105 sourced answers

Is it safe for my baby?

Honey, cow’s milk, salt, whole nuts, walkers, cot bumpers and second-hand car seats — with the verdict and where each country’s guidance differs.

Is it safe?Can a baby car seat go in the front seat?It depends where you live. UK law says deactivate the airbag first. Australia bans under-4s from…Is it safe?Can babies have almond milk?Not as a milk drink before 12 months, and Australia says wait until 2. Almond drink is very low in…Is it safe?Are amber teething necklaces safe?No. The FDA has received reports of death and serious injuries including strangulation and choking…Is it safe?Are baby carriers safe for hips?Carriers do not damage healthy hips when the legs sit bent and spread. The real risk is the airway:…Is it safe?Can babies have rice cakes?Unsalted rice cakes are a recognised finger food from around 7 months, but they break into hard…Is it safe?Can I put lotion on a newborn?Mostly yes. The NHS says plain water is enough at first, and that any oils or lotions should be…Is it safe?When can babies use a walker?Canada banned baby walker sales in April 2004, second-hand included. The UK and US still allow…Is it safe?Can babies have bacon?No, not as a regular food. Bacon is named by name on the NHS list of salty foods to avoid for…Is it safe?Can babies drink bottled water?Bottled water is not sterile and may be high in sodium or sulphate, so the NHS says it is not…Is it safe?Can babies have bread and toast?Yes, from around 6 months. White bread can form a dough ball in the throat, so the NHS says to…Is it safe?Can babies have cheese?Yes, pasteurised full-fat cheese from around 6 months. Brie, camembert, chevre and blue cheese are…Is it safe?Can babies have chocolate?No. No authority sets a chocolate age, but three separate rules rule it out for babies: added…Is it safe?Can babies have coconut milk?Coconut milk in cooking from around 6 months is fine. As a main milk drink it is not: very low in…Is it safe?Can babies drink cold breast milk?The NHS says you can feed expressed milk straight from the fridge if your baby will drink it cold.…Is it safe?Can babies drink cold formula?Formula does not have to be warm. Babies can take it cool or at room temperature. What differs by…Is it safe?Do colic drops work?NICE tells clinicians not to recommend simeticone or lactase drops for infant crying. Trials found…Is it safe?Can I take my baby to a concert or fireworks?Only with ear muffs. The AAP advises avoiding noisy venues with young children, and says that if…Is it safe?When can babies have a pillow or cot bumper?Crib bumpers are banned outright in the US under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act. The UK still sells…Is it safe?Can babies have cottage cheese?Yes. Cottage cheese is one of three cheeses the NHS and HSE name by type as suitable from around 6…Is it safe?Can I cover my pram in hot weather?No. The NHS says do not cover a pushchair or pram with a blanket because it could lead to…Is it safe?When can babies drink cow's milk?Cow's milk is fine in cooking from around 6 months but not as a main drink before 12 months in the…Is it safe?Can babies have cream cheese?Yes. The NHS and the HSE both name cream cheese as suitable from around 6 months, if it is…Is it safe?When can babies have ham and deli meat?Ireland says do not give processed meats to babies at all. The UK says limit them, but small…Is it safe?Can you use distilled water for formula?Distilled water does not remove the need to boil. The NHS wants water at 70C for every feed; the…Is it safe?Is it safe to have a dog around a newborn?Yes, with rules. The RSPCA says never leave a dog and a baby together unsupervised. The AAP says…Is it safe?Are door bouncers safe?Only briefly, and they are not recommended. The ACCC says child safety experts do not recommend…Is it safe?When can babies drink from a straw?No health service publishes a straw age. The NHS does publish a cup age: from around six months,…Is it safe?Can babies have eggs?Yes. Egg is a first food from around 6 months and one of the two allergens no authority wants…Is it safe?Can I put Vicks on my baby?No. The AAP says never use mentholated rub on children under 2, because camphor can be toxic.…Is it safe?When can babies face forward in a pushchair?No safety body publishes an age. What is published is that young babies need a flat surface, and…Is it safe?Can babies have fish?Yes, from around 6 months, with every bone removed. Only shark, swordfish and marlin are ruled out.