Written by Editorial Team
New parents are typically advised about several do’s and don’t for the well-being of their little one. Some of these suggestions stem from personal experiences of near and dear ones. However, most commonly these come from myths. How does a new and young parent differentiate between the two? How does one know whom to believe and what to implement? Is giving yogurt to baby when they have a cold a good idea?
For a parent whose baby is suffering from a common cold, cough, and fever these suggestions run into thousands, leading to confusion and ultimately inaction. Are you a new parent in search of an answer to Is it okay to give yogurt to your baby when they have a cold? Then, you are on the right page.
In This Article
Doctors advise including yogurt in your baby’s diet around the time they can have solids – which means at around 6-7 months of age. Yogurt contains minerals such as zinc, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and Vitamins such as Vitamin A, and B Vitamins such as Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Pyridoxine (B6), Cobalamin (B12), and Vitamin D. Yogurt is also an excellent source of protein.
Besides the nutritional aspects, there are several health benefits of feeding yogurt to your babies:
It is advised that you offer your baby unsweetened yogurt to avoid tooth decay and obesity. Read more about tooth care for children here. Plain and unpasteurized yogurt made from whole milk is a good option for your little one.
Also, you can offer a yogurt with live cultures of microorganisms that promote the growth of healthy bacteria and fight the unhealthy bacteria in the intestines. It is believed that culturing yogurt makes it easier to digest, thereby aiding the process of digestion in your baby.
Some people might argue about feeding baby yogurt during a cold. This is based on the long-held belief that yogurt and other milk products lead to increased mucus production.
They argue this results in the cold progressing to cough and generating phlegm. However, several small groups of researchers reveal yogurt, in fact, can lead to relief from immune responses to respiratory infections, such as cold, cough, and fever.
Now that you can go ahead and feed your baby yogurt during the cold. Here are the benefits associated with it:
During a common cold, cough, and fever, the baby’s taste buds play havoc, making food taste bland and uninteresting to them. It is at such times that you can make a simple food like yogurt seem interesting to your little one. Let us look at some cool yogurt recipes for your baby, that you can consider, especially during a cold:
How about tossing some yogurt with a small amount of herbal seasoning? Try this one soon.
Take some fruits such as bananas, strawberries, and some nuts such as almonds and walnut; blend them with yogurt and make a nice frothy shake.
Your baby will love the taste of a cup of blueberries mixed with some Greek yogurt.
Some diced cheese and veggies, shredded lettuce, and a layer of salsa added to Greek yogurt make an amazing and interesting-looking yogurt that your baby will love. Give it a try.
You can make several combinations of yogurt with mashed avocado, carrots and peaches, sweet potato, cinnamon, bean, pears, and applesauce.
It is important to note that yogurt and its various combinations will not cure your baby’s cold. But it will reduce the duration of their cold and other symptoms. Every person reacts differently to different home remedies. Hence, it is always advisable to seek an opinion about feeding your baby some yogurt, from your pediatrician. Ample rest and fluids will help cure your baby’s cold soon.
Yes, they are. They are probiotics that help with digestion. Since it is a milk product, it has other nutrients too.
There are opposing views on this one. Many believe curd can provide relief from cold. Many believe curd can increase mucus secretion, leading to a cold.
Babies love cold food. If your baby is unwell, you will give anything to make them eat. However, giving cold foods is not advisable.
Yes, it can, to an extent. The probiotics in the yogurt help build immunity. However, give yogurt at room temperature.
Babies between 6 months and one year of age must be given yogurt. Animal milk such as cow and buffalo milk must be avoided. Yogurt is rich in calcium, protein and probiotics, all of which contribute to healthy growth and weight gain.
You can give yogurt to a baby at the end of a meal or as a snack in between meals. Research studies have proven that probiotics present in yogurt promote healthy sleep in babies and is a good food to add to your baby’s dinner.
Read Also: 10 Ways To Treat Cough And Cold In Babies And Kids With Ginger
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