Raspberry is one of the most delicious and juicy fruits that we all love. Not only is it packed with several nutrients, but you can consume it in several ways, from making a parfait to cake. So, when planning to start solids, raspberries for babies are an excellent option as a first or one of the initial fruits.
However, feeding something new to your baby without consulting the doctor or knowing the details about that food item might be a little problematic for them. Keeping this in mind, we discuss the nutritional benefits and other aspects of this particular fruit from the berry family.
In This Article
- When Can You Introduce Raspberries to Your Baby?
- Can Raspberries Cause Choking in Babies?
- Nutritional Values of Raspberries For Babies
- 5 Amazing Health Benefits of Raspberries For Babies
- Precautions to Take While Giving Raspberries to Babies
- Are There Any Side Effects of Raspberries For Babies?
- Top 4 Healthy and Tasty Raspberry Recipes For Babies
- FAQ’s
When Can You Introduce Raspberries to Your Baby?
The first thing that you must focus on is whether you can feed Raspberry to your little one or not. As this fruit does not contain any toxic component, they are completely safe for your little one. But you cannot introduce this fruit at any time. Owing to this, we highlight the right time when you can feed this fruit to your little one without any further problems.
- By the time your baby will be 6 months of age, you should introduce solid foods because they would have already started teething.
- Around this time, you can introduce raspberries into their diet. It is a soft fruit, so your baby won’t have any problem eating. However, since they don’t have strong teeth, providing mashed fruit would be an ideal option.
- When your baby’s age is around 10 to 12 months, you don’t have to worry about always opting for puree or mash berries.
- If teething is already in an advanced stage, you can cut raspberries into small pieces and then feed them.
- However, you must ensure that the pieces are small so that they can chew the fruit properly before swallowing it in order to avoid choking.
Can Raspberries Cause Choking in Babies?
Choking is a common concern for babies because they usually tend to gulp down the entire food rather than chew it. For this reason, it is important to offer the fruit in the right form to avoid any issues.
Here are a few pointers to keep in mind that can reduce the risk of choking in babies.
- Feed the berries in mashed or pureed form during the early months.
- You can also make juice from the berries but only after straining the pulp so that no seed is present in the juice.
- When offering the mashed fruit, ensure you are not boiling or subjecting the food item to any heat because that will destroy its nutrients. Blend the fruit directly.
- If offering fruit in solid form, cut it into several small pieces so that your baby can chew it before swallowing it.
- Another thing you should be aware of is the hard part/seed of raspberries which needs to be avoided at any cost.
[Read : Infant Choking]
Nutritional Values of Raspberries For Babies
Raspberries are loaded with a wide range of nutrients, both macro and micro. Here is the list of nutrients present in 100 gm of this fruit.
| Nutrients | Quantity |
| Carbohydrate | 11.9 gm |
| Fibers | 6.5 gm |
| Proteins | 1.2 gm |
| Iron | 0.69 gm |
| Potassium | 151 mg |
| Magnesium | 22 mg |
| Manganese | 0.67 mg |
| Phosphorus | 29 mg |
| Copper | 0.09 mg |
| Vitamin C | 32.2 mg |
| Vitamin B | 0.329 mg |
| Vitamin E | 0.89 mg |
| Vitamin K | 7.8 µ g |
(Source)
5 Amazing Health Benefits of Raspberries For Babies
Many doctors suggest giving raspberries to babies, owing to their abundant nutritional benefits. If you aren’t aware of these, do not worry any further. In this following section, we have talked about the major advantages of giving your babies this juicy and delicious fruit.
1. Right Balance of Carbs and Proteins For Overall Growth
Raspberries have the right balance between proteins and carbohydrates — the main macronutrients required for the proper growth of babies. Carbohydrates are the sources of glucose, which is one of the main raw materials needed for metabolism. Therefore, without this macronutrient, your baby’s body won’t provide the required energy needed for the organs to work properly. Similarly, if we consider proteins, they are major building blocks that ensure the appropriate development of muscles, tissues, etc.
2. Rich in Fiber content
Fiber is extremely crucial for maintaining digestive health in babies. They usually suffer from constipation due to the lack of fibrous food items in their diet. So, if you do not give the appropriate amount of fiber, they will suffer from bloating, constipation, gastritis, and other forms of digestive problems. This is why feeding babies raspberries sounds like a great option, thanks to 8 grams of fiber in every 123 grams of raspberries.
3. Contributes to Bone Strength
Thanks to the high calcium and phosphorus content, you won’t have to worry about your baby’s bones and cartilage. These two minerals help strengthen bones in babies to stay safe from diseases like rickets, fractures, hairline fractures, and so on. Apart from this, the minerals also help in strengthening vertebrae columns, which is crucial for proper bipedal structure.
4. High in Antioxidants
Since Raspberry is high in antioxidants, the fruit can easily reduce any form of oxidative damage. So, for example, raspberries can improve the proper development of the neurons and prevent problems like dyslexia, a very common neural disease in kids.
5. Prevents Deficiency Diseases
Raspberries are rich in vitamins and minerals. These boost the immune strength and prevent deficiency diseases like night blindness, scurvy, anemia, etc. Therefore, you must include this particular fruit in your baby’s diet.
Precautions to Take While Giving Raspberries to Babies
While you are feeding Raspberry to your baby, you must take some proper precautions so that you won’t have to worry about their health. Here are some tips that will help you get started with this food item.
- Mashed form is the best way to introduce the fruit for the first time.
- Cut the fruits into smaller pieces so that your baby doesn’t swallow them.
- Do not give the whole fruit, regardless of how small it is.
- Remove any lump from the fruit that might cause choking.
- Always wash the fruit before giving it to your baby.
Are There Any Side Effects of Raspberries For Babies?
Raspberries won’t cause any side effects in your baby, provided your little one is not allergic to any component present in the fruit. Apart from this, you should also check if the fruits are completely fresh and ripe. Giving raw berries can cause further deterioration of babies’ health. This is why you need to be aware of these special conditions to avoid discomfort.
Top 4 Healthy and Tasty Raspberry Recipes For Babies
Here are different ways to incorporate raspberries into your baby’s diet
1. Raspberry Puree
Raspberry puree is the best way to introduce the fruit for the first time to a baby. Mashed or pureed form helps a baby get adjusted to the taste of the fruit while removing the risk of choking hazards.
2. Puree Added to Cerelac or Porridge
Another fun way to incorporate raspberries in your baby’s diet is by adding pureed fruit to your baby’s porridge or cerelac. It adds to the flavor while ensuring additional nutritional intake
3. Chopped Raspberries
Once your baby develops teeth and is able to mash and chew, you can start introducing chopped or quartered raspberries.
4. As a Salad or Topping on Porridge
If your baby is able to eat pieces of the fruit comfortably, you can add this fruit to a salad and offer it to your little one. Alternatively, you can also add chopped fruit as a topping to their favorite dish such as a porridge.
Now that you are aware of raspberries for babies and the benefits of this fruit, you won’t have to worry about feeding the same to your baby. You can easily incorporate some additional fruits with it, like strawberries, apples, mangoes, grapes, etc.
[Read : Strawberries For Babies]
FAQ’s
1. Can Babies Eat Raspberries With Seeds?
It is better not to give raspberries with seeds. You can easily take them out and provide seedless fruit to your baby.
Read Also: Dragon Fruit For Babies – Benefits and Precautions
