Almonds are the most nutritional seeds which possess ample benefits for babies. It not just contains fiber but also minerals and some essential fatty acids which are required by the body, especially in the growing age. Although almonds do have an enjoyable taste, many infants do not love eating them as they are hard to chew. But there are other methods through which you can feed your baby these nutritional almonds such as making desserts and adding dry fruits into them, or you can also make almond paste and give it to your baby at regular intervals with milk. This would prevent choking.
Baby’s health is the top priority for all mothers and adding merely green vegetables and healthy supplements wouldn’t do the work right. Almonds are good as they do not just sharpen the memory of babies but help them grow very well. However, you can try out some new and healthy recipes so that fussy eaters can also get the taste of these healthy nuts. Make sure that you give at least 7-8 seeds of almonds to your baby every day as this is essential in their growing years.
In This Article
- Is it Safe to Give Almonds to a Baby?
- When Can You Introduce Almonds to Your Baby?
- Nutritional Value of Almonds
- Amazing Top 3 Health Benefits of Almonds For Babies
- How to Introduce Almonds to Babies?
- Precautions to Take While Feeding Almonds to Babies
- Are There Any Side Effects of Almonds For Babies?
- Top 2 Tasty and Healthy Almond Recipes For Babies
- FAQ’s
Is it Safe to Give Almonds to a Baby?
Yes, it is safe to give almonds to a baby as long as you are following the age-appropriate way of giving them to your baby and toddler. You must avoid giving whole almonds to your baby as they may choke your little one. You can soak them in water for a few hours or overnight and thereafter after removing their skin before offering to your baby.
As we have discussed above, you can prepare a paste of almonds and give it to your baby with milk if your baby is very young. This will be beneficial and nutritious for your baby. Almonds do contain many types of nutrients such as calcium, iron, potassium, zinc fiber, protein, vitamin E as well as biotin and hence this keeps your little one’s brain boosted with a sharper memory.
When Can You Introduce Almonds to Your Baby?
If you have prepared a paste of almonds or something as smooth as nut butter, then it can be introduced to your baby as soon as they are ready to intake solid compounds, which may be nearly 6 months of age. However, if you are thinking of introducing whole almonds or chopped almonds you will have to wait longer since these almonds carry a high risk of choking.
Almonds are counted among allergens, which means that you will need to watch out for any allergic reactions before introducing these nuts to your baby. However, when your baby has started consuming nuts without any allergic reactions, make sure that you keep their intake regular for them as it would fill them up with nutrition which is required by the body at the growing age.
Nutritional Value of Almonds
| Nutrients | Value |
| Niacin | 3.385 mg |
| Riboflavin | 1.014 mg |
| Vitamin E | 26 mg |
| Calcium | 264 mg |
| Iron | 3.72 mg |
| Magnesium | 268 mg |
| Phosphorus | 484 mg |
| Zinc | 3.08 mg |
| Vitamin A | 1 IU |
| Potassium | 705 mg |
| Copper | 0.996 mg |
| Manganese | 2.285 mg |
[Read : Manganese For Babies]
Amazing Top 3 Health Benefits of Almonds For Babies
Consuming almonds regularly is healthy for babies since it ensures proper nourishment in kids in their growing years. Furthermore, eating almonds daily would strengthen the digestive system of babies and this would help them in the long run. It also increases their immunity and gives them good bone and teeth health. Let us have a read to some more benefits of almonds below:
1. Relieves Constipation and Bloating
Almonds are a rich source of fiber and hence adding them to your baby’s diet regularly would help them relieve bloating and the problem of constipation.
2. Boosts Energy Levels
Growing babies need nutrients that can keep their energy levels up. For this, they need something which is a rich source of fiber. Almonds can keep your baby active round the clock. This means that they would not feel lazy or lethargic or anything which keeps them away from work.
3. Maintains Skin and Hair Health
Another good thing about making your baby eat almonds is that it keeps their skin and hair in good and nourished condition. The air we live in is filled up with hazardous contaminants which might ruin our hair and skin health. Hence, it becomes necessary to add some nutrients to your baby’s intake such as almonds which promote the healthy growth of hair and maintain their skin’s health.
How to Introduce Almonds to Babies?
Almond paste is the best way to start introducing almonds to your baby. Nuts carry a choking hazard and must be introduced in a form which is easily consumable by babies. You can soak the almonds overnight, peel the skin the next morning, and make a paste of it before giving it to your little one. You can start with a teaspoon of the paste.
Follow the three-day rule to check for any allergic reactions. Once your baby gets comfortable, you can slowly increase the amount of almond paste you are feeding your baby. Do talk to your pediatrician before introducing almonds to your baby if there is a family history of nut allergies.
Precautions to Take While Feeding Almonds to Babies
Excessive consumption of anything can be hazardous to health and hence this can lead to many complications in stomach health. That is why it is always recommended to give almonds to your infants in a moderate quantity as this would not possess any threat to health.
Some possible precautions to take while feeding almonds to babies are:
1. Consider Family History of Allergies
Be mindful for any family history of allergies to nuts. If there is a family member in direct relation to the baby who has a history of allergic reactions through nuts or seeds, then this can make your little one vulnerable to reactions. This can even be life-threatening.
2. Know That Almonds Are Choking Hazard
Almonds are hard to swallow and chewing them might be difficult for babies. That is why you must restrain from giving hard almonds to your babies.
[Read : Infant Choking]
3. Excessive Consumption Can Cause Gastric Disturbances
Consuming more almonds than normal can cause gastric disturbances and hence this can cause your baby abdominal bloating.
Are There Any Side Effects of Almonds For Babies?
Since almonds are known allergens, you can expect certain common side effects in case your baby is allergic to these nuts. In addition, excessive consumption of these nuts can also cause side effects.
Here are some of the common side effects you can expect to see if your baby has a nut allergy
- Skin conditions such as rashes, itching, redness, hives, irritation.
- Respiratory conditions such as blocked nose, sneezing, asthma, wheezing, difficulty breathing.
- Digestive issues such as indigestion, gas, bloating, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
- Excessive consumption of nuts can also lead to various problems such as stomachaches and difficulty in digestion etc.
Top 2 Tasty and Healthy Almond Recipes For Babies
There are many types of recipes in which you can ensure the intake of almonds in your baby’s diet. Here are a few. Have a read:
1. Almond Puree
This is the best recipe when you are introducing almonds for the first time to your baby. Pure almond paste is easy to feed and also gives you the convenience of checking for any possible allergies. Soak a few almonds overnight. Next morning peel the almonds and make a paste by adding some purified water in a blender or a food processor. You can now feed this paste to your munchkin
2. Apple Almond Puree
To make this recipe, you will need a few apples along with some almond nuts. First, cook the apples in some water until they turn soft. After this, you can add almond powder to the softened apples and bring them to a boil. Cool down the mixture and make a rough mix with a few lumps for small babies.
[Read : Apple For Babies]
FAQ’s
1. How Many Almonds Can a Baby Eat a Day?
A baby can have about 3 to 4 almonds in a day. This wouldn’t cause issues such as indigestion in the baby.
2. Can Almonds Cause Constipation in Babies?
No, intake of almonds will aid the digestion system of your baby. A good amount of fiber present in almonds will lower digestive problems in babies.
Read Also: Walnuts For Babies – When to Introduce, Benefits and Precautions
