Custard Apple(Sitaphal) For Babies – When to Introduce, Health Benefits and Precautions

Is Custard Apple Safe For Babies?

Custard apples are absolutely the safest solid food to introduce to your baby. If your baby is over six months and is good in the intake of solids, it’s probably the right time you pick this fruit. It is one of those that does not result in any allergy or indigestion in babies. Custard apple comes with an exceptional nutritional value that aids vital functions of the body.

When Can You Introduce Custard Apples to Your Baby?

You can introduce custard apples to your baby once your baby adapts to solid feeding. Since custard apples are known for their cooling effect, you can prefer feeding them during the daytime. It is better to introduce fruits if your baby is six months of age and above. You can also start giving custard apples along with other fruits.

Before introducing any fruit, it is vital to remember that every baby is different. This journey may not be as easy as it looks for you. Sometimes the baby might look disinterested even in foods they ate well before. In such cases, to be on the safer side, maintain a gap of at least three or four days before repeating the food or any fruit.

Nutritional Facts of Custard Apples

The below table gives the nutritional values per 100 gm of custard apple.

Super 5 Health Benefits of Custard Apple For Babies

Custard apple is a fruit that is rich in nutrients. Introducing custard apples to the baby may help them gain several health benefits. We have listed the top five among them.

1. Vitamin C Promotes Eye Health.

Custard apples are a great source of vitamin C which promotes eye health. Giving custard apples to your baby can also protect the eyes from drying. Vitamin C helps in water retention in the body and avoids dehydration. Custard apples aid in good vision and avoid other eye-related problems.

2. Calcium For Bone Health

Custard apples contain abundant calcium and are a boon for a growing infant. Calcium retention and absorption are vital for the body to build healthy and strong bones. The presence of the right amount of calcium can help avoid skeletal deformities and other diseases like osteoporosis in the future.

3. Antioxidant Properties

Giving custard apples to your baby can help them have healthy cell functioning. Sitaphal is a fruit with abundant antioxidants in it. Antioxidants help control free radicals that may lead to several kinds of diseases. These also help in preventing certain types of cancers.

4. Benefits of Phosphorus

Phosphorus is another mineral required along with calcium. It helps avoid tooth and gum decay and aids in healthy bone building. Phosphorus also avoids the damage of the cells and tissues, thereby promoting the healthy growth of an infant.

5. Benefits of Magnesium

Ingesting magnesium through dietary means like fruits and vegetables can help the baby get the mineral that meets their health needs. Magnesium helps in regulating sleep cycles in babies. It relaxes the nervous system, thus promoting sound sleep in infants. Magnesium also aids in the better absorption of calcium and vitamin D, which are essential for healthy growth.

In addition to the above health benefits, custard apples also have antibacterial properties. Introducing custard apples to your baby can also increase the capacity of their immune system to fight several infections.

How Can You Introduce Custard Apples to Your Baby?

When you decide to introduce custard apples to your baby, it is vital to select a fully ripe fruit. Pick a fruit that is big and tender to touch. Now, when it comes to feeding solids to a baby, it is common to run out of ideas at some point in time. We have listed some ideas on introducing custard apples to a baby.

1. Feed the Pulp Directly

Just deseed and take the pulp in a bowl, and you can feed it directly as it does not require any addition or whisking.

2. Make a Juice or a Milkshake

If you do not like to feed the pulp directly, you can deseed the fruit. Just give it a pulse and give it to your little one. This will be easier for the baby to slurp. You can even add milk if you want once your baby crosses their first birthday.

[Read : The 3-Day Wait Rule For Babies To Introduce Solids]

Precautions to Take While Giving Custard Apples to Your Baby

Here are a few precautions that you must follow while giving custard apples to your baby

1. Select a well-ripened fruit that will be bigger and is tender to touch. Such fruits contain a lot of pulp and will be easy to deseed.
2. Do not select small ones, as they are unripe and are hard to digest.
3. Ensure to deseed the whole fruit, as the seeds are large, and any accidental ingestion can lead to choking in babies.
4. Do not add any sugar or other additives since custard apple tastes sweeter and is also called a sweet apple.
5. It is better to avoid adding milk or making juice out of it. You can scoop out the pulp and feed it directly after deseeding the fruit.
6. Ensure to follow a gap of at least three to four days before giving the fruit again.
7. Although rare, it is vital to observe for developing allergies after introducing any new food to your baby.
8. Rush your baby to the doctor if you see any rashes on the skin, small ulcers around the mouth, stomach pain, and indigestion.

[Read : Infant Choking]

Are There Any Side Effects of Custard Apples For Babies?

So far, there are no side effects of feeding custard apples to a baby. Custard apples do not even cause any allergies. But ensure to keep an eye for any reactions after introducing the fruit such as rashes, itching, or stomachache to be on the safe side.

Custard apple for babies is nutrient-rich fruit and can help your little one have healthy growth. Giving solids to your baby can be an overwhelming journey. In the process, you tend to experience many ups and downs and sometimes a feeling of helplessness. Do not worry, such hurdles and stumbles are always a learning experience.

[Read : Baby And Solid Foods: When And How to Introduce]

FAQ’s

1. Is Custard Apple Cold For Babies?

Custard apples have a cooling effect on the body, it soothes and regulates better sleep in babies. It does not cause a cold or cough in a baby. You can continue giving custard apples if your baby does not show any allergic symptoms, which is rare.

2. Is a Custard Apple Good For a Six-Month Baby?

If your baby is six months old and is already on solids, you can happily introduce custard apples. Custard apples have abundant health benefits.

3. Are There Any Side Effects of Feeding Custard Apples to a Six Month Old Baby?

So far, custard apples do not cause any side effects in babies. If your baby is ready to be on solids, you can introduce custard apples with other fruits. However, it is vital to keep an eye on your baby for any signs of allergies.

Read Also: Gooseberries (Amla) For Babies – Benefits and Healthy Recipes