Are you wondering whether Dragon Fruit for babies is safe or not? Your precious baby’s body will nurture from this delightful fruit. But keep in mind that you must introduce it only at the appropriate age. Having said that, giving them Dragon fruit as finger food is good, to begin with. It is loaded with nutrients, easy to digest, and is a good fruit to introduce to begin with.
But before that, you will have to ensure that your infant’s body can tolerate Dragon fruit. If you take sufficient precautions, you will save your little one from allergic reactions (if they are allergic to it) caused by this fruit. Dragon fruit is certainly beneficial to an infant’s growth and development. But don’t feed too much of it to your baby, otherwise, it’ll have side effects.
In This Article
- Is Dragon Fruit Safe For Babies?
- When Can You Introduce Dragon Fruit to Your Baby?
- Nutritional Value of Dragon Fruit
- How to Introduce Dragon Fruit to Your Baby?
- Top 5 Amazing Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit For Babies
- Precautions to Take While Feeding Dragon Fruit For Babies
- Are There Any Side Effects of Dragon Fruit For Babies?
- FAQ’s
Is Dragon Fruit Safe For Babies?
Dragon fruit is an excellent source of Vitamins A, B and C for babies. It also contains iron and calcium. The nutritional value that this amazing fruit provides is vital for your baby at this age. Further, Dragon fruit will have a positive influence on your baby’s bowel movement and digestive process.
If your baby is allergic to Kiwi or has Oral Allergy Syndrome (it causes reactions to foods that have pollen like protein structures), you should contact your pediatrician first before giving them this fruit. However, allergies to Dragon fruit are rare.
Babies who are not allergic to this fruit can start eating it from 6 months of age. At this age, your little one is ready to enjoy solid foods. So, if you serve it to your baby at the right age and in the right way, it will not harm them and will only have health benefits instead. So, what is the right age to introduce this fruit to your little one? Read ahead to know more.
When Can You Introduce Dragon Fruit to Your Baby?
Dragon fruit has a soft pulp, so if your little one is around 6 months old, they are ready to eat it. Moreover, the squishy fruit is easy to grasp – infants can joyfully eat it by themselves.
Nutritional Value of Dragon Fruit
A 170 gm portion of dragon fruit cubes contains the following nutrients.
| Nutrients | Value |
| Calories | 102 |
| Protein | 2g |
| Fibre | 5g |
| Carbohydrates | 22g |
| Sugars | 13g |
| Magnesium | 68m |
| Calcium | 31mg |
| Vitamin A | 100 IU(International Units) |
| Vitamin C | 4mg |
| Iron | 0.1mg |
How to Introduce Dragon Fruit to Your Baby?
Dragon fruit in the form of smooth, lump-free puree or mash will be perfect for babies who are consuming it for the first time. Wait for a few days, and once you see that your little one can digest it hassle-free, you can combine it with different types of foods like porridge or add it as a topping to your baby’s porridge.
Thick pulp quarters of this fruit can be given to babies of 9-10 months of age. And when your darling can grasp things better with their fingers, you can also serve them boxy little pieces of Dragon Fruit.
Top 5 Amazing Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit For Babies
We mentioned that dragon fruit is an extremely healthy fruit to add to your baby’s diet. We now explain its various benefits.
1. Strengthens the Bones
The calcium and phosphorus present in Dragon fruit contribute to your little one’s bone development. Phosphorus blends with other compounds, and, as a result, it can enhance a baby’s bone density. These healthy nutrients can also shield infants from some diseases like rickets. And when your baby becomes a grown-up, they will less likely go through Arthritis. Dragon fruit contains plenty of Vitamin C which the body needs for robust functioning. Moreover, it also helps in the development of the circulatory tract, skin and muscles.
2. Boosts the Immune system
The antioxidants that are found in Dragon fruit make it difficult for free radicals to strike cell membranes. These antioxidants can help your baby to ward off many diseases and have a strong immune system. The nutrient iron can increase the red blood cells which creates a wall against diseases such as Anemia, which can hurt a baby’s growth. Other than that, babies who take Dragon fruit may have good hair growth because of the iron content.
[Read : Iron Deficiency Anemia In Toddlers]
3. Better Digestion
Sound bowel movement and maintenance of the digestive tract can be gained if fibre and water are present in your infant’s diet. Dragon fruit balances the sugar content and can also make your baby gain a healthy weight.
4. May Benefit The Eyes And The Heart
Dragon fruit – a good source of Vitamin A, is advantageous for your little one’s eye health. In addition, a few more nutrients in this fruit can facilitate good heart health.
5. Good Motor Skills
Calcium, Sodium and Phosphorus contribute to maintaining a healthy performance of the nervous system. Thus, an infant’s sensory and motor skills are going to have a healthy development.
6. Beautiful Skin
To form and repair the skin, Vitamin C is required. The abundance of this nutrient in dragon fruit will ensure that your baby’s skin texture is smooth and has a gorgeous appearance.
Precautions to Take While Feeding Dragon Fruit For Babies
Despite having amazing benefits, keep these things in mind before giving Dragon to your baby.
- Like you always do with all other fruits, wash Dragon fruit properly before you give it to your baby.
- Make a puree free of the lump or serve it in the form of mash. Soon, your baby will get comfortable with the fruit’s taste, and you will also be able to see if they can digest it. Then, you may give helpings of Dragon fruit to your baby in multiple ways.
- One or two teaspoons in puree or mash form with a meal is enough for the first time. If your baby’s body is giving a thumbs up to it (not having any allergies, and digesting it well), one to two tablespoons will do good for the next serving.
- Wait for 3-5 days after the first serving to keep an eye on food allergies, which rarely happens. However, it may occur, so be patient.
- Infants who show intolerance to Dragon fruit in the first serving should not be given the next one for a few days. Give one or two teaspoons of it after a few days and seek help from a pediatrician if they’re still intolerant to the fruit.
- Watch out if your baby is having mouth itches, vomits and urticaria (a rash of round, red welts on the skin). These common allergic reactions can take place instantly or a few minutes later.
- Seek a pediatrician’s advice before giving the fruit to your baby if your family has food allergies (notably to Kiwis).
- Once you see that your baby can eat Dragon Fruit without any intolerance, hand them this fruit as finger food. You can give them small pieces when their motor skills improve, and they become able to grab things properly.
[Read : The 3-Day Wait Rule For Babies To Introduce Solids]
Are There Any Side Effects of Dragon Fruit For Babies?
In a few cases, Dragon fruit can have certain side effects
- Swelling or rashes in the lips or mouth.
- Bloating and diarrhea because of irritation in the digestive tract.
- Vitamin C or the acidic part can irritate the stomach.
Your little one will quickly begin to like this yummy fruit. Dragon fruit for babies is healthy but if your family has a history of food allergies, seeking help from a pediatrician is recommended.
FAQ’s
1. Does Dragon Fruit Cause Constipation in Babies?
Taking small amounts of Dragon fruit regularly won’t cause any stomach issues. Instead, its water-rich content prevents constipation.
2. Is Dragon Fruit Acidic?
Vitamin C makes Dragon fruit slightly acidic, thus, it is not advisable to eat it in large quantities.
3. Can Dragon Fruit Cause Gas in Babies?
Yes. Consuming too much can cause intestinal gas due to its fibre content in babies.
4. Is Dragon Fruit High in Sugar?
When compared to other tropical fruits, Dragon fruit has low sugar content.
Read Also: Peaches For Babies
