smoked salmon? baked beans? - when can they have these?

[MamaPan]

Hello everyone
Just wondering when we can giva babies smoked salmon (i am assuming small small amt due to salt?) and also baked beans?
just trying to add to the basics my little man has..
TIA

[Beach Mama]

Not sure how old he is hun, but I would think from 12 mths they would both be fine. Izzy has had baked beans a few times since she turned one and has been having tuna for quite a while - I don't think there would be much difference between that and salmon. She loves sushi with tuna and avocado!

[MamaPan]

thanks Tan - he is 10 months but he is a good little eater... has had tuna quite a bit and normal salmon... i am thinking the salt in smoked salmon may be a prob? and the ability to digest baked beans???

[Starzia]

Hi Pregpan,
I wouldn't recommend any smoked foods for a baby, the smoking process results in depleted nutrients, essential fatty acids and protein, plus there are large amounts of salt and other preservatives, such as nitrates (a potential carcinogen) used. On top of this smoked fish is one of the most likely foods to become bacterially infected, and is one of the main causes of listeriosis. Unsmoked salmon would be much better.
As for baked beans, babies can digest them fine after 12 months, however commercial brands contain a lot of sugar - go for organic sugar free ones such as Siena.

[MamaPan]

thanks for that starzia - was planning to make my own beans - will wait a few months
and will stick to normal salmon for now...

[BhoysGirl]

You don't have to skip the beans completely. I make a thick vegie soup (as an alternative to mashed/pureed vegies), and I use kidney beans or borlotti beans to add fibre & all round goodness to the soup. I mash them up to break up the skins before I feed it to my DS. Chickpeas in soup are also great, as is barley.