Dates are delicious fruits and excellent sources of various vitamins and minerals. However, as a new parent, you may be doubtful about the safety and utility of dates for babies. About 30 varieties are available mostly in three forms—fresh, semi-dry, and dry. Ripe dates are packed with simple sugars such as dextrose and fructose, instant energy boosters. Continue reading this post to know whether you can feed dates to your baby, the nutrients present, their health benefits, and ways to include dates in your baby’s diet.
When Can You Introduce Dates To Your Baby?
You can introduce dates when your baby turns six months or as soon as you start giving semi-solid foods. Introduce dates in your baby’s diet slowly and preferably in mashed and pureed form. Always follow the wait-for-three-days rule and check if the baby is comfortable with the food. Do not choose dehydrated dates since they will be difficult for your baby to chew in the initial stages.
Nutritional Benefits Of Dates For Babies
Dates are recognized as ‘heart-healthy foods’ by the American Heart Association because of their low cholesterol and saturated fat content. They contain all the essential nutrients that are required for your little one’s healthy growth and development. 100 grams of dates (medjool type) offer the following nutritional value:
Vitamin B9 (Folate) – 15µg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – 1.6mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) – 0.24mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) – 0.06mg
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) – 0.05mg
Vitamin A – 7µg
Vitamin K – 2.7µg
Iron – 0.90mg
Magnesium – 54mg
Phosphorus – 62mg
Zinc – 0.44mg
One whole date offers the following nutritional value to your baby: Calories – 66, fiber – 1.6gm, iron – 0.22mg, calcium – 15mg, potassium – 167mg and trace amounts of niacin, vitamin A, and folate. Source: United States Department of Agriculture (1) Sulfates are often used in dates and other dry fruits to prevent mold formation and increase shelf life. If your baby has been diagnosed with asthma, confirm with your pediatrician about the safety of dates for your child.
Health Benefits Of Dates For Babies
Dates have high nutritional value and medicinal benefits, too (2). Hence it has been a part of the main diet in many cultures across the world. Some of the benefits are:
1. Fight intestinal disorders
Dates are useful remedies for intestinal problems. They fight with the parasitic organisms and help establish friendly bacterial colonies in the intestine.
2. Protect liver
The liver is prone to bacterial and viral infections in children. Studies reveal that dates have liver-protecting properties and, therefore, including them in your baby’s diet will help.
3. For strong teeth
You can give full ripe dates to your teething babies for stronger dental development. By chewing dates, the teeth and gums receive adequate exercise and can develop stronger and quicker.
4. Provide extra nourishment during fevers
Infuse dates in milk and give to your baby when they are suffering from fever, cough, and smallpox. This infusion, rich in nutrients, helps in speedy recovery.
5. Cure dysentery
Babies might have dysentery — a bacterial infection in the large intestine. Dates help in controlling this condition.
6. Relieve constipation
Dates fight constipation that is a common problem in babies. The dietary fiber content helps add bulk to the stools and, therefore, results in smooth bowel movements,
7. Improve vision
The high vitamin A content in ripe dates enhances your little one’s vision, thus providing healthy eyesight.
8. Boost immune system
The antioxidants and free radicals present in dates help fight infections, upgrading your baby’s immune system on an everyday basis.
9. Improve hemoglobin levels
The rich iron content in dates increases the hemoglobin count in your baby’s red blood cells, ensuring healthy growth and no anemia.
10. Improve weight
Dates help in weight gain. You may give dates to your baby to reach the weight milestones for their age.
How To Add Dates To Your Baby’s Diet?
You may try several creative ways to add dates to your baby’s diet. Here are a few ideas to start with:
Sprinkle a few chopped dates over the oatmeal (if the baby can chew and swallow properly)
Bake them into muffins
Plain yogurt mixed with dates puree
Add dates to milk for a yummy milkshake
Dates are sticky and might stick to your little one’s teeth. It leads to bacteria that produce acid and cause tooth decay. Make sure you clean your baby’s teeth or give them water to drink after consuming dates.
Healthy Date Recipes For Babies
You can prepare baby food using dates. Babies can have these recipes after the age of six months when they are ready for other solid foods too. Here are some fantastic recipes to add dates.
1. Fresh dates puree
Fresh dates have a lot of fiber and make excellent solid food for your baby. You will need:
1 cup pitted fresh dates
1-2 cups of water
How to:
2. Dried dates and banana puree
This recipe can work as a great dessert for a young baby who cannot yet have added sugar. You will need:
1/3 cup of chopped dried dates with no added sugar or preservatives
1 chopped banana
2-3 cups of water
How to:
3. Dates and rice porridge
It can make a good breakfast item for a baby and even toddlers. You will need:
2 cups boiled & cooked rice
1/2 cup finely-chopped dried dates
1/2 cup finely-chopped fresh dates
3 cups of water
How to:
Precautions To Be Taken While Giving Dates To Babies
Babies have a fragile digestive system. Here are some simple precautions you may follow:
Always give dates cut into the size of a raisin to avoid any choking risk or in mashed or puree form for safe consumption and better digestion.
If your baby has started walking, make sure they do not run while chewing dates, to avoid choking.
Give fully ripe dates with sweet pulp. Unripe dates contain tannins, which may cause stomach-related allergies.
Steamed dates are a better choice than raw or boiled ones.
Raw dates can be given after your baby grows older and starts eating foods from various food groups.
