Fruits like bananas, apples, grapes, oranges, and lychee are quite common and are fed frequently to babies. It is however rare to find the mention of a fruit called Rambutan. This fruit is popular in tropical areas but is gaining popularity throughout the world. So, is Rambutan good for babies? And when and how can you introduce your baby to this fruit?
Rambutan is rich in nutrients and is a great choice for babies. It qualifies as a nutritious food and even helps to build immunity, strong bones, and aids digestion. It is also good for fighting infections and great for overall growth and development. Here is everything you need to know about this unique fruit and how it can help your baby.
What is Rambutan?
Rambutan scientifically known as (Nephelium lappaceum) is a tropical fruit from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. It belongs to the lychee family and is similar in taste to guava, lychee, and longan. The fruit has a hairy appearance with many fibers, is sweet and juicy, and is red in color with good water content. Its name comes from the word hair in Malay due to its green and red hairy shell. This is also rich in nutrients like carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. Its flesh is translucent and white and has a seed in the center.
Is Rambutan Safe For Babies?
Yes, it is safe to give rambutan to babies. The fruit has a high nutrient value and is exceptionally good for the overall health of the baby. But the fruit can be slippery to hold, chewy, and slightly firm. This can make the fruit a slight choking hazard. To prevent choking, always remember to deseed, peel, cut the flesh into small pieces, and then offer it to your baby.
Vitamin C present in the Rambutan is good for the skin and the bones of the baby and also improves your baby’s resistance making it a must-add to your baby’s diet. Being rich in zinc, it is good for building the immune system of the baby.
Is Rambutan Healthy For Babies?
Yes, the consumption of Rambutan is absolutely healthy for babies as it is rich in nutrients. Rambutan also has vitamin E and zinc, good for building the immune system. Its nutritional value is shown below
| Nutrients | Value |
| Calories | 123 gram |
| Fat | 0.3 gram |
| Sodium | 16.5 milligram |
| Carbohydrates | 31.3 gram |
| Fiber | 1.4 gram |
| Sugars | Not specified |
| Protein | 1 gram |
| Manganese | 0.5 gram |
| Copper | 0.1 gram |
Though Rambutan is nutritious, it is high in sugars too which may be a slight disadvantage. You may need to avoid feeding this fruit in excess.
When to Introduce Rambutan to Babies?
Babies can start having this fruit once they start solids. You can start feeding Rambutan to your baby once they are six or seven months of age. The babies can start consuming rambutan when they are about seven months old. This fruit helps to stimulate the bone growth of the baby and improves the baby’s development and immunity.
Can Babies Drink Rambutan Juice?
Yes, babies can drink Rambutan juice. This juice is good for babies as it has Vitamin C and antioxidants. The juice also has fiber and even helps with digestion. This juice has good nutritional value as it has copper, iron, zinc, etc. which helps with the baby’s growth and development.
How to Introduce Rambutan to Babies?
Every baby is different and starts solid food at different timelines. Few babies start early while others may start a bit late. The babies and their motor skills even differ so it is important to keep changing the shapes and sizes of food as they grow. This also helps to prevent choking hazards. Let us see a few ways in which Rambutan must be given to babies in these age brackets.
6 to 9 Months Old
Here is how you can introduce rambutan to a 6 to 9 month old baby.
- It is important to offer the fruit in the right way to avoid choking hazards.
- Remove the outer shell of the fruit and the seed.
- Mash into a paste or chop into fine pieces and offer it to your baby.
- Avoid giving canned or processed fruit as it is high in sugar and preservatives.
9 to 12 Months Old
Here is how you can introduce rambutan to a 9 to 12 month old baby.
- You should offer the fruit only after removing the skin and seed of the fruit
- By this time, they can start picking up finger foods, so bite-size pieces are a good option but in a very minimal quantity.
- This fruit can be given along with other fruits as a fruit salad, or with grains and other salads.
Amazing Top 5 Benefits of Rambutan For Babies
This fruit is an incredible tropical fruit, good for its taste as well as for the health benefits it has. Due to good nutritional content, it helps with the building up of bones and muscles and is good for the immune system, skin, digestive system etc. Let us now study the top five benefits of adding rambutan to the diet of the baby and they are
1. Improves The Digestive Process
Rambutan has high fiber that helps in the prevention of constipation, promoting healthy digestion. Half of the flesh in Rambutan is not soluble and adds to the stool reducing the chances of constipation.
2. Boosts Immune System
The immune system gets a boost due to the presence of Vitamin C which helps to produce white blood cells that help the body to fight infections.
3. Improves Bone Health
Rambutan has calcium that helps in building strong bones. Rambutan even has copper that helps in maintaining the cells of the heart, brain, and bones.
4. Improves Vision
Vitamin A in Rambutan is good for the eyesight of the baby. It strengthens the baby’s vision and prevents the occurrence of eye problems.
5. Enhances Energy Levels
Rambutan has natural sugars that help the baby to get additional energy and even increase the sugar level.
Side Effects of Rambutan For Babies
Rambutan is not a major choking hazard for babies. Yet, as the fruit is slippery and chewy, it can be risky, it is a good practice to exercise caution when feeding this fruit to babies.
Some side effects of rambutan for babies include
1. Vomiting and Diarrhea
Rambutan has potassium and having it in excess can result in diarrhea and vomiting. This fruit is also rich in Vitamin C and excess consumption can lead to an upset stomach.
2. Digestion Issues
Rambutan has good fiber content, but excess consumption of this fruit can result in digestive issues like gas, diarrhea, or bloating.
3. Allergic Symptoms
Consumption of rambutan may trigger allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes, itchiness, issues with breathing, swollen face, tongue, and lips.
Thus, it is evident that the baby can reap the benefits if the fruit is given in small quantities. As it is rich in Vitamin C, it is good for building immunity and fighting infections. Having it in excess will result in digestive issues and allergic reactions. So, it is best to consult a medical practitioner, and then add it to the baby’s diet.
FAQ’s
1. Is Rambutan Easy to Digest For Babies?
Rambutan is good due to its high nutritional value but having it in excess can cause tooth decay and other problems in babies. This fruit has parts that cannot be digested easily and over-ripened may have alcoholic traces, so it is best to avoid them.