…Is it safe?When can babies fly?The AAP says flying is generally safe from about 7 days old, and suggests waiting until 2 to 3…Is it safe?When can babies face forward in a car seat?UK law says over 15 months for a height-based seat, but a weight-based seat allows 9kg. Canada…Is it safe?When can babies face forward in a carrier?No safety body publishes an age. What they publish is TICKS, and two of the five checks are harder…Is it safe?Can babies have juice?The AAP says no fruit juice at all under 12 months. The NHS allows it diluted 1 part juice to 10…Is it safe?Can babies have goat's milk?Plain goat's milk is not a main drink before 12 months: too little iron. Goat's milk formula is…Is it safe?When can babies go on a boat?Transport Canada says there are no approved lifejackets for infants under 9kg, and recommends…Is it safe?When can babies go out in public?There is no quarantine period, and no health service publishes one. What matters is who touches…Is it safe?Can I take my baby to the beach?Yes, and no body sets a minimum age. Under six months means out of direct sun entirely, which on a…Is it safe?Can babies have grapes?Yes, but never whole. A whole grape is the classic airway-shaped food: the NHS says cut them into…Is it safe?Can babies have Greek yogurt?Yes. Plain full-fat Greek yogurt is suitable from around 6 months, and the AAP names it directly.…Is it safe?Is gripe water safe for babies?The NHS says gripe water is not recommended and there is no evidence it helps colic. US advice says…Is it safe?When can babies have their ears pierced?The AAP says ears may be pierced at any age, but recommends waiting until a child can care for the…Is it safe?Can babies have herbal tea?The HSE says tea and coffee are not suitable for babies, including herbal and decaf teas. The NHS…Is it safe?Can babies have honey?No. Honey can carry the spores behind infant botulism, so the NHS, CDC and Health Canada all rule…Is it safe?Can babies go in a hot tub?No. Babies cannot regulate their body temperature, and the HSE treats spa pools as a legionella…Is it safe?Can babies have hummus?Yes. The NHS names hummus among protein and iron sources for young children. It introduces sesame,…Is it safe?Can babies wear bug spray?UK guidance says 50% DEET is fine from 2 months. Health Canada bans DEET under 6 months and caps it…Is it safe?Can babies have jam?Jam is mostly sugar, and the NHS says a baby does not need sugar. Yeast extract is salt. Chocolate…Is it safe?Can babies have ketchup?Ketchup is not toxic, but it is salt and sugar in one spoonful, and a baby under 1 has a salt limit…Is it safe?Can babies have lactose-free milk?Lactose-free cows' milk is still cows' milk, so the 12-month rule is unchanged. Lactose-free…Is it safe?Can people kiss my newborn?Holding is fine with washed hands. Kissing is not: the NHS says discourage anyone who is not a…Is it safe?Is it safe to take a baby on a long car journey?Yes, with breaks. Red Nose Australia says take a break at least every two hours. The Lullaby Trust…Is it safe?When can babies meet other babies?There is no minimum age. Other children are the main source of respiratory viruses, so the sensible…Is it safe?Can my baby nap in a different room?No. The six-month room-sharing rule covers daytime naps too, and the Lullaby Trust says no device…Is it safe?Can my baby nap in a pram?A lie-flat pram carrycot counts as a safe sleep space in UK guidance. Red Nose Australia says a…Is it safe?Can babies have oat milk?Not as a main drink before 12 months. The NHS allows unsweetened fortified oat drink from 1 year,…Is it safe?Can babies have oatmeal and porridge?Yes. Oats and porridge are on the NHS list of starchy first foods from around 6 months. The rules…Is it safe?When can babies have pasta?From around 6 months. Pasta is on the NHS list of starchy first foods. Cook it soft, cut it to…Is it safe?When can babies have peanut butter?From the start of weaning, around 6 months. Delaying peanut is now thought to raise the allergy…Is it safe?When can babies have popcorn?Not as a baby, and not as a toddler either. The NHS says no popcorn under 5. The US and Canada say…Is it safe?Should babies have probiotics?UK guidance says do not recommend probiotics for infant crying. Reviews are low-certainty, with a…Is it safe?Can babies have raisins and dried fruit?The UK says never give whole raisins under 1 and always cut them up. Canada says none before 4. New…Is it safe?Can you reheat a baby's milk?Warm a refrigerated feed once, for no more than 15 minutes, and never in a microwave. A bottle your…Is it safe?Can babies have rice?Rice is fine for babies in a varied diet. Rice drinks are not: the UK bars them as a milk…Is it safe?When can babies ride in a bike seat?Not under twelve months. Parachute Canada says do not use a trailer or carrier under one, and the…Is it safe?Can my baby travel in a taxi without a car seat?UK law exempts taxis and minicabs: under-3s may travel on a rear seat with no belt. That is an…Is it safe?Can babies have salmon?Yes. Salmon is oily fish, low in mercury and named as a good choice in Canada. Remove every pin…Is it safe?Can babies have salt?Babies under 1 should have less than 1g of salt a day and never added salt. Stock cubes, gravy,…Is it safe?Can babies have sausages?Ireland says no processed meats at all. New Zealand excludes sausages from nurseries