Pickles might be some of your favorites, but should you feed them to your little one? Many parents wonder about this, considering that pickles come with a bunch of questionable ingredients.
They have salt, some of them are rich in vinegar, and they could even be spicy. Regardless of how they are prepared, pickles are generally acidic foods too.
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Can Babies Have Pickles?
Giving pickles to your baby is not a great idea. As a matter of fact, you should avoid it at least in the first year of their life. Some pediatricians recommend you to avoid giving your baby pickles even for the first two years.
They contain too much salt, and they are too acid for their little digestive system to process. And they don’t bring so many health benefits to make it worth it.
However, if you allow them to taste pickles every now and then, on rare occasions, it will not harm them as long as you do that after they turn one year old.
Can 1 Year Old Eat Pickles?
Once your baby is one year old, they can eat many foods that they were not allowed to eat when they were six months, for instance.
- Their digestive system is prepared to face the acidity of different pickles and not react in an unpleasant way to them. So, you can have your baby try pickles after this age but don’t overfeed them with this food.
- It is important to avoid spicy pickles, though. It is also a wise idea to give them pickles that are not so salty and use lemon instead of vinegar.
- Homemade pickles are always the best option for your baby, so if you can choose this alternative, it is much better than the pickles you will find on the market.
- The first time you give your baby pickles, you should watch and see how their body reacts to this food.
- Give it to them plain and see if they develop any adverse reactions or if they get sick. If any rashes, itches, or digestive discomfort appears, skip this food from their diet in the future.
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Can Babies Eat Tomatoes?
Tomatoes raise a lot of questions for parents as well. They are nutritious and delicious but your baby has to be ready for them to enjoy their benefits.
- Some parents are concerned that tomatoes might be too acidic. They might have too many seeds, so the baby will not enjoy their benefits.
- The good news is that you can introduce ‘tomatoes to your babys diet as soon as they start eating solid food. While tomatoes don’t have to be some of the first foods they try, they can definitely become part of their diet as soon as they turn six or seven months old.
- You should, however, watch the reaction your baby has to tomatoes. Make sure they don’t develop any signs of an allergy, such as a skin reaction or digestive problem, before you continue to feed them this delicious vegetable.
- The first time you introduce tomatoes to your baby, you should also remove their peel. Your baby can’t digest the peel properly, so you will make them a better puree with peeled tomatoes.
- You can mix tomatoes with carrots or potatoes as you learn what your baby likes most.
Pickles for Teething Babies
Pickles might seem like a big temptation for your teething baby. They are vegetables, yet soft enough to avoid choking hazards and relatively cold so your baby can find some pain relief while they eat them.
- But as we mentioned previously, pickles are not a recommended snack for your child, regardless if they are teething or not.
- You can find other snacks that are appropriate for teething babies, such as frozen bananas or unique toys designed just for this bothersome phase of their life.
Can Babies Eat Pickled Gherkins?
Gherkins are not the classic cucumbers that we are used to thinking of when we say pickles.
- They are very similar to the cucumbers, though, as they come from the same “family” called Cucurbitaceae.
- These veggies are smaller than regular cucumbers, and they can be pickled as well by using the classic water, vinegar, and salt recipe.
- The same rule that applied for other pickles also applies to gherkins ones. Babies can try these types of pickles after they are one year old but on rare occasions.
- Feeding them these pickles or any other pickles in large quantities exposes them to an unnecessary quantity of salt and acidity.
- So, give your baby pickled gherkins with caution and observe any reaction they might have after trying this new food.
If you notice any skin irritations or digestive discomfort, you shouldn’t give it to them again any time soon.
Can Babies Eat Olives?
Olives are rich in a lot of nutrients, such as amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.
- They are low in cholesterol, and they bring a lot of fiber that your baby will benefit from.
- However, you should consider adding olives to your baby’s dishes after they turn two years old.
- They will be ready to digest olives much better at this age, and they will assimilate the benefits of this food easier as well.
- Before two years old, you can add olive oil to your baby’s puree safely without fearing any side effects.
Try to choose the olives that are not salty or spiced with questionable ingredients such as chili or pepper.
Can Babies Drink Pickle Juice?
The pickle juice is the main problem when it comes to your baby.
- This is where the salt and vinegar are most concentrated. So, since you shouldn’t give your baby pickles, there is no reason to give them the pickle juice.
- This juice would just overfeed them with too much salt and acidity that they don’t need.
- Plus, the health benefits of pickle juice for babies are close to none compared to the unhealthy aspects of it.
- Stick to water, formula, and fruit or veggie juices that they will appreciate much more than pickle juice!
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Baby-led Weaning Pickles Tip
If you are determined to introduce pickles to your baby, there is a way that you can do that without them ingesting so much salt.
- The best way to give them pickles is plain. You can wash the pickle before giving it to your baby.
- Rinsing it with water will reduce the salt and acidity found on the surface of the pickle.
- Plus, your baby will chew on it for several minutes anyway so, it is a good finger food option.
Teething Alternative Snacks for Babies
If you were considering pickles as a teething snack, you should know that there are better alternatives out there.
A) Frozen yogurt
You can freeze baby yogurt and give it to your baby every time they need some relief from teething pains. These yogurts come in a variety of flavors and colors, so your little one will love them for sure.
B) Frozen Fruit Cubes
You can blend different fruits together like bananas and strawberries and freeze the puree in one of those cubic shapes. Give one cube to your baby when they seem to deal with a lot of teething pain. It will numb their gums and give them a nutritious snack at the same time too.
C) Frozen Banana Slices
You can also simply slice a banana and freeze it. Giving your baby a frozen slice of this banana when you feel like the pain is too much will definitely help them cope with it.
D) Cold watermelon
You don’t have to freeze the watermelon as it will be just as efficient straight from the fridge. Your baby will feel some pain relief every time they take a bite of the watermelon piece you give them.
E) Avocado and pear popsicle
You can blend one avocado and one pear together and put it in a popsicle shape to rest in the freezer for a few hours. Give one to your baby when they are teething, and they will love it. Not only that, it helps them forget about the pain, but it also gives them a delicious snack!
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Pickles can easily be avoided until your baby is at least one year old and even two years old. The benefits they bring to infants are not significant, so you shouldn’t risk giving them such salty and acidic food unless you have to.
Always keep in mind the health benefits your baby will get from a particular food you give them on top of other aspects. This will help you make the best choices for your little one and support their balanced growth.
Key References
- “Relationships between acceptance of sour taste and fruit intakes in 18-month-old infants – PubMed”. Accessed September 27, 2020. Link.
- “Your baby’s first solid foods – NHS”. Accessed September 27, 2020. Link.
- “What is a Gherkin? Is It Different from a Pickled Cucumber? – NDTV Food”. Accessed September 27, 2020. Link.
- “Are olives good for you? Nutrition and benefits”. Accessed September 27, 2020. Link.