When and in what form can you give an apple to a baby?

A wonderful milestone is when your baby starts eating solid foods, and apples are frequently one of the first fruits parents think about giving their child. In addition to being tasty, apples are a great source of vital nutrients that promote a baby’s healthy growth and development.

To make sure apples are safe and easy to digest, it’s crucial to know when and how to give them to your baby. Many parents are unsure of the best time to introduce this fruit to their child and how to prepare it.

This post will discuss when it’s ideal to introduce apples to your baby, how to serve them, and safety precautions to take while they eat this wholesome snack.

Benefits

Apples provide a multitude of beneficial nutrients for a child’s body. Pectins and fiber are two of them; they aid in the removal of toxic substances from the intestines and enhance digestive process. Because they are high in water and organic salts, a fresh apple will both reduce your thirst and boost your appetite. A good source of vitamin C, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, B vitamins, copper, and other minerals is fresh-picked apples. Fruit sugar, which is present in these fruits, will give your infant energy. Furthermore, apples are a great source of flavonoids, making them an especially valuable addition to a child’s diet in large cities.

Additionally, apples are recommended to kids by dentists because they clean the spaces between teeth, massage the gums, and eliminate plaque. This will shield young teeth from dental decay.

Harm

When giving your child an apple, keep in mind that certain types of these fruits can be harmful to infants who are allergic to them. We’re talking about red apples, which can still make babies react even after they’ve been peeled. However, eating green fruits can very rarely result in an allergy, so it’s best to start a child’s diet with apples and green fruits.

In addition, many kids adjust their stool when they see apples on the menu. If the infant consumes too much of this fruit, even if he tolerates it perfectly, he will experience bloating and flatulence. Furthermore, eating a lot of apples can lead to gastritis because they have an acidic effect on the stomach.

From what age is it better to give it to a baby?

Apples can be given to babies who started receiving food at 4 months of age if they are on artificial feeding, the nursing mother isn’t producing enough milk, or for any other reason. On the fourth feeding, it is introduced as applesauce; after the baby has received up to 30 grams of this fruit, milk (breast or formula) is given to them. On artificial feeding, six-month-old infants can already consume 60 grams of applesauce during their fourth feeding.

When a baby is this age, and has already experienced their first porridge and vegetable-complementary foods, you can introduce them to apples. Up to thirty grams of applesauce are given to these kids.

Babies can eat 60–70 grams of applesauce at seven months old. At the same time, infants who have been breastfed formula for seven months can already sample apple juice. It is added to the third feeding in stages, starting at a low volume and working up to 30 ml. Apple juice is given to breastfed babies as early as eight months.

How to prepare apples for the first complementary feeding?

Puree

Using a plastic grater, peel the apple and then grate it to preserve the vitamin C content. The baby is given tiny amounts of the resulting puree (up to half a teaspoon) without any sweetener.

It will be sufficient to scrape off a small amount of apple pulp from a whole peeled fruit for the initial samples. Some mothers find that using a blender to chop these fruits is more convenient when the amount of applesauce increases later on.

Apples and other fruits can be combined with vegetables to be given to the baby after two to three weeks of starting to introduce fruit-complementary foods in the form of apples. These fruits complement carrot, pear, pumpkin, and apricot well. Additionally, apples can be combined with cottage cheese and fermented milk beverages for a developing infant experimenting with different kinds of complementary foods.

Juice

Just like with applesauce, one’s experience with juices starts with goods made from green apple varieties. Juices with pulp should be given a little later, and a baby should always have their first juice be clarified. Apple juice is frequently blended with other juices, such as pear, apricot, carrot, and peach. Babies are typically given apple juice at lunchtime. Juice should be consumed in small portions at first, such as half or even a quarter of a teaspoon. You can increase the amount of apple juice if the infant is feeling well the following day.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, a child should prioritize the first option when choosing between puree and juice because fiber is so important. Watch this topic’s upcoming video.

Baked apples

It is best to introduce apples to your baby baked if they are more likely to react allergicly to new foods. Making such an apple is very simple. Peel, core, and put the fruit in a preheated oven, being careful not to remove the skin. Remove the apples after 15 minutes, allow them to cool, then scoop out the pulp with a spoon, mash it slightly in a cup, and feed it to your infant.

Eating baked apples has the benefit of being easier to digest, but it also has the drawback of losing some of its nutrients due to heat treatment. You can bake apples with cottage cheese once your baby is eating it. When your child is two years old, you can make a baked apple with honey and cinnamon (assuming there isn’t an allergy).

It is not advised to give a child an entire apple since the baby’s life may be in danger if apple fragments get into their respiratory system.

Compote

You can use dried apples to make comfort food. This will be a fantastic way to feed kids who are allergic to things. After boiling a few dried apple slices in water, let them cook for fifteen minutes over the stove. The drink’s apple flavor should be minimal in the initial samples. Before serving, thin the compote with boiling water if the flavor is overpowering. The child only needs one tsp for the first sample. l. Increase the amount of dried apples in the diet if there isn’t an allergy, and then gradually try adding applesauce.

Tips for choosing

Examine the fruits carefully, selecting those without brown specks or dots. To the touch, good apples should be fairly firm. Avoid purchasing soft fruits as their pulp may be flabby, frozen, or rotten inside. Additionally, make sure to smell the fruit. A weak smell indicates that the flavor is frequently not expressed, and an unpleasant smell indicates that the fruit is starting to rot. Wax is frequently applied to apples in order to preserve the fruit. Purchasing apples without the peel or removing it before giving them to your child is preferable.

A big step forward in your baby’s transition to solid foods is when you introduce apples to their diet. You can start giving small amounts of apples to babies around six months old, when most babies are ready for mashed or pureed fruits. To prevent choking hazards, it is imperative to make sure the apple is soft, easily ingested, and free of seeds or skin.

You can gradually introduce your baby to apples in more textured forms as they get older, like soft-cooked slices or finely grated pieces. When introducing apples to your baby, always watch out for any indications of allergies or discomfort, and get advice from your pediatrician if you’re not sure when is the best time.

Keep in mind that each baby develops at their own rate, so pay attention to their cues. As they get older, providing them with a range of textures improves their motor skills and fosters a love of nutritious food.

It can be a thrilling milestone to introduce apples to a baby, but it’s crucial to know when and how to do it safely. When a baby reaches six months old and has started eating solid foods, they can usually start eating apples. Serve apples in the form of puree or very soft, mashed pieces to prevent choking hazards. As the infant gets older and gains the ability to chew, you can progressively introduce thin slices or grated apple. Make sure your baby is able to handle the texture by keeping a close watch on them during mealtimes.

Video on the topic

When to give APPLE to a baby and APPLE COMPOTE. How to introduce apple into a baby"s diet up to 1 year old.

At what age can you give a baby a fresh apple

When can you give an apple to a baby: complementary feeding with applesauce, juice and baked apple, allergies