As soon as their babies start solids, many parents may wish to introduce pickles to newborns. Pickles are an appealing option since they may add flavor to bland foods. Furthermore, these tangy-sour, crunchy fermented foods have special medicinal and functional benefits that make them popular around the world.
Pickles can be purchased in stores or made at home by immersing the food in brine (salty or salty water) or vinegar. Pickling has been shown to increase the shelf life and nutritional content of foods. Furthermore, it can provide beneficial microorganisms (probiotics) that may support intestinal health.
Pickles are popular as a side dish and salty snack in many nations because they are pleasant, crunchy, flavorful, and can be a tangy pleasure for the taste buds. They are healthy and may provide certain nutritional value such as probiotics, antioxidants, and blood sugar regulation.
Are pickles healthy for babies?
Pickles aren’t a dietary devil, even if they aren’t suitable for every baby and contain a lot of sodium. They have some benefits despite the fact that they are essentially just brined cucumbers.
One of the benefits of pickles is that they have high levels of vitamin A, gut-friendly microorganisms, iron, and potassium. They also include a variety of minerals and stomach-friendly microbes that may aid good digestion, gut health, and immunity. Furthermore, good bacteria may activate specific chemicals and give health benefits.
Lactic acid bacteria, for example, can convert phenolic substances into active metabolites that may have unique health benefits. Additionally, fermenting meals can lower anti-nutrient molecules, improve nutrient absorption in the body and support gut health.
Fermentation is used in several pickling procedures to produce acidity. Feeding pickles has been related to healthier gut flora, which supports better digestion and immunity.
Furthermore, its chilly touch might be pleasant to teething gums. A few nibbles of teething snack pickles may be enough to divert your child from gum pain due to its new flavor and refreshing sensory experience.
Pickles, on the other hand, can be exceedingly unhealthy due to their high salt level. High salt levels are extremely dangerous and are linked to an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, which can lead to strokes and heart disease.
According to research, babies who ingest a lot of salt in infancy are more likely to seek sodium as adults and, as a result, are more likely to make poor dietary choices. Over 400 mg of sodium are included in a single tiny pickle.
Pickles have the ability to conceal a lot of sugar. Experts recommend that your children consume no more than one tablespoon of sugar each year of age or between 15 and 45 grams for toddlers.
When can babies eat pickles?
You might be shocked to find that there is no set order in which food groups must be introduced to a kid when they begin solid foods. However, you can feed pickles to your baby as soon as they are ready to eat solid food, so they can begin eating pickles and new food at age of six months at which time they are interested in table foods and would have already doubled their birth weight.
Adding foods of different flavors (in this case sour flavor) and textures can lead to greater food acceptance, benefit health overall, prevent picky eating and healthier dietary range when your baby grows older.
Avoid giving your baby a whole pickle. Not only is this unhealthy but also a choking hazard. You should also remove the pickle skin and cut it into small pieces.
If you are unsure whether pickled vegetables or pickle spears are safe for your baby, it is best to visit a doctor or medical professional. If your doctor agrees that she can eat pickles or other fermented food, start your baby with a few bites of this food.
Why shouldn’t you give your baby pickles?
One of the main health concerns with pickles is their high sodium content. Pickles have high sodium content, so they should not be consumed on a daily basis.
Sodium is a nutrient that most people consume in excess, and babies require much less than adults. For infants aged 7 to 12 months, the daily adequate intake of sodium is only 370 milligrams (mg).
Introducing salty foods early in your child’s diet can be bad for her health. Babies should be given less sodium, not more. They cannot tolerate too much salt intake from pickled food, but this does not indicate that salt should be completely excluded from your baby’s diet.
Pickles have varying quantities of salt depending on the variety and method, therefore verify the sodium content on nutrition facts labels. In fact, 1 ounce of pickles can contain anywhere from 140 mg to 260 mg of salt or more. Read the nutrition facts label, dietary guidelines and look for pickles for babies that are low in salt and provide a small serving size, such as one tablespoon.
Much like other food, pickles are acidic so a baby may be sensitive to them. These can trigger reflux, an allergic reaction or an upset stomach. In this scenario, a doctor should be consulted to see if your baby has a pickle allergy or is allergic to acidic foods and when you can add it back to her diet.
Do pickles cause diaper rash?
Yes. Pickles for babies have the potential to cause diaper rashes. Because they are acidic, they might cause diaper rashes or irritate newborn skin. Lactic acid bacteria in pickles break down sugars and generate lactic acid, which causes the pickle to be acidic.
Acidic foods, such as pickles, may irritate the skin of some sensitive babies, causing a rash around their lips, mouth, and buttocks. Acidic meals, on the other hand, may irritate the gut lining, resulting in diarrhea, upset tummy and rash.
Because of their immature kidneys, babies should take less sodium. They cannot control the high levels of sodium intake, but this does not indicate that salt should be removed totally from the infants’ diet.
If you feel pickles are causing the red lumps on your baby’s buttocks, stop feeding pickles and reintroduce them later.
Conclusion
Pickles may cause sensitivity in newborns. They have the potential to induce flatulence, diarrhea, and rashes. Instead of buying store-bought pickles, you may prepare pickles at home using a variety of items such as vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, dairy, and fish.
Pickles, whether you made your own pickles or they are commercially produced, should be served to babies on occasion and in tiny amounts of up to a tablespoon. Furthermore, early exposure to salty foods may alter a baby’s taste preferences later in life.
Excessive salt consumption can contribute to chronic ailments such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. In such cases, one should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Can eating pickles lead to a diaper rash?
Yes. Pickles are highly acidic and can cause a rash in babies. This is why it’s recommended that you don’t give your baby a lot of pickles or any at all if they have sensitive skin. Instead, opt for more gentle fruits like bananas or pears to keep their tummy happy and healthy!
