There are things that you need to look out for when you are feeding your baby at the different stages of their development. Many parents make bad choices because they simply do not know the dangers of eating. This is especially true of new parents. New parents have not learned what is and is not appropriate when feeding their young children.

Babies always need to have their heads supported properly when eating and should be burped after every ½ ounce of formula. This will prevent choking, regurgitation and gas. Babies also should have no honey until they are at least one year old. This is because honey can have small amounts of botulism in it. Adult immune systems can handle this small amount of botulism, but the developing immune system of an infant cannot and it can make your baby very sick.

Parents should also avoid using too much formula mix or two little. Many parents believe that putting some extra formula powder in their baby’s bottle will help them sleep through the night, but this will not work. It can also make your baby very sick. The same goes for using too little formula. Always follow the instructions on the package precisely.

When your baby reaches one year old and can have cow’s milk they need whole milk. This is because they need the fat and calories for development. Once they reach two years of age you can give them lower fat milk if that is what you prefer. Do not give your child large chunks of food. All fruit, meat and cheeses should be cut into small pieces no bigger than a pea. Grapes, cherry tomatoes and melon balls should be cut into quarters before you serve them to your child.

Avoid hard foods like popcorn, nuts, seeds, raisins, dried fruits and hard candies. These foods are also choking hazards. Sticky foods such as marshmallows and jelly candies can also become lodged in your child’s throat. Peanut butter should not be given in large globs. Peanut butter should be spread in a thin layer on toast or crackers and can be further thinned out using apple sauce if necessary.

Feed your child in the high chair and not in front of the television. You should avoid letting your child walk around while eating too. Children should not be allowed to eat in the car because you cannot properly supervise them in this situation. Pay special attention to them when you are using tooth numbing agents because this can also interfere with their swallowing.

You can start giving your baby soft fruits cut into cubes or strips. It is also time to try soft, bite sized pieces of vegetables. Good ones are peas and carrots. You can also start letting your baby try well ground up meats and all types of beans cooked until they are soft. Combo foods such as casseroles and macaroni and cheese are also appropriate for this age group. Fruit juices, other than citrus, are also good as long as they are given in moderation.

Once your baby has reached 12 months they can start feeding themselves with a spoon. This may be very messy, but do not worry because they will get better at it. You can now start giving your baby whole cows milk. You also might want to try full fat yogurts and other types of cheese.

This is also the time that you start feeding your baby the same foods as the family eats. You just need to cut the food up into small pieces. Now is the time to introduce new fruits. Citrus is okay for your baby at this age and you might also want to introduce things like mango, melons and apricots.

Now is the time to really reinforce good eating habits. Start your baby on new vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower “trees”. The eating habits you start now will be with your child for life, so now is the time to get them going with good habits.

Even though your baby is growing, choking habits are still a big threat. When your child is young food should be cut up into pea size pieces. Also make sure you avoid any hard foods such as raisins, popcorn and nuts. Stay away from sticky foods like marshmallows, jelly candies and large globs of peanut butter. Spread peanut butter in a very thin layer on toast and crackers. Make sure that you do not let your child eat in the car because it is hard to supervise their eating.