Introducing new foods to your baby can be a very thrilling experience, especially as you come to find out which foods make their faces light up in delight or scrunch up in displeasure. I, too, couldn't wait to bond over my love of food with my daughter and hoped with all of my might she be spared from any allergies.

While researching various weaning schedules and reading several baby weaning books when my daughter was a newborn, it was clearly stated not to give babies under the age of one any honey. "Hmmm?", I thought. It was not completely obvious as to why babies can not eat honey. Honey is healthy, and delicious, might I add. So, why can't she have a taste? Oh, and, what other foods should I be careful about?

So, thus began my journey, and while finding resources in English and for the United States was quite easy, finding information in Japanese was quite elusive as a non-native speaker. I absolutely have come to love Japanese food, and I admire the Japanese mentality toward healthy and nutritious eating. However, understanding Japanese food is a mountain higher than Fuji! There are tons of dishes, veggies, and ingredients I've never seen or eaten before. 

Can babies eat natto? How about daikon? Well, I'm here to share what Japanese foods are NG (not good) for your little darling!

Please Note: I am not a medical professional, and the information below is for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional, one-on-one advice from your pediatric medical/health professional, nutritionist/dietitian, or expert in pediatric feeding and eating. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen here!

Konnyaku

Konnyaku is made from the plant Konjac. It's has a firm jelly-like texture and is practically flavorless! Konnyaku is popular for vegans, and those on diets as it is 97% water and has zero calories and sugar. I love konnyaku in oden or hijiki salads, but no matter how healthy this food is for you, it is not safe to give to your little darling! Due to its elastic and jelly-like texture, babies cannot chew it well and risk swallowing it whole, which is a choking hazard! Hold off on this food until  your child's molars grow or around the age of 1 and a 1/2.

Mochi

Mochi is rice that has been ground down into a sticky paste. Similar to Konnyaku, it is hard for children to chew it and swallow it well. Although mochi is very delicious, children under the age of three should not be fed mochi. A child should only be fed mochi not only when they have all of their teeth but also when they are able to follow instructions very well. Mochi causes deaths each year in Japan, mostly children and the elderly, so definitely follow strict precautions when feeding mochi to your child. 

Gingko

Gingko is not just a tree! Gingko trees also produce fruits, which contain nuts that are a highly addictive and delicious snack! In Japan, you can often find these nuts roasted, in porridges, or chawanmushi. Gingko nuts can be a choking hazard and block your child's airway, along with other nuts, grapes, and cherry tomatoes, so stay away from these nuts until your baby is at least three. Also, eating too many nuts can cause diarrhea even in adults! 

Sushi (Raw Fish and Meat)

I absolutely love sushi, and giving it up during my pregnancy was one of the hardest "diets" I've ever been on! Unfortunately, it will also be a while before I can share my love of sushi with my daughter. While there is no magic number, parent's need to be aware that due to their immature organs, babies are more prone to diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms. There's also a high risk of food poisoning and allergies. An adult may be able to handle a bit of food poisoning, but a baby is much more sensitive. Therefore, it's better to wait until at least two to three years of age. 

Soba

Soba is a thin, Japanese noodle made from buckwheat. While yummy hot or cold, buckwheat can be a really serious allergy. While buckwheat allergies are quite rare in the United States, there has been a rise in cases in Japan. The effects of eating soba when allergic can be very severe, so it is best to introduce soba near the end of the weaning period if you are worried. Many begin with giving a sip of water that the soba was boiled in.

Yama-Imo

The first time I ate yama-imo, I was in the hospital recovering from my labor with my daughter. The bowl was filled with a white, slimy, very unappetizing looking mass. Typical hospital concoction, I thought. Well, I was wrong! Yama-imo is a yam native to Japan that is packed with tons of health benefits, such as vitamin B and C. The slimy, healthy mass, seems like it would be perfect as baby food, but the issue with yama-imo is, yes, some people are allergic to it, but more than likely the yam will cause contact dermatitis (itching) around the mouth. So, it's best to introduce this food around 9 months or later. Even so, it is recommended to put petroleum jelly around the mouth to protect the skin. 

Kamaboko, Hanpen, Chikuwa

One of my favorite Japanese dishes is oden. This hot soup is perfect for a cold winter day. Kamaboko, hanpen, and chikuwa, are all processed fish products. Basically, fish are ground into a paste and then steamed to make a soft, chewy, and elastic "mass"! So, while there are some seafood allergies to be concerned about, these three ingredients are packed with salt, some of the products contain eggs, soy, and other wheat or dairy products that are allergens, and also the texture of these three ingrediants are chewy and elastic, which are extremely hard for babies to effectively chew, making them a choking hazard as well. 

Matcha

Here in Japan, children are introduced to tea fairly early, some even before plain water. So, you might think, any old tea is okay, but the tea most children and babies drink is called Mugi-cha. Mugi-cha is barley tea and it is rich in antioxidants, calorie free, and caffeine free. Matcha, or green tea, on the other hand, aside from being bitter, it is packed with caffeine. The amount of caffeine in one cup of green tea is the same as one cup of coffee. With that being said, babies' digestive tract is not developed enough to handle such a stimulant and, especially the liver, cannot break down the caffeine. 

Himono

Himono literalaly means dried things, but it is often used to describe fish that has been dried. Prior to the refrigerator, fish was often dried and cured with salt to preserve it. Nowadays, the salt and drying isn't used so much as to preserve the fish, it is used to concentrate the flavor, which sets it apart from fresh fish (mirinboshi is one of my favorite himonos). Himono is absolutely delicious, many think, "it's just fish", and seems harmless enough to introduce to babies if prepared correctly, however, himono is not suitable for infants during the early weaning period for several reasons. One, it's packed with salt that will be a huge burden to the kidneys. Two, the "meat" is tough and is much harder to prepare than fresh fish, and three, you must remove all of the bones, which can be really tricky. So, it much better to wait until your babies organs are more developed and the weaning period is coming to an end.

Hijiki

I've saved my favorite Japanese food for last, which is hijiki! Hijiki is a marine algae and edible seaweed packed with health benefits, such as calcium, iron and magnesium. But, just because it is good for your health, doesn't mean it is suitable for your baby. Although very healthy, it is hard to digest. It is rich in fiber, and also contains "inorganic arsenic", which is harmful substance. It's best to introduce hijiki after 9 months, and only then should you also do a lot of research about how much and how to prepare it before feeding it to your child!