Parents of babies who are ready for solids are in a constant dilemma of what to give their babies and what not to. The fact that babies have an immature digestive system makes parents want to be all the more careful of what they can feed their little munchkins. At the same time, they must ensure that babies get the required nutrition in the form of solids. Carrots are one of the sweet and subtle vegetables that babies like. They are rich in nutrition and contain essential minerals required for the body. In this article, we discuss all about carrots for babies.
Carrots do not result in any allergies in babies nor cause indigestion, but they aid good digestion. They are rich in beta carotene, a pigment that promotes eye and skin health. Keep reading our article to know more about carrots for babies, when to introduce them, and their health benefits.
In This Article
- Are Carrots Safe For Babies?
- When Can You Introduce Carrots to Your Baby?
- Nutritional Value of Carrots
- Amazing Top Four Health Benefits of Carrots For Babies
- How Can You Introduce Carrots Into Your Baby’s Diet?
- Precautions to Take While Introducing Carrots For Babies
- Carrot Puree Recipe
- Top 3 Healthy and Tasty Carrot Recipes For Babies
- FAQ’s
Are Carrots Safe For Babies?
Carrots are tender and easy to cook, and most babies like carrots for their sweet taste. There are different kinds of carrots available in the market, and the nutrition of every variety remains almost the same. You can add carrots to the weekly food chart of your baby once they turn 6+ months old.
Pureed carrots can be the ideal food for younger babies, while you can slowly try out different recipes once your little one completes a year. We have more information on carrots for babies here, which can be helpful for new mommies.
When Can You Introduce Carrots to Your Baby?
Carrots can be introduced to babies once they turn six months old or when they are ready for solids. Carrots are delicious, easy to cook for the mother and easy to eat and digest for babies.
The recipe options are limitless which means that the babies don’t get bored. Carrots provided the much-needed nutrition for growing babies. But remember, carrot puree and mashed carrots are the safest way to introduce this vegetable to your baby.
Nutritional Value of Carrots
The below table predicts the nutritional value of raw carrot per 100 gm
| Nutrients | Value |
| Vitamin A | 835.00 mcg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.066 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.058 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.138 mg |
| Vitamin B9 | 19.00 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 5.9 mg |
| Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol) | 0.66 mg |
| Vitamin K | 13.2 mcg |
| Calcium, Ca | 33.00 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.30 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 12.00 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.143 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 69.00 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.24 mg |
Amazing Top Four Health Benefits of Carrots For Babies
Here you go, looking at the nutrition facts of carrots, we now know what health benefits they can give to that tiny growing body. While there are many, let us discuss the top five health benefits for babies.
1. Good For Eye Health
Carrots are an excellent source of good eye health. The bright orange color of carrots is because of a pigment called beta-carotene. Beta-carotene helps in promoting and maintaining healthy eyesight. It also helps in preventing certain hereditary vision disorders. t. We all know that vitamin A is vital in promoting good eye health.
The compounds called lutein and zeaxanthin present in carrots help protect the eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays. Lutein also helps reduce oxidative stress in cells and helps avoid cell death of eye tissues.
2. Reduces Constipation in Babies
Yes, carrots aid in better digestion and prevent constipation in babies. The high fiber content present in carrots helps in easy bowel movement, which eventually is bye-bye for constipation. Fiber-containing foods tend to loosen the stool and promote a proper bowel movement.
3. Regulates Bowel Movement
It is a known fact that babies suffer from constipation often, especially once they start having solids. Due to their abundance of fiber, carrots allow your baby to have good bowel movements and keep the tiny tummy happy and clean.
4. Promotes Healthy And Glowing Skin
Besides aiding in better eye health, vitamin A and beta carotene in carrots also promote healthy and glowing skin in babies. The antioxidants and vitamin A present in carrots help in repairing dry and scaly skin. Beta carotene aids in skin cell rejuvenation for better skin.
Apart from the above, carrots also aid in maintaining good heart health. The bioactive elements present in carrots help in killing intestinal worms in babies. Calcium present in carrots aids in oral health and strong bones. Carrots are also responsible for gaining better memory in babies.
How Can You Introduce Carrots Into Your Baby’s Diet?
You can include carrots into a baby’s diet once they are above six months. There are many ways to cook it, as carrot is an easily digestible vegetable. One thing you should make sure of is that age-appropriate cooking is vital. Carrot mash, puree and soup are good first foods to try out when you are introducing this vegetable for the first time.
Carrots by themselves do not cause any allergic reactions in babies. However, if you are concerned, it is always better to see a doctor before introducing any new food.
[Read : Baby And Solid Foods: When And How to Introduce]
Precautions to Take While Introducing Carrots For Babies
There are certain precautions to take before buying and cooking carrots for your little one.
- Ensure to buy tender and fresh carrots.
- Opt for regular carrots rather than baby carrots.
- Do not use scaly carrots to feed your baby.
- Raw carrots are not an option while feeding a baby, as uncooked ones are hard to digest.
- Wash the carrots thoroughly and peel the outer layer before you boil or steam them.
- Make age-appropriate slices, steam, or boil the vegetables for younger babies.
- Feed only two spoons of puree if you are introducing it.
- Though carrots never cause any allergic reactions, give a three-day gap before you feed carrots again.
[Read : The 3-Day Wait Rule For Babies To Introduce Solids]
Carrot Puree Recipe
We know how daunting it is to prepare innovative purees for your little one every day. Here is how you make a basic carrot puree recipe for your baby.
Buy tender and fresh carrots and ensure they do not have scales. Wash, peel, boil and mash to feed the puree to your baby. The puree is soft and sweet and does not require any other base.
Top 3 Healthy and Tasty Carrot Recipes For Babies
If you are looking for different ways to feed carrots to your little one, here are three recipes you can try out
1. Carrot Apple Puree
Did you know that you could mix this vegetable with a fruit? Yes, they go well as a combination. You can make a puree out of these two and feed your little one. Ensure to wash and peel before you steam or boil the carrots and apples.
2. Sweet Potato Carrot Puree
Pretty sweet! Both are subtle vegetables and can make a portion of excellent soft food for your baby’s solid diet. Just washing, peeling, boiling and mashing is all it takes.
3. Carrot Juice
You can use this juice as the base for the boiled purees or directly feed the juice to your little one. Ensure to consult your doctor before giving anything uncooked to your baby.
Carrots for babies can be an extremely nutritious option. Start giving carrots once your baby is above six months and enjoys having solid foods. Carrots are rich in nutrition and majorly aid in eye health by avoiding possible age-related vision problems.
[Read : Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes for Babies]
FAQ’s
1. Are Carrots Healthy For Babies?
Yes, carrots are one of the best healthy solid foods your baby can have. Carrots are sweet and easily digestible. They also help in promoting better digestion and avoiding constipation in babies. Carrots are known for their benefits to the eyes and vision.
2. When Can I Give My Baby Carrots?
You can give carrots to your baby once they are 6-7 months old. However, it is better to consult your doctor before introducing any new food to your little one.
3. Do Carrots Cause Constipation?
Carrots are high in fiber and water content. Fiber-containing foods help in easy bowel movement and help to reduce constipation problems in babies.
Read Also: Potatoes For Babies – When to Introduce, Benefits and Precautions