outright. The…Is it safe?Can babies watch TV?No screen time is recommended under 1, says the WHO. The AAP advises minimising media other than…Is it safe?Are second-Hand car seats safe?Not never, but only with a known history. RoSPA calls car seats one-hit products. Canada requires a…Is it safe?Can I vape around my baby?No. The NHS says passive smoke is especially harmful to babies, and it raises SIDS risk. The…Is it safe?When can babies sit in a shopping trolley?Not until they sit steadily on their own. The AAP says over 20,000 children a year are treated for…Is it safe?Can a baby monitor prevent SIDS?No. The AAP says do not use home cardiorespiratory monitors to reduce SIDS risk, and Red Nose calls…Is it safe?Can my baby sleep in a swing or inclined seat?Inclined sleepers are banned hazardous products in the US under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act.…Is it safe?Can my baby sleep in a car seat?Only in the car. Of 348 infant sleep deaths in sitting devices in one US study, 62.9% were in car…Is it safe?Can my baby sleep in just a vest?Yes. The Lullaby Trust says a short sleeve bodysuit suits a room above 20C, and in real heat a vest…Is it safe?Can my baby sleep in the same bed as an older child?No. Safer bed-sharing guidance is written for one aware adult. An older child cannot judge position…Is it safe?Can my baby sleep on a second-hand mattress?The Lullaby Trust says research suggests a mattress from another home raises SIDS risk. Red Nose…Is it safe?Can my baby sleep on their side?No. Red Nose Australia says side sleeping doubles SUDI risk, and that the side position is…Is it safe?Can my baby sleep on their stomach?No. The Lullaby Trust says front or side sleeping greatly increases SIDS risk, and the risk is…Is it safe?Can my baby sleep on my chest?Awake, yes. Asleep, no. Red Nose calls chest-sleeping while lying down the same as tummy sleeping,…Is it safe?Can my baby sleep with a blanket?A firmly tucked-in lightweight blanket is standard UK and Australian advice. The AAP allows no…Is it safe?Can my baby sleep with a dummy?Yes. The NHS says some research suggests a dummy at sleep can lower SIDS risk. The Lullaby Trust's…Is it safe?Can my baby sleep with white noise on?Yes. Red Nose Australia says the limited evidence suggests white noise may help some babies and…Is it safe?Can babies have smoothies and purees in pouches?Pouches are not banned, but sucking from the spout teaches nothing. The HSE says decant into a…Is it safe?Can babies have soya milk?Soya drink is not for babies under 1, but soya formula is a different product and is used only on…Is it safe?Can babies have sugar?Your baby does not need sugar. The UK sets no infant limit because none should be added; the US…Is it safe?Can babies wear sunscreen?Under 6 months the NHS and CDC say keep babies out of the sun rather than use sunscreen. The AAP…Is it safe?Can a swaddled baby overheat?Yes. The Lullaby Trust says never put extra bedding over a swaddled baby and never swaddle with a…Is it safe?When can babies go swimming?The NHS says you can take a baby swimming from a very young age and there is no need to wait for…Is it safe?When can babies drink tap water?In the UK, water for babies over 6 months does not need boiling. Australia says cooled boiled until…Is it safe?Can babies have teething biscuits?The NHS says avoid rusks because nearly all brands contain some sugar. Teething biscuits also break…Is it safe?Can babies have tofu?Yes. Tofu is named as an iron-rich first food by the NHS, ASCIA, HealthLink BC and the Canadian…Is it safe?Can babies travel without a passport?No. A baby cannot travel on a parent's passport anywhere. UK child passports last five years, and…Is it safe?Can babies have tuna?Yes. Tuna is not on any banned list for babies, but it carries more mercury than most fish. Canada…Is it safe?When can babies sit in a high chair?When they can hold their head steady and stay in a sitting position, which the NHS lists among the…Is it safe?Do babies need vitamin drops?The UK recommends vitamin D from birth for breastfed babies, and A, C and D from 6 months. The US,…Is it safe?Can babies drink water?Babies under 6 months do not need water, and extra water can cause seizures. The NHS allows small…Is it safe?When can babies wear shoes?Not until they are walking outdoors. Shoes protect feet from the ground; they do not help a baby…Is it safe?When can babies wear sunglasses?Sunglasses help once a baby is out in the sun, but under six months the advice is shade, not gear.…Is it safe?When can babies have Weetabix and cereal?Cereal is a starchy first food from around 6 months. The question is which one: adult cereals carry…Is it safe?Can babies have nuts?Whole nuts are a choking hazard until 5 in the UK and 4 in the US. Ground nuts and thin-spread nut…Is it safe?Can babies have yogurt?Yes. Plain full-fat pasteurised yogurt is a first food from around 6 months. The catch is sugar:…