vegetables and small round foods like whole grapes or cherry tomatoes can easily get into the airway. For babies and toddlers, such foods should be prepared safely and appropriately for their age, for example nuts finely ground or as nut butter, hard root vegetables cooked soft or grated, and grapes or cherry tomatoes quartered lengthways.
Baby kidneys cannot yet efficiently excrete excess salt. ESPGHAN (the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition) recommends no added salt in the first year of life. This includes processed foods like sausages, ready-made sauces and high-salt cheeses, use sparingly. Sugar builds early preferences for sweetness and damages first teeth. Sweeteners like stevia or xylitol are not suitable for babies. Our article on hidden sugar in baby food shows how much of it hides under innocent-sounding names.
Fish makes sense from the complementary-feeding stage, ideally once or twice a week. For babies, though, fish species with potentially high methylmercury levels, such as tuna, swordfish, shark or eel, should be avoided. Better choices include salmon or trout, for example.
From the first birthday, diet becomes considerably more flexible: honey can now be given, and cow's milk can be part of the diet in age-appropriate amounts. But some safety rules still matter. Toddlers should still not have raw animal foods or raw-milk products, and foods with a high choking risk still need to be prepared in a child-appropriate way. At the same time, your child's iron needs after the first birthday stay high, a good moment to build iron-rich foods into everyday meals.
If after a new food you notice a rash, swelling, vomiting or difficulty breathing: stop the food immediately and see your paediatrician promptly. For difficulty breathing or facial swelling, call 112 immediately.
If you're just getting started with solids, our article on starting solids covers the signs of readiness and the right timing.
Terms explained
Infant botulism: A rare but serious illness triggered by Clostridium botulinum spores. Honey can contain these spores, avoid it completely for babies in the first year of life.
Listeria: Bacteria that can be present in unpasteurised dairy products. Particularly relevant for infants, whose immune systems are not yet fully developed.
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