From the age of 6 months and above, babies start their weaning. Mothers introduce their babies to solid diet meals supplemented with milk. During this phase, foods like urad Dal for babies play a vital role in contributing to growth. Including Urad Dal, also known as split black lentils or black gram dal in their diet ensures their overall health, wellness, and development process.
Below 6 months, babies have an immature digestive system. So, they cannot cope with solid foods properly. Therefore, 7 to 8 months is the ideal time to start introducing simple and easily digestible solid foods like Urad Dal. Such foods ensure that babies get sufficient nutrition needed for their regular development.
In This Article
- Is Urad Dal Safe For Babies?
- When Can You Introduce Urad Dal to Your Baby?
- Nutritional Value of Urad Dal
- Amazing Top 5 Health Benefits of Urad Dal For Babies
- Precautions to Take When Introducing Urad Dal to Babies
- Are There Any Side Effects of Urad Dal For Babies?
- Top 3 Healthy and Tasty Urad Dal Recipes For Babies
- FAQ’s
Is Urad Dal Safe For Babies?
Yes! Urad dal or Split black gram is basically a type of lentils like moong, black beans, etc. It’s exceptionally healthy for a growing baby as it helps brain development. Besides, Urad dal improves the digestion process. Also, it strengthens the bones and supplies essential nutrients to the body’s cells. When you offer urad dal puree mixed with rice, it becomes a portion of good tummy-filling food for babies.
Urad dal is easy-to-prepare for mums and an easy-to-digest infants’ meal. Rich in fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, urad dal helps in weight gain for infants. So, new mums can give this excellent food to their 6 to 8 months babies without worries.
When Can You Introduce Urad Dal to Your Baby?
Since urad dal is among the foods that a baby can easily digest, you can introduce it around the time you start your baby on solids. Generally, you can give well-cooked and mashed urad dal any time after your baby crosses six months of age.
Around 8 months is the ideal age to start urad dal to your little champ. The composition of this dal helps for easy digestion and absorption while the nutritional composition helps for the right growth and development.
Nutritional Value of Urad Dal
Urad dal is a great source of carbs, protein, fat, and other vital nutrients. Common in India, Urad dal is one of the primary staples of Indian regions. It has a high volume of folic acid, iron, calcium, and magnesium. Here’s the nutritional chart of Urad dal:
| Nutrients | Value |
| Protein | 45% |
| Carbohydrate | 45% |
| Dietary Fiber | 48% |
| Fat | 8% |
| Energy | 341 Kcal |
| Calcium | 14% |
| Pantothenic Acid | 18% |
| Iron | 95% |
| Folate | 54% |
| Pyridoxine | 22% |
| Vitamin A | 1% |
| Riboflavin | 20% |
| Zinc | 30% |
| Magnesium | 67% |
| Phosphorus | 54% |
| Thiamine | 23% |
| Copper | 109% |
| Niacin | 9% |
Amazing Top 5 Health Benefits of Urad Dal For Babies
Urad dal is so much nutritious that it’s highly beneficial for pregnant women and growing infants. It serves several benefits to infants, including:
1. Source of Energy
One of the impressive benefits of urad dal is that it’s a superb source of energy. It’s rich in iron and calcium, which help prevent anemia. It boosts the production of red blood cells in the baby’s body and supplies oxygen to the organs. In short, it replenishes the RBC in the baby’s body. Plus, urad dal consumption boosts the overall energy of babies. So, they can be active for the whole day.
2. Improves Digestion
Due to soluble and insoluble fiber, urad dal consumption is healthy for babies. When included in daily meals, it improves digestion in babies. Moreover, urad dal is a natural remedy for constipation, diarrhea, stomach aches, gas, and even bloating. Further, it’s an incredible liver stimulant and promotes peristaltic motion as well.
3. Calcium Ensures Bone Health
Urad dal is also a high calcium food. Calcium is solely necessary for growing kids. It ensures healthy bone structure, bone density, and bone fitness. Mixing Urad Dal for babies in daily meals prevents bone issues and helps maintain good bone health for babies.
