Written by Sindhuja Prabhu
Sweet potatoes are one of the best early foods for babies. They can be enjoyed by babies and thus, they can be added to their diet. Nutritionists and pediatricians consider sweet potato as baby food due to its various nutritional benefits and ease of eating for those tiny hands and mouths.
They are affordable, tasty, rich in nutrients, and easy to eat too! The article will provide all details regarding the health benefits, selection, proper storage, and risks of giving sweet potatoes to babies.
In This Article
Sweet potatoes are good early food for babies as they can be mashed and are very soft when fully cooked too. They can be introduced as early as 6 months of age when the babies start their solid food journey.
Sweet potato has huge health benefits for babies. The advantages of sweet potato being added to your baby’s diet are as follows:
Here is the sweet potato’s nutritional value when it is cooked and without the skin:
It is important to ensure that you select the right quality of sweet potatoes to ensure the best health for your baby:
When it comes to sweet potato for baby, it has to be cooked well. Here are a few tips to cook them well:
Sweet potato is one of the most common choices by parents and doctors because allergies to this vegetable are very rare. However, a baby can develop allergies to any food. Therefore, it is always safe to keep a close watch when you start a new food for your baby.
Sweet potatoes are easy to cook and very versatile. They can be added to a variety of foods to make interesting and tasty combos. Since they are sweet, they add a natural sweetness to any food they are paired with. If your baby prefers sweet-tasting foods, this can be a great option instead of sugar or other substitutes.
Food combination uses of sweet potato include:
Some easy-to-make delicious recipes include:
If your baby is small and is just starting on their solids journey, mashed sweet potatoes can be a great beginner food.
If your baby is comfortable chewing and digesting rice, you can add some sweet potatoes while cooking the rice to make some flavorful dishes.
If your baby is more than a year old and is comfortable holding and eating pieces of vegetables, this dish can be a great choice.
When cooked well and consumed regularly, sweet potato benefits are many. However, one cannot forget other foods and overload the baby with sweet potatoes alone. Ensure your baby has a well-balanced diet that includes other food varieties too.
You can start giving when you start solids. This is usually after 6 months of age. Start slow and then increase gradually.
You can give sweet potato puree. You can even give it roughly mashed as they can chew better. If your baby can hold, cut the potatoes into long strips.
Try not to give it daily. Babies need a balanced diet. Include other fruits and vegetables as well.
Yes, they can. They are rich in carbs. This can make it hard to digest.
Sindhuja, a mother of two, is an obsessive mom with a keen interest in psychology, especially child psychology. Her quest for knowledge and way with words led her to become a passionate content writer. She transformed her love for writing into a full-fledged career which incidentally also turned up being the perfect stress buster for the last 5 years.Read more.
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