Many parents misunderstand butter as a source of bad cholesterol and that is why they resist giving butter to their babies. But is it harmful? Well, coming straight to the point, butter for babies is a source of good cholesterol and has the required amount of nutrients that are needed by your baby’s body in the initial years of growth. Also, butter is a rich source of calories as well. There’s a need for some amount of fat in the baby’s body and butter is the best source for it.
If you are skeptical about choosing butter as food for your baby, don’t be. Adding butter to your baby’s meal would help them with the needed amount of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Butter is not merely a source of fat proteins in the baby’s body, but it also helps the baby by providing immunity, improved digestion, and other such factors. You can even include butter in your baby’s meal to enhance the taste and make it more nutritious. We will discuss everything about butter and its benefits, side effects and the precautions you must take when giving butter to your baby.
In This Article
- Is Butter Safe For Babies?
- When Can You Introduce Butter to Your Baby?
- Nutritional Value of Butter
- Amazing Top 5 Health Benefits of Butter For Babies
- Precautions to Take While Introducing Butter For Babies
- Are There Any Side Effects of Butter For Babies?
- Tasty Butter Serving Ideas For Babies
- FAQ’s
Is Butter Safe For Babies?
Although butter is safe for babies it is vital to be aware of any probable risk of dairy allergy to your baby. Butter is pure fat which has around 100 calories, no protein, 11 grams of fat as well as zero carbohydrates per tablespoon. The fat content present in butter contributes to the healthy development and growth of your baby and that is why it is highly beneficial.
Furthermore, as butter is smooth, soft, and easy-to-eat food, there is no possibility of your baby choking on it. Just make sure that you do not give your baby frozen butter to eat as it could cause a choking hazard in babies.
When Can You Introduce Butter to Your Baby?
Technically, butter is safe once a baby is ready for solids at around 6 months of age. However, you can safely introduce butter once your baby is around 7 to 8 months old. Ensure that you start with a small amount of butter and see how your baby reacts to it. You can slowly increase the quantity.
Nutritional Value of Butter
Butter is highly nutritive for babies and is vital for various growth and developmental aspects of babies. But what exactly are the nutrients and in what proportions? The table below gives you an idea. Remember that butter should always be given in moderation to babies, especially young babies who are less than a year old due to the high fat content.
| Nutrients | Value |
| Calories | 102 |
| Water | 16% |
| Protein | 0.12 grams |
| Carbs | 0.01 grams |
| Sugar | 0.01 grams |
| Fiber | 0 grams |
| Fat | 11.52 grams |
| Saturated | 7.29 grams |
| Monounsaturated | 2.99 grams |
| Polyunsaturated | 0.43 grams |
| Transfats | 0.47 grams |
Amazing Top 5 Health Benefits of Butter For Babies
The health benefits of butter have been popular for years now. Butter can provide many benefits to babies, some of them we list here under.
1. Enriched With Nutrients
Butter is a rich source of nutrients for a baby. It is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K and is a reliable source of good fats. Fats are necessary for overall health and proper absorption of nutrients from the food ingested.
[Read : Vitamin D For Babies]
2. Good Source of Healthy Cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol and butter is among the good cholesterol making its consumption is quite healthy for a baby. Healthy cholesterol is required in a baby’s body for healthy growth and ensures proper development.
3. Ensures Healthy Brain Development
Butter contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which are rarely present in vegetarian food. These fatty acids play a vital role in the development of a baby’s brain. For vegetarians and babies who do not eat fish, butter is among the very few healthy sources of omega fatty acids.
4. Promotes Healthy Physical Development
As you might know, butter is a good source of protein in the body and that is why it is considered a nutrient that is vital for the development of a growing baby. It helps to keep your baby’s muscles strong and also helps the brain function normally.
5. Boosts the Immune System
Butter is a rich source of antioxidants which means that giving your baby butter keeps their immune system the much needed boost. It also prevents the possibility of DNA and tissue damage in babies.
Precautions to Take While Introducing Butter For Babies
As with every food, it is vital to take certain precautions while introducing butter to your little munchkin.
- Always opt for branded pasteurized butters. Unpasteurized butters can harbor salmonella and other harmful bacteria that can cause health complications.
- Be sure to talk to your pediatrician before introducing butter to your baby if anyone in your family has dairy allergies.
- Start with small amounts and follow the three-day rule to the possibility of butter allergies.
- If your child seems to fall sick after having butter, stop giving it immediately and talk to the doctor for further course of action.
- Do not use salted butter, especially if your baby is less than a year old.
[Read : The 3-Day Wait Rule For Babies To Introduce Solids]
Are There Any Side Effects of Butter For Babies?
Butter is tasty and babies love it. But overconsumption of butter can be dangerous.
- Butter may be unsafe for babies who have a family history of milk allergies.
- When consumed in excess, it increases the amount of cholesterol in the baby’s body and this can further lead to health complications.
- Consuming more quantities of butter can lead to your baby becoming overweight.
- Another buttery pitfall for babies is that butter would fill up the tummy of your babies leaving no space in their tiny stomachs for any other healthy foods.
Serve a moderate quantity of butter to your baby so that there’s enough room for other nutritious food in their stomach left.
Tasty Butter Serving Ideas For Babies
Butter can make its way into any recipe and make any dish healthy and nutritious. Read the below-mentioned simple butter serving ideas to fill your baby’s tummy.
- Add a small amount of butter to cooked vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, etc. This will increase their taste and make them even more nutritious.
- Top off your baby’s soup with butter for added taste and health.
- Apply butter to bread before or after toasting it. Butter softens the bread and makes it delicious too.
- You can even add butter to puddings, mashes, or any other food preparation before giving to your baby.
Introducing butter to your little one’s diet isn’t that difficult. Butter has a lovely texture and flavor that babies adore. Butter for babies is extremely healthy and an easy topping to add to any dish. Remember to exercise moderation and give your baby the healthy and tasty kick of butter.
[Read : Bread For Babies – Safety, Right Age, Precautions]
FAQ’s
1. When Should Babies Eat Butter?
The best time to introduce butter to your child is probably when they turn 6 months old. This is the time when most foods make a debut in a baby’s life. You can even wait till your baby is 7 or 8 months old to introduce this ingredient.
2. Which Butter is Best For Babies?
Unsalted butter is the best for babies.Look for branded varieties that are pasteurized. Unbranded butter and unpasteurized varieties are unsafe for your munchkin.
3. Is Butter Good For Babies’ Brain Development?
Yes, eating butter is good for a baby’s brain development as it is a rich source of omega fatty acids that encourage brain development.
Read Also: Eggs For Babies – When to Introduce, Benefits and Precautions
