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Ginger For Babies: When To Start, Benefits And Precautions

Ginger is a common kitchen herb popular for its flavor and medicinal properties. Its use is prevalent to treat and manage ailments, such as cough, nausea, and gastric issues in adults. However, using ginger for babies needs caution as it can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as heartburn and gas in sensitive babies.

Thus, knowing the right age and age-appropriate ways to feed ginger to babies is essential. Keep reading to learn more about the safety of ginger, its possible health benefits, and ways to feed this herb to babies.

Ginger And Its Nutritional Value

Ginger is classified as an herb and is the most commonly consumed dietary condiment in the world . The rhizome is used in the culinary, drug, and cosmetics industries.

One hundred grams of ginger root contains the following nutrients.

Source: USDA

Ginger is also considered a good source of bioactive phenolic compounds, such as gingerol, shogaol, and paradols with terpenes like zerumbone . These compounds tend to display anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic properties and could help in reducing the risk of certain cancers, although more research is necessary to determine their effectiveness.

Is Ginger Safe For Babies?

Ginger is considered safe for babies, although there aren’t any studies suggesting a safe limit of its consumption by babies. The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has marked ginger as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe). For adults, the recommended intake is up to four grams a day .

The FDA advises caution while using ginger in home remedies or as alternative medicine. Ginger may have possible drug interactions, and thus, using it for babies in any of these forms must be done under a pediatrician’s guidance only.

Ginger use as a medicine is not recommended for children below two years of age . Therefore, pediatric consultation is advised before you use ginger for any therapeutic purposes.

Health Benefits Of Ginger

Chemical analysis of ginger shows that it contains different compounds associated with positive health benefits in humans . Some that could be beneficial for babies are mentioned next.

1. Antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and antiviral effects: Studies have shown that ginger has antimicrobial activity against E Coli, Salmonella typhi, and Bacillus subtilis. Babies are more vulnerable to bacterial attacks, and hence ginger could be used to prevent infections in them, albeit under a pediatrician’s guidance . Also, ginger is known to have anti-fungal and antiviral properties that could help boost immunity .

2. Carminative effects: Ginger’s carminative effects may help mitigate gastrointestinal issues such as delayed gastric emptying leading to constipation and flatulence or bloating.

3. Antiemetic properties: Ginger’s antiemetic properties was found to reduce nausea in patients with postoperative nausea and vomiting. So under pediatric guidance, the same may work for babies as well .

4. Expectorant: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications for cough and cold in children . So, if your child’s pediatrician approves, you can use ginger as an expectorant to treat cough. Ginger juice, combined with honey, is a common home remedy for cough and cold . But note that honey is not recommended for babies under one year of age.

5. Certain other components: Some studies have indicated that certain compounds in ginger directly relax the lungs and help ease breathing . In the case of bronchitis too, ginger has been found useful as a treatment

Various studies also indicate that ginger could help reduce pain. It generally inhibits the functioning of an enzyme that’s a significant component of the inflammatory response . Thus, if your baby is suffering from ear pain or stomachache, ginger could be used.

If ginger has so many health benefits, then why do you need professional guidance to use it? The answer is simple: consumption of ginger could have possible side-effects and drug interactions as there is no recommended dosage for babies. It is also important to follow a few precautions before using ginger for babies.

Recommended Precautions For Ginger Use In Babies

1. Ginger may alter the effects of some medications. Thus, if your baby has been prescribed medicines, then check with your pediatrician before using ginger .

2. The use of ginger with honey must be avoided for babies below one year because of the risk of botulism .

3. If your baby is sensitive to ginger, then some mild side-effects such as abdominal cramps, heartburn, diarrhea, gas, and flatulence could be expected .

4. When including ginger for the first time in your baby’s diet, follow a three to five-day-wait rule to check if your baby is sensitive or intolerant to ginger.

With proper precautions, ginger can be used safely in a baby’s diet. Want to know how? Read next.

Ways To Include Ginger In Diet

You can add ginger to your baby’s diet in one of these ways.

1. Ginger soup: An effective remedy for digestion and other such gastrointestinal issues. Ginger has a warming effect and could be helpful for babies in controlling cough and cold too. Try this recipe if your baby is nine to ten months, but begin with just a spoon of it.

2. Ginger milk: After one year, when most of the babies start taking cow’s milk, a teaspoon of ginger powder can be added to it to get relief from cough and cold and constipation.

3. Ginger candy: You may try ginger candy or sticks for babies above two years.

4. Ginger water: Some people believe that giving fresh ginger water to babies above one year, post meals, can help in digestion. To make this, boil a few pieces of ginger in water for about 10 minutes. Strain and cool it and serve it to your baby with organic honey.

Ginger for babies can be introduced by adding it to almost any food as a spice or flavoring agent. It usually enhances the palatability of any dish if cooked well. Moreover, ginger serves the nutritional value of the recipes you try for your baby in the best way possible. However, try avoiding the overuse of ginger in your recipes, as your baby may not be able to tolerate the smell or taste. You must ensure to make use of it moderately and only in a few dishes. You may check with your baby’s pediatrician about the quantity of ginger that is safe to consume, especially if you are using it as a home remedy to cure something in particular.