Cranberries For Babies: When to Introduce, Benefits And Precautions
7 min readWritten by Pradeep
Breast milk is the best for the babies till they start weaning and nutrition for babies is a topic of thought and the choice is really difficult with umpteen options available for them. It is known to offer them nutrients with the intake of green leafy vegetables as well as fruits. Is cranberries for babies a good choice?
Cranberries are considered to be a wholesome food as their nutrient and antioxidant levels are very high. In case the child is made to have a wholesome diet from the beginning, it becomes easier for the child to instill good habits later in life.
In This Article
- Can Babies Have Cranberries?
- When Can Babies Eat Cranberries?
- What Is The Goodness Of Cranberries For Babies?
- How To Select And Store Cranberries?
- Precautions to Take While Introducing Cranberries For Babies
- Can Babies Drink Cranberry Juice?
- Can I Give My Baby Cranberry Sauce?
- Top 5 Health Benefits of Cranberries For Babies
- Are There Any Side Effects of Cranberries For Babies
- Top 3 Tasty And Healthy Cranberry Recipes For Babies
- FAQ’s
Can Babies Have Cranberries?
Cranberry has a greater acidic content and that is why it is a reason enough not to offer as baby food in the initial days. Babies should be given cranberries in smaller amounts to study the reaction on the baby and then continue if no discomfort is seen from the baby’s end are seen.
When Can Babies Eat Cranberries?
These should be offered to the baby between 8 and 12 months old in order to prevent any sort of acidic reactions. If introduced earlier than this, the baby can develop small red rashes in areas around the mouth as well as the bottom. So one has to be prudent enough while feeding cranberries.
What Is The Goodness Of Cranberries For Babies?
These foods are densely loaded with nutrients and even have a great Vitamin C content and even have polyphenols which are known to boost the immune system and even help to strengthen it. It even helps in the prevention of cancer as well as cardiac-related issues.
Cranberries have the following nutritional value:
| Calories – 46 | Protein- 0.4 g |
| Carbs- 12.2 g | Sugar- 4g |
| Fiber- 4.6g | Fat- 0.1g |
| Omega 3- 0.02g | Omega 6- 0.03 g |
| Water- 87% |
How To Select And Store Cranberries?
It is better to thoroughly check the cranberries before buying them. The presence of dull skin could indicate rotten signs. The fresh and good cranberries bear a deep maroon color, however, a few areas near its top could be of a lighter color as well.
The cranberries should be stored in a refrigerator until they can be used. They can even be frozen for a period of 10 months.
Precautions to Take While Introducing Cranberries For Babies
Parents must always be aware of the right methods and precautions when introducing any new food to babies, and this includes cranberries too. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when giving cranberry to your munchkin.
- Babies at 6 months of age who have started solids can eat cranberries, but you must select only fresh cranberries and avoid dried cranberries as these can act as choking hazards.
- When introducing cranberries for the first time, you can tryout cranberry mash. Steam or stew the cranberry fruit till smooth, mash with the back of a spoon or blend in a food processor.
- Always start with small quantities, a tablespoon of the mash, for example. You can slowly increase the quantity once your baby gets comfortable with the fruit.
- Apply the 3-day rule to watch out for any reactions. If your baby is showing any side effects such as allergies, diarrhea, vomiting, etc., stop giving the fruit immediately.
- You can talk to the pediatrician on the right time to reintroduce the fruit at a later stage.
- Do talk to your doctor before introducing the fruit to your baby if you have a family history of allergies.
- Always opt for fresh fruit and avoid canned cranberries as they can contain preservatives and chemicals which are not good for your baby.
- Avoid giving cranberries to babies less than a year old. For older babies, prefer fresh homemade juices as opposed to store-bought and canned juices.
Can Babies Drink Cranberry Juice?
Babies should only be given juices once the baby attains the age of 6 months or above. Prior to that, the baby does not even need water or juice as breast milk or formula carries all the nutrients required by the baby. When you offer cranberry juice to the baby just ensure that the juice has no extra value than giving fresh fruits. Be cautious as an excess of the juice leads to diarrhea or gastrointestinal disorder.
