Baby Food Safety Cheat Sheet

Know exactly what's safe at every age — from first bites to toddler meals. Sourced from pediatric nutrition guidelines.

Based on AAP, WHO, and CDC guidelines • Updated 2026

Low Risk Safe with minimal prep
Medium Age-appropriate prep needed
High Risk Careful prep required
⚠️ Allergen Introduce cautiously
4 months

First Bites — Smooth Purees

🥑
Avocado
Low Fruit
🍌
Banana
Low Fruit
🍠
Sweet Potato
Low Vegetable
🍐
Pear
Low Fruit
🎃
Butternut Squash
Low Vegetable
🍑
Peach
Low Fruit
🥕
Carrots
High Must be cooked soft
🟢
Peas
Medium Mash well
🥣
Iron-Fortified Cereal
Low Grain
🥣
Oats
Low Grain
🍗
Chicken
Medium Puree smooth
🥚
Eggs
Low ⚠️ Egg
🥜
Peanut Butter
Low ⚠️ Peanut
🥛
Whole Milk Yogurt
Low ⚠️ Dairy
6 months

Expanding Flavors — Soft Textures

🧀
Cheese
Medium ⚠️ Dairy
🧈
Butter
Low ⚠️ Dairy
🫐
Blueberries
Medium Squash or halve
🍓
Strawberries
Medium Quarter lengthwise
🍇
Grapes
High Quarter lengthwise!
🥦
Broccoli
Medium Steam until very soft
🍝
Pasta
Low ⚠️ Wheat
🍞
Bread/Toast
Medium ⚠️ Wheat
🐟
Salmon
Medium ⚠️ Fish
🫘
Lentils
Low Great iron source
🌽
Corn
Medium Puree for young babies
8 months

Finger Foods — Building Skills

🍅
Tomatoes
Medium Quarter cherry tomatoes
🥒
Cucumber
Medium Peel, remove seeds
🥞
Pancakes
Low Soft, cut in strips
🍳
Scrambled Eggs
Low Soft, small pieces
12 months

Toddler Table — Almost Everything!

🥛
Whole Cow's Milk
Low ⚠️ Dairy
🍯
Honey
Low NEVER before 12 months
🌭
Hot Dogs
High Quarter lengthwise!
🥗
Raw Leafy Greens
Medium Chop finely
🦐
Shellfish
Medium ⚠️ Shellfish
🥜
Whole Nuts
High Chop or grind only!
🍿
Popcorn
High Not until 4 years
400+

This is just a preview

The full NourishNest app includes 400+ foods with detailed safety guides, prep instructions, choking risk assessments, and allergen tracking for your baby's exact age.

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