4. Magnesium And Potassium Protects Heart Health
Magnesium and Potassium are two crucial components required for good heart health, especially for babies. Urad dal contains both the elements, including fiber and essential vitamins, which help maintain a sound cardiovascular system in babies. During their growth period, urad dal consumption maintains their good heart health and fitness.
5. Helps With Weight Gain
Any lentils, be it moong, masoor, kidney beans, or urad dal, are rich in protein. A sufficient amount of protein is needed for babies’ overall health and development. Urad dal is also a rich protein staple. And you can offer it to your junior during weaning.
Precautions to Take When Introducing Urad Dal to Babies
Listed are some precautions for mums to consider before cooking urad dal for their babies. Follow these precautions to prevent any uncertain situation.
- You can find two types of Urad Dal for babies-white and black. Buy the whole black urad dal, which is more nutritious for babies.
- Make sure there’s no dirt, particles, or stones in the urad dal. Cleanse and sieve the dal thoroughly before you cook. The lentils must be clean and purified. Wash the urad dal multiple times before cooking.
- Pressure cook the dal well. You can cook it either with regular rice or separately. Well-cooked dal is easy to digest.
- Mash well before feeding your baby when introducing for the first time.
- Start with small quantities- a tablespoon or two of the mashed dal and slowly increase the quantity depending on your baby’s receptivity to the dal.
[Read : Baby And Solid Foods: When And How to Introduce]
Are There Any Side Effects of Urad Dal For Babies?
Urad dal is a relatively safe lentil for infants that is quick to cook and easy to digest. However, some babies may face certain side effects.
Very rarely some babies may develop gas and indigestion. In such cases, you can stop giving the dal for some time. After taking advice from your pediatrician, you can reintroduce it once your baby is a little older and their digestive system gets more mature.
Top 3 Healthy and Tasty Urad Dal Recipes For Babies
There are a variety of delicious recipes for urad dal that your infant will surely love! Here are some recipes you can prepare to feed your little junior.
1. Urad Dal And Mix Veggies
Boil a small amount of urad dal with a mixture of healthy veggies like carrot, peas, beans, potatoes, etc. Once cooked well, mash all the ingredients thoroughly and make a puree-like texture. Your baby will like it!
2. Urad Dal Hodgepodge
Mix a small portion of urad dal with the same quantity of rice and bring it to a good boil. You can add some chopped potatoes, carrots, and tomatoes as well. Once boiled entirely, mash the whole preparation and feed your junior.
3. Urad Dal Porridge
It’s another healthy and nutritious recipe for babies. It’s rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, and other minerals. Frequent consumption of Urad dal porridge will help your baby gain some weight. It also ensures wellness and fitness for an infant.
All these recipes are suitable for babies between 6 months and 1 year old. It’s better to give solid foods in puree texture at the initial stages. So, there will be no hazard of choking!
The nutritional value of urad dal makes it a perfect staple for growing babies. However, always consult your doctor to understand the measures before considering Urad Dal for infants. So, you never overfeed your little champ and give your baby the necessary nutrients as the body requires.
[Read : The 3-Day Wait Rule For Babies To Introduce Solids]
FAQ’s
1. Is Urad Dal Easy to Digest For Babies?
Urad dal is rich in fiber and protein food, making it easy to digest for babies. These are also beneficial for the heart and overall health.
2. Does Urad Dal Cause Gas in Babies?
Urad dal generally promotes the digestive system in babies. It cures constipation issues, bloating, and even gas. So, there is no harm in offering urad dal in small quantities to your baby as it doesn’t cause gas.
3. Does Urad Dal Help in Weight Gain For Babies?
Urad dal is a protein-loaded food. It highly helps babies to gain weight during their growth period. Also, urad dal ensures the baby gets enough nutrients and oxygen in the body.
Read Also: Yellow Moong Dal For Babies – When to Introduce, Benefits And Precautions