Can I Give My Baby Cranberry Sauce?
Cranberries are incredibly acidic in nature. Therefore, it’s not recommended for a baby under 8 months as it can potentially bring about some adverse reactions. After this, canned jelly cranberry sauce is perfectly safe for your baby. Although, whole cranberries can still pose a risk. Therefore, always make sure to puree whole berry sauce to a smooth consistency.
Top 5 Health Benefits of Cranberries For Babies
The succulent fruit has a plethora of benefits for the baby and they are listed as below:
1. Help With Digestion
Cranberries are an excellent source of fiber, which helps in the regulation of bowel movements and even helps with digestion. They even helps prevent constipation and other stomach-related issues.
2. Improve Immunity
They are a powerhouse for Vitamin E and C. They even help in removing the toxins from the body and even helps to fight infections.
3. Minimizes The Risks of Cancer
The delectable can even help in the prevention of colon, prostate, lung, and even breast cancer in the long run.
4. Prevent Heart Diseases
Cranberries are excellent source of antioxidants, phytonutrients, and fiber that make them an excellent choice for the heart. They help minimize blood pressure and even helps to combat bad cholesterol levels in the body. If given to the baby from the initial days, the baby can be protected from any kind of heart complications later in life.
5. Protection Of Gums
Cranberry has anti-inflammatory properties that help with the prevention of dental issues and even help to keep the gums healthy and strong.
Are There Any Side Effects of Cranberries For Babies
Here are some of the possible side effects of cranberries for babies. While some side effects can occur in the form of allergic reactions to the fruit, others can occur due to excessive consumption.
Here are some of the side effects you can expect from cranberries for babies.
- Allergic reactions to cranberries include itching, rashes, hives, and swelling around the mouth and inside the throat.
- Digestion problems such as indigestion, stomachache, bloating, nausea and vomiting may also occur.
- Excess consumption of fruit can lead to diarrhea according to a review article published by the National Library of Medicine
Top 3 Tasty And Healthy Cranberry Recipes For Babies
The cranberries can either be baked or even stewed with certain other foods and should never be given in the raw form, particularly to babies.
1. Cranberry Purée For Baby – Basic
Take 1 cup of water and boil. Add 3.2 kgs cranberries in fresh or frozen form and then cook them on low flame for about 15 minutes. Keep cooking until the skin starts to peel from the fruit. Now strain this mixture through a sieve and blend till the puree with the right consistency is ready. This puree is sour and a dash of apple juice can be added to cut down the sourness of the cranberry.
2. Cranberry Baby Yogurt
Mix together 2 portions of yogurt, a portion of cranberry puree (Refer to the recipe above) and a little bit of vanilla essence. Serve.
3. Cranberry Apple Sauce
Wash ½ cup of cranberries properly under running water and strain well. Wash and peel 1 large size apple and peel and cut into cubes. Take some water in a pan, add a small piece of cinnamon, and put it to boil (optional step). Finally, add the washed cranberries along with the apple to the boiling water.
Cook both the fruits in water for almost five minutes till the skin starts leaving the fruit. Cool down after switching off the flame. Transfer the cooked fruits to the blender without the cinnamon stick. Make a smooth paste and acquire the required consistency by adding the water. Use water in which the fruits were cooked. Alternatively, you can mash it.
Thus, cranberries are a phenomenally healthy option for babies. You can make it a part of the baby’s diet schedule, but care should be taken that cranberries for babies are offered in moderation to avoid any health issues.
FAQ’s
1. Does Cranberry Juice Help Babies Poop?
Cranberries are high in dietary fiber which helps in regulating bowel movement. In addition, the water content present in the juice also helps your baby poop. In short, if your baby is suffering from constipation, you can try giving them cranberry juice.
2. When Can Babies Eat Dried Cranberries?
Dried fruit are a choking hazard for babies. You can start introducing dried fruits such as dried cranberries to babies once they are 18 months or older.
3. Can Babies Eat Pureed Cranberries?
Yes, babies who are 6 months older and older or babies who are starting solids can eat pureed cranberries.
Pradeep,
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