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Can i feed eggs to my baby


When Babies Can Eat Eggs: Recommendations & Risks

If you’re starting your baby on solid foods, you might be thinking about what exactly they can eat and which foods are best for them. Fruit? Check! Vegetables? Check! Meats? Check! But when can babies have eggs? Eggs seem to inspire lots of questions, perhaps because we’re more aware of children’s allergies these days than ever before.

Read on to find out when it’s OK to offer eggs, why eggs have so many health benefits for babies specifically, and which methods of preparing and serving eggs are the safest for babies to eat.

When Can Babies Have Eggs?

One common question is how old babies need to be to eat eggs. You can introduce eggs to your baby around the same time you introduce solid foods, which is around 6 months old.

In the beginning, however, you’ll want to start with very soft or pureed foods (which can include whole grain infant cereals) before you progress to offering more textured foods.

Within two to three months after your little one starts eating solid foods, their expanded diet may include cereal, vegetables, fruits, eggs, and meats as well as breast milk or formula.

The Health Benefits of Eggs for Babies

Eating eggs (both the yolk and whites) has many health benefits, particularly for babies. One large egg (50 grams) contains

  • high-quality protein

  • 70 calories

  • essential vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds

  • 147 milligrams of choline

  • 30 milligrams of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Choline is a key nutrient that’s involved in many biological reactions that take place in the body. For infants it’s very important for brain development and function. The same goes for DHA, which plays an important role in infant growth and brain development.

How to Introduce Eggs to Your Baby

Around the time you’re introducing eggs to your infant, it’s important to offer soft, easy-to-swallow foods that will break down into small pieces in their mouth to prevent choking. Since infants don’t yet have teeth, or have very few teeth, they aren’t able to chew—instead they mash foods with their mouths.

So, how do you cook eggs for your baby’s first time?

When it comes to preparing eggs for your baby, offer eggs that are scrambled, hard-boiled, or poached (as long as the eggs are firm and fully cooked). And how should you feed your baby eggs? You’ll want to mash the eggs with a fork to make them easier for your baby to eat.

If you’re a follower of baby-led weaning (BLW), you could offer these same preparations for eggs cut into small, finger food-style pieces and give them to your baby to self-feed.

Should You Delay the Introduction of Eggs to Your Baby?

In the past medical experts have advised against introducing eggs to infants and babies early on for fear of allergic reactions. But more recently experts have found there’s no reason to delay the introduction of eggs or other potential food allergens like fish and peanuts.

Introducing eggs to your baby (after 6 months of age) doesn’t increase the risk of an egg allergy or sensitivity. Therefore, delaying the introduction of eggs to your baby isn’t necessary.

Which Egg Dishes Should You Avoid Giving Your Baby?

Though scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, and poached eggs with firm yolks are fine, other methods of preparing eggs in which the yolks are runny and undercooked aren’t recommended for babies—and even adults—due to the risk of salmonella. These include soft-boiled eggs, fried eggs with runny yolks, and poached eggs with runny yolks.

Here are some tips for buying, handling, and cooking eggs safely:

  • Always buy eggs that are in the refrigerator section of your grocery store or supermarket and opt for pasteurized

  • Keep eggs in a refrigerator set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit

  • Throw out any eggs that appear dirty or cracked

  • Cook eggs until the whites and yolks are firm.

The Bottom Line

Eggs are a great source of protein and other nutrients that are integral to your child’s development. So, despite what has been said in the past, there’s no reason to delay the introduction of eggs to your infant for fear of them developing an egg allergy or sensitivity.

So, when can babies eat eggs? Start offering eggs around the same time you start your baby on solid foods, after 6 months of age. Your little one’s menu can begin with purees and very soft food (like infant cereal) and then expand to include more textured foods, such as eggs, fruits, vegetables, and meats.

Stick to preparations of eggs in which the yolks are fully cooked, such as hard-boiled, scrambled, and poached (with firm yolks). Avoid preparations that have runny yolks (soft-boiled eggs, fried eggs, and runny poached eggs) as there’s a risk of your baby contracting salmonella.

Starting on solid foods is an egg-citing time! Offering all different kinds of foods and watching your baby’s reactions will be priceless.


