Pomegranate For Babies – When to Introduce, Benefits and Precautions

When Can You Introduce Pomegranate to Your Baby?

You can introduce pomegranates to your baby once they are ready for solids and once you plan to start the weaning process. Six months is a good age to introduce this fruit. It has the goodness of Vitamin A, E, folic acid, minerals, fiber, iron, potassium, etc. Remember to have a word with your pediatrician before introducing any fruit to your baby to ensure that the timing is right.

Nutritional Values of Pomegranate

Let us now take a look at the important nutrients present in this wonder fruit and per 100 gm of the fruit (2) 

Top 5 Health Benefits of Pomegranate For Babies

Pomegranate has many health-related benefits for your baby. Let’s have a look at some of them.

1. Aids in Digestion

Babies have an underdeveloped digestive system which is still on the path to maturing and hence digestive issues such as gas, constipation, and indigestion are common. The fiber content in pomegranate reduces digestion-related issues and keeps the digestive system working well.

2. Nutrient-Dense

Pomegranate is an excellent source of nutrients needed for a growing baby. Nutrients such as vitamin C and E and a good amount of minerals like folate, potassium, fiber and antioxidants, all play a major role in the growth and development of your little munchkin.

3. Increases Immunity

Pomegranate is rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (3). It has the potential to boost the baby’s immunity levles and decrease the risk of illnesses such as colds and coughs. Babies, due to their still-developing immune systems tend to fall sick quickly. Pomegranate reduces these risk factors.

[Read : How to Increase Immunity in Babies?]

4. Kills Intestinal Worms

In newborns, intestinal worms are quite common. Pomegranate has an anthelmintic activity that helps in killing intestinal worms and also helps to restrict their growth in the future. There are a variety of parasites found in the human body which can be treated with the help of pomegranate (4).

5. Protects the Liver

Pomegranate protects the liver and keeps the liver healthy. You cannot neglect the liver health of your child. Pomegranate can reduce conditions such as jaundice, food poisoning, etc.

Precautions to Take While Feeding Pomegranate to Babies

While giving pomegranate to your baby, there are some precautions that you may follow so that it doesn’t harm your baby in any manner. Let’s discuss them in detail below:

• Do not feed your baby with the seeds of the pomegranates as it can become a choking hazard.
• Make sure that you are not including the skin of the pomegranate in the juice as it will make the juice sour.
• Avoid giving pomegranate juice to your baby before sleeping as it can cause dental issues.
• Watch out for any reactions or side effects your baby may have after having pomegranate.

Are There Any Side Effects of Pomegranate For Babies?

There are no known side effects of pomegranate among babies. Choking when given seeds seem to be the only thing you need to take care of. Having said that you can always look out for any signs of allergies such as cold, itching, or sneezing. redness, rashes or digestion issues to be on the safe side.

[Read : Infant Choking]

Top 2 Tasty and Healthy Pomegranate Recipes For Babies

There are ample ways in which you can make your kid consume pomegranates. Some of them are mentioned below.

1. Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate juice is a superfood and can be highly beneficial for babies (5). To prepare the juice, remove the hard part of the pomegranate seeds. Retain the flesh part. Blend it with boiled and cooled water. Strain and give it to your baby. Alternatively, you can blend the whole seeds with the hard part, strain well and make a juice.

2. Pomegranate Pulp

Remove the hard part of the pomegranate seeds. Blend the flesh with a small quantity of pomegranate juice and feed it in pulp form to your baby.

3. Other Recipes

For babies older than a year, you can use pomegranate seeds in the preparation of salads such as vegetable salads, fruit salads, and raita. You can also add pomegranate in preparing fruit chaat for your baby

Pomegranate seeds can also be used as a topping with corn flakes, breakfast cereals, curd, and muesli.

It is important to gradually introduce your baby to a variety of foods once you start the weaning process. Pomegranate for babies is one such fruit which is a powerhouse of nutritional goodness. You can start with juice and over time graduate them to eating seeds once they are a little older and have celebrated their first birthday.

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

FAQ’s

1. Is Pomegranate Good For Babies?

Yes, pomegranate is an excellent fruit to introduce to your six month old baby. Just remember to introduce it in juice form. The variety of nutrients present in this fruit makes it an important part of a baby’s diet.

2. Can a 6 Month Old Have Pomegranate?

Yes. A 6 month old can have pomegranate but only in juice form. Feed fresh homemade juice and avoid giving packed juices.

3. When Can I Give my Baby Pomegranate Juice?

You can give pomegranate juice to your baby at 6 months old or when you plan to start the weaning process and introduce solids.

[Read Also: Cherries For Babies ]

References

1. Food Applications and Potential Health Benefits of Pomegranate and its Derivatives – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7074153/]
2. FoodData Central – [https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169134/nutrients]
3. Potent health effects of pomegranate – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4007340/]
4. Phytochemical composition, biological activities and antioxidant potential of pomegranate fruit, juice and molasses: A review – ScienceDirect –  [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212429223006855]
5. Pomegranate juice as a super-food: A comprehensive review of its extraction, analysis, and quality assessment approaches – ScienceDirect – [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889157520314782]