To keep baby food free of bacteria and other food-borne pathogens that can cause illness:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before handling baby food or preparing formula. Not only will you be keeping your baby safe, but regular handwashing also helps protect you from getting sick.
  
  
• Don't feed your baby from the jar (or yogurt container) and then put the uneaten portion back in the refrigerator. Harmful bacteria from your baby's mouth can grow and multiply in the jar. If your baby is likely to eat less than a full jar, spoon a portion into a bowl and put the jar in the refrigerator for later. You generally can keep opened jars in the fridge for up to three days in the case of fruits and vegetables, one day for meats, and two days for meat and vegetable combos. A permanent marker can be handy for dating opened jars so you'll know what went into the refrigerator when.
  
  
• Don't leave perishable items out of the refrigerator (without a cold pack) for more than two hours. Throw them away if they've been sitting out longer than that.
  
  
• Watch expiration dates on baby food. Listen for the pop of vacuum seals of jarred foods. Don't feed your baby anything that has expired and throw out jars with chipped glass or rusty lids.
  
  
• When you're traveling, transport food and filled bottles in an insulated cooler with frozen packs.
  
  
• Don't give your baby honey if she is less than a year old. It could contain bacteria associated with botulism, a potentially fatal food poisoning. (See more about food poisoning.)
  
  
• Don't serve your baby or older child raw or unpasteurized milk, which may contain harmful bacteria. And no cow's milk before age 1.
  
  
• If you're making homemade baby food, use a brush to clean the blender or food processor blades and parts. Trapped food particles can harbor bacteria.
  
  
• To freeze homemade baby food, put the mixture in an ice-cube tray. Cover with heavy-duty plastic wrap and freeze. Later, you can pop the frozen food cubes into a freezer bag or airtight container and date it. Store vegetables up to three months, and meat, fish, and chicken up to eight weeks.
  
  
• Use dishwashing detergent, hot water, and a clean rag to wash and rinse all utensils that come in contact with the baby's food, including the can opener. Just wiping them with a paper towel isn't enough. Soap, water, and friction do the trick.
  
  
• Don't keep bottles or food in the same bag as dirty diapers unless the food is in its own separate, insulated container or sealed plastic bag.
  
  
• When your baby gets to the finger-food stage, which can start as early as 7 months, cut food into bite-size pieces. But don't offer your baby nuts, raisins, grapes, or hot dogs; they're all choking hazards and not appropriate for infants or toddlers. (See our report on food-choking hazards.)
  
  
  

  DISHWARE THAT'S NOT FIT TO BE ZAPPED Besides baby food, you'll need rubber-tipped or plastic spoons and baby-friendly dishwasher- and microwave-safe bowls and plates. Check the label to make sure the dishware is safe for both dishwasher and microwave before you buy--no matter how cute it is. You'll probably use the dishware in the microwave, especially for reheating. If it's not microwave safe and you use it there anyway, chemicals from the plastic could leach into the food. Popular brands of microwave- and dishwasher-safe baby tableware are Primo, Sassy, and The First Years.