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Dates For Babies: When To Introduce And Recipes To Try

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

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 . 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:

1. Soak the dates in water for a couple of hours; overnight preferably, to soften the skin of the dates.

2. Do not discard the water. Transfer the dates along with the water into a blender.

3. Blend the dates for 2-3 minutes or till you do not see any solid fiber in the blend. Fresh dates have a lot of fiber, so use the maximum blending setting of your blender.

4. Once blended, use a spoon to check for any hard lumps. If any, blend for some more time, and if there are none, then the puree is ready to serve.

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:

1. Soak the dried dates in water for a couple of hours or overnight.

2. Transfer the dates along with the water to the blender. Add the chopped banana to it.

3. Blend till the puree reaches a thin consistency. Add more water if needed. Once done, the puree is ready to be served.

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:

1. Soak the dates for an hour. Put the dates and water into a blender.

2. Add cooked rice to the blender and pour the water. Blend them together.

3. If your baby loves thicker consistency, then add less water; otherwise, add extra water to make the porridge thinner.

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.

Dates are a healthy addition to your baby’s diet. Their high-fiber content and good nutrient composition help in a baby’s proper growth and development. But if your baby is still getting acquainted with solid foods, introduce dates into their diet through purees and porridges. Also, wait for three days after the first consumption to see if your baby is sensitive to dates. Introduce dates for babies and only progress based on your baby’s comfort level. If you have any queries, consult your pediatrician and clarify them.