When Can a Baby Eat Eggs? Recommendations, Risks, and More

When can babies eat eggs?

Protein-rich eggs are both inexpensive and versatile. You can fry, boil, scramble, and poach eggs to satisfy your baby’s tastes.

In the past, pediatricians recommended waiting to introduce eggs to baby’s diet due to allergy concerns. Current recommendations say there is no reason to wait in many circumstances.

You may begin giving your baby eggs as one of their first foods, provided you watch carefully for allergic reaction or other sensitivity.

Read on to learn more about the benefits and risks of introducing eggs to your baby, and suggestions for how to prepare eggs for your young child.

Benefits of eggs

Eggs are widely available at most grocery stores and farmers markets. They’re inexpensive and simple to prepare. Plus, they can be incorporated in a variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Best yet, each whole egg contains around 70 calories and six grams of protein.

The yolk, in particular, boasts some impressive nutritional value. It contains 250 milligrams of choline, which helps to promote normal cell activity.

Choline also helps with liver function and transporting nutrients to other areas throughout the body. It may even help with your baby’s memory.

The whole egg is rich in riboflavin, B12, and folate. It also boasts healthy amounts of phosphorus and selenium.

What are the risks of eggs for babies?

Some foods are known to be among the more common causes of allergic reactions in babies and children. These include:

  • eggs
  • dairy
  • soy
  • peanuts
  • fish

Pediatricians used to recommend waiting to give baby the whole egg, meaning the yolk and white, until after their first birthday. That’s because up to two percent of children are allergic to eggs.

The yolk of the egg does not hold proteins associated with allergic reaction. The whites, on the other hand, hold proteins that have the potential to produce a mild to severe allergic reaction.

If your baby is allergic to these proteins, they may experience a range of symptoms.

Researchers used to believe that introducing eggs too early might cause allergy. A 2010 study of nearly 2,600 infants uncovered, however, that the opposite may be true.

Babies exposed to eggs after their first birthdays were actually more likely to develop egg allergy than those babies introduced to the food between 4 to 6 months old.

Signs of an allergic reaction or sensitivity

When a person has a food allergy, their body responds to the food as if it’s dangerous to the body.

Some children’s immune systems are not fully developed and may not be able to handle certain proteins in the egg white. As a result, if they are exposed to eggs, they may feel sick, get a rash, or experience other allergic reaction symptoms.

Allergic reactions can affect the skin, or the digestive, respiratory, or cardiovascular systems. Symptoms may include:

  • hives, swelling, eczema, or flushing
  • diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or pain
  • itching around the mouth
  • wheezing, runny nose, or trouble breathing
  • rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, and heart issues

The severity of symptoms may depend on your child’s immune system and the amount of eggs consumed. In rare cases, a baby may have a more serious reaction called anaphylaxis.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis include breathing issues and drop in blood pressure. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires urgent medical help.

The tendency to have allergies is often hereditary. If someone in your family is allergic to eggs, you may want to use caution when introducing eggs to your baby.

If your baby has severe eczema, you may also exercise caution introducing eggs, as there is a link between this skin condition and food allergies.

If your baby is allergic to eggs, it’s possible they may outgrow the allergy later in life. Many children outgrow egg allergies by age 5.

How to introduce eggs

From 7 months old forward, your baby should be eating between one and two tablespoons of protein twice a day.

Although current guidelines don’t include waiting to introduce eggs to your baby, you may still want to ask your pediatrician their recommended timeline.

When introducing new foods to baby, it’s always a good idea to add them slowly and one at a time. That way you can watch for potential reactions and have a good idea about which food caused the reaction.

One way to introduce foods is the four-day wait. To do this, introduce your child to eggs on day one. Then wait four days before adding anything new to their diet. If you notice any allergic reaction or other sensitivity, contact your child’s pediatrician.

A good first place to start with introducing eggs is with the yolks only. Here are some ideas for how to add egg yolk to your child’s diet:

  • Hard boil an egg, peel off the shell, and take the yolk out. Mash it together with breast milk, formula, (or whole milk if your baby is over 1 year old). As your baby begins eating more foods, you may also mash the yolk with avocado, banana