Green Beans For Babies – When to Introduce, Benefits and Precautions

When Can You Introduce Green Beans to Your Baby?

It is recommended to follow a milk-only diet for babies until they are approximately 6 months old. Once they cross this mark, you can slowly introduce one item after the other. Green beans are very nutritious and one of the first vegetables you can introduce to your baby.

Green beans also contain nitrates, which studies and food safety departments deem safe for babies over 6 months of age. So, ensure you do not start this vegetable for your baby unless they are 6 months old. When introducing for the first time, you can offer steamed or boiled and mashed green beans to your baby. Ensure to remove any stringy and chokeable bits before feeding your baby.

Nutritional Value of Green Beans

Both fresh and frozen green beans contain similar nutritional value. Every 100 gms of raw green beans contain the following:

Amazing Top 5 Health Benefits of Green Beans For Babies

Green beans are among the healthiest vegetables you can give your baby. Some ways in which your baby can benefit from the inclusion of beans in their diet are listed below.

1. Excellent For Eyesight

Green beans are a rich source of vitamin A and beta carotene. Both these nutrients contribute towards promoting vision health in babies.

2. Develop Immunity in Babies

Green Beans are rich in many calcium, manganese, potassium, and many other essential nutrients which contribute to your baby’s immune health.

[Read : Manganese For Babies]

3. Beneficial For Babies With Gluten Allergy

If your baby is allergic to gluten, their restricted diet means they have very few food sources of vitamin B. Green beans are gluten-free diet friendly rich sources of vitamin B which can help meet the RDA of this vitamin.

4. Rich in Fiber

Green beans are rich in fiber, thereby improving the baby’s digestion. It can also reduce the risk of obesity in children. Babies often struggle with constipation. Giving your baby green beans can help reduce this problem.

5. Rich in Antioxidants

Green beans are rich in antioxidants too. This helps in improving the metabolism and reduces the risk of cancer.

How Do I Introduce Green Beans to My Baby?

When starting green beans at the 6th month, it is ideal to cook the beans well and mash them without any chunks before feeding your baby. If you are following the baby-led weaning method, you can offer boiled beans cut length-wise for them to hold and chew.

Once babies are older and ready to chew, you can give steamed beans for them to chew on.

Precautions to Take While Feeding Green Beans For Babies

When introducing and feeding any new food, parents must bear certain important pointers in mind. Here are some of them.

• Always buy fresh green beans to feed your baby as opposed to canned ones. Try to buy organic if you have access.
• Green beans can be tough to chew, making them a choking hazard for babies who are still learning the art of chewing and swallowing.
• Always start with well-cooked and mashed green beans.
• Follow the three-day approach to check if your baby is allergic to babies.
• In case of family history of allergies to green beans, talk to your pediatrician on the right approach to introduce this veggie to your munchkin.
• If you observe any allergic reactions after your baby eats green beans, stop giving it to your baby immediately and consult the doctor
• If you are following the baby-led weaning method, when giving your baby one of the cylindrical varieties of green beans, you can cut them up length-wise and offer the entire string. The bigger the better as babies can hold on to it while they chew, instead of popping them into their mouths.

[Read : Infant Choking]

Are There Any Side Effects to Giving Green Beans to Babies?

There are certain side effects from excessive consumption of green beans among babies In rare cases, some may be allergic to green beans too. Here are some of the effects that you must keep in mind when feeding green beans to your baby.

• As mentioned earlier, green beans have nitrates in them. Consuming too many green beans at a time can increase the nitrate level in the blood. Nitrates can have a negative impact on the oxygen levels in the blood.
• Green beans can also cause a lot of gas in your baby, making it quite uncomfortable and painful for them. While different babies can have different reactions, these beans can cause gas in most babies. So, giving your baby green beans in large quantities is not a good idea.
• Sometimes, babies can have food allergies. If you notice any of the symptoms like Coughing, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hives, swelling of the lip, tongue, other parts of the face, skin rashes, loses consciousness or feels dizzy ,vomiting or diarrhoea  your baby could be having an allergic reaction and will need to consult a doctor immediately.

[Read : Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes for Babies]

Top 2 Tasty and Healthy Green Beans Recipe For Babies

1. Sweet Potato and Green Bean Puree (6 Months +)

Peel and cut sweet potatoes into small cubes. Cut the stringy edges and slit the green beans into halves. Steam both vegetables together for about 15-20 minute. Let it cool and blend it into a puree. You can carry this when you step out with your baby too.

2. Buttered Green Beans (10 Months +)

Cut the stringy edges off the green beans and chop them into 2-inch pieces. Pressure cook the beans for 2 whistles. Release the pressure, and let the beans cool down. To a hot pan add butter (1/2 tsp butter for 4 beans). Sauté the green beans in the melted butter for about a minute and transfer to a plate. You can even add carrots to this to make it more flavorful for the baby.

Green beans are rich in fiber and other nutrients that can do your baby a lot of good. Giving them in the right form, in the right consistency according to age requirements, is crucial. Overall, green beans for babies are extremely healthy and you can feed them to your baby without any reservations.

FAQ’s

1. Can You Give Baby Green Beans?

Yes, once your baby is 6 months or older, you can give them green beans. Until then, it is advisable to follow a milk-only diet.

2. Are Green Beans Gassy For Babies?

Green beans are a part of the long list of food items that can make your baby gassy. The best way to tackle this situation is to start slow. Give your baby just a spoonful of green bean puree at first and slowly increase the quantity if they react well to it. This gives their digestive system a chance to get used to the food.

3. Do Green Beans Cause Colic in Babies?

Yes, green beans can cause gas and colic pain in the baby. If your baby seems to develop stomach issues after eating green beans, stop giving them fro a couple of weeks and start again.

Read Also: Peas For Babies – When to Introduce, Benefits and Precautions