
Written by Aparna Hari
Babies need a lot of nutrients during their growing age to ensure optimal cognitive and physical health. You must add multiple nutrients to the diet, from calcium to phosphorus, from vitamin A to vitamin C, and from carbohydrates to proteins. The best way to ensure that these nutritional requirements are met is by ensuring that your baby consumes a variety of foods from all food groups. Today, we discuss all about salmon for babies and how including this in your munchkin’s diet will be beneficial for them.
Naturally occurring foods not only have multiple nutrients but also ensure maximum safety for babies due to the lack of adulteration and chemicals. Known to be the king of fish in many countries, salmon packs some of the essential nutrients your baby requires for improved physical and cognitive health. As you might be skeptical about including this fish in your baby’s diet, we have discussed some reasons why salmon can be a great source of essential nutrients and when you can introduce it to your baby’s diet.
In This Article
You can start your baby on this fish once they are about 7 or 8 months old. Salmon is a safe food to introduce to babies who have started eating solids. Due to the presence of various nutrients such as protein, iron, zinc, vitamin D and omega fatty acids, the inclusion of salmon can prove extremely beneficial to a baby’s diet.
It is important to ensure that your baby is not allergic to seafood before making a habit of feeding fish to your munchkin. The 3-day rule will help you assess whether your baby can safely have seafood such as salmon on a regular basis.
Salmon is a safe fish to give babies. But there is always a risk of the presence of pollutants, metals, and chemicals present in fish. Opting for fresh salmon from known sources is one way of ensuring that the fish your baby is having is safe to consume. If you compare its mercury content with tuna, mackerel, and other sea fish commonly eaten, you will always find mercury in salmon at the lowest position.
The nutritional value makes it not only safe but also a must include in your baby’s diet. The soft texture of this fish is another good reason to introduce this to your baby at early stages of life once they are comfortable with solids.
Here are some of the important nutrients present in salmon fish and their quantities.
Nutrients | Wild Salmon Value | Farmed Salmon Value |
Protein | 25 g | 22 g |
Fat | 8 g | 12 g |
Vitamin B12 | 127% of DV | 117% of DV |
Vitamin B6 | 56% of DV | 38% of DV |
Selenium | 85% of DV | 75% of DV |
Niacin | 63% of DV | 50% of DV |
Pantothenic acid | 38% of DV | 30% of DV |
Thiamine | 23% of DV | 28% of DV |
Phosphorus | 21% of DV | 20% of DV |
* DV- Percentage of Daily Value
So, how does your little munchkin benefit from eating salmon? Let us look at some of the important benefits of salmon for babies.
Protein is one of the major nutrients every kid requires at an early age. It is said to be the building block of the body as it facilitates the growth of cells, tissues, organs, and so on. Proteins are also required for the preparation of enzymes and hormones.
Deficiency of this nutrient in the diet can lead to kwashiorkor or marasmus. This is why including Salmon is vital because it contains a huge amount of protein that can be utilized appropriately for your baby’s physical development.
Omega 3 fatty acids are vital for the proper growth and development of every human being. Right from forming an important part of cell structure to being vital to the health of the various parts of your body, these fatty acids have many roles to play.
Omega 3 fatty acids are present in only a few foods and fish is one of them. For this reason, early introduction and regular intake of this fish in moderation is quite beneficial for your munchkin.
Salmon is also a very good source of DHA and several other essential components required for cognitive development in babies. Including this food item in their diet plan will help you to improve intelligence, concentration power, and focus to a higher extent.
[Read : Motor & Cognitive Skills Development Of A Baby]
The vitamin B group consists of several sub vitamins, each performing a particular function. For instance, vitamin B12 or cobalamine is required to absorb iron in the blood properly.
On the other hand, vitamin B2 prevents beriberi in children. A few handful of food items have multiple vitamin B subcategories. Salmon is one of them, which is why you must include it in your baby’s diet without thinking much.
Here are a few precautions when introducing salmon to your babies.
Salmon is a seafood and is a known allergen. Babies who are allergic to salmon or seafood in general can exhibit symptoms such as
The intensity may not be the same for all babies and varies depending on the tolerance levels of the baby.
[Read : Hives In Babies]
Salmon can be given to babies in different forms such as grilled, poached, steamed, or baked. Ensure that the fish is fully cooked which means that it must be opaque after cooking. Remove any bones completely since they may prove to be a choking hazard for your baby.
To sum up, salmon is a must include fish in your baby’s diet due to the rich nutrient content and the ease of eating and digestibility. If you have any questions regarding salmon for babies, you can always consult your pediatrician or a child nutritionist and take their guidance on the right time and the right way of introducing this fish to your munchkin.
Yes!! babies can eat salmon. In fact, this fish is excellent for babies and a must include it in your baby’s diet if your baby doesn’t have any allergies to this fish and is able to digest it well.
Salmon is not high in mercury and is one of the safe fish to your baby who is ready for solids or has already started eating solids.
No, on the contrary salmon is very good for babies. The soft texture and nutritional value of this fish make it an excellent addition to your baby’s solid diet. But the tiny bones present in this fish, if not removed, can prove to be a choking hazard for your munchkin.
Read Also: Chicken For Babies: Health Benefits, Nutritional Value And Recipes
Her experience in impactful writing combined with her background in Home Sciences makes Aparna the perfect candidate for content writing in the pregnancy and parenting niche.Read more.
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