Once your baby is on a solid diet, you may consider adding several food items to their meals. Nutmeg for babies may be considered to improve the meals’ flavors, but is it safe? Nutmeg is also called Jaiphal and is an aromatic spice obtained by powdering the dried seeds from the fruits of Myristica trees. The spice is known for its sweet taste and rich aroma. Additionally, it is considered to have some potential health-promoting properties. Read this post to know the safety of nutmeg for infants, the right age to include nutmeg in your baby’s diet, its possible uses, and precautions to take while feeding it to babies.
Is Nutmeg (Jaiphal) Safe For Babies?
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), nutmeg is generally recognized as safe to use as a food ingredient (1). However, there are no specific recommendations about its safety for infants. Therefore, consult a pediatrician before adding nutmeg to your baby’s diet.
When Can Babies Have Nutmeg?
If your pediatrician gives you a nod, you can feed small amounts of ground nutmeg as a flavoring agent or spice to babies older than six months. You can prepare nutmeg powder or paste using dried nutmeg seeds. Purees, soups, stews, cereals, casseroles, drinks, baked items, and salad dressings are some foods where nutmeg can add flavor.
How Much Nutmeg Can Babies Consume?
According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), nutmeg intoxication can occur after ingesting as little as one to four teaspoons (5 to 20g) of ground nutmeg in one serving (2) (3). Therefore, use no more than a pinch or two of nutmeg powder or paste in a single portion of baby food.
Nutritional Value Of Nutmeg (Jaiphal)
Nutmeg powder contains certain nutrients in small amounts that contribute to the meal’s overall nutritional value. A teaspoon (2.2g) of nutmeg powder offers 4.69mg of phosphorus, 4mg of calcium, 4.03mg of magnesium, and 7.7mg of potassium. It also provides trace amounts of folate and vitamin A (4).
Possible Benefits Of Nutmeg For Babies
Nutmeg contains several bioactive compounds possessing therapeutic properties. Its use is common in folk and alternative medicine to treat ailments and offer overall health benefits (5). Most alternative uses of nutmeg are colloquial, and little is known about its safety in babies. Therefore, consult a doctor before using nutmeg as a home remedy in babies.
How To Select And Store Nutmeg?
You can purchase whole or ground nutmeg powder. Consider the following points while purchasing nutmeg for babies.
Tips for selecting and storing whole nutmeg
Tips for selecting and storing ground nutmeg
Precautions To Take While Feeding Nutmeg To Babies
Below are some precautions to observe while feeding nutmeg to babies and toddlers.
Before grating the whole nutmeg for use, wash it thoroughly under cold running water to remove dust and dirt that might be present on its surface.
Grate the whole nutmeg to make its smooth paste, ensure no lumps or chunks are left.
Every time you use ground nutmeg, rub a small amount of powder between your fingers and smell. If there is a faint aroma or no aroma, it usually signifies that the powder has become stale.
Mix only a pinch or two of nutmeg paste or powder to a serving of baby food. Feeding nutmeg in excess can increase the risk of nutmeg intoxication (3).
Preferably feed nutmeg with a food item that your baby is already consuming comfortably. It will help identify intolerance, sensitivity, or allergy towards nutmeg easily.
If your baby looks uncomfortable after ingesting nutmeg, discontinue feeding and try again later.
Nutmeg allergy is rare but possible (11). Consult a pediatrician before feeding nutmeg to the baby, especially if they have a family history of food and seed allergies.
Keep the ground nutmeg away from your child’s reach to avoid accidental ingestion.
