4. Fish, Raw Fish and Shellfish
Raw or only lightly cooked food from the sea is a big no no for babies under the age of two as there’s a dangerous risk of food poisoning or allergies. So avoid giving your child prawns, mussels, clams, oysters or any other shellfish. The same goes for raw or smoked fish such as sushi, sashimi and smoked salmon.
Other fish that’s usually cooked can also cause problems for babies and young children due to high levels of mercury, a toxic heavy metal. This includes shark, swordfish and marlin. Studies, including one from 2009, published in the journal Current Opinions in Paediatrics, consistently find that mercury can be harmful to a child’s brain development.
Summary:
Avoid feeding raw fish and shellfish to babies and young children due to a food poisoning and allergy risk. Also avoid certain fish thought to have high levels of mercury in their flesh including marlin and swordfish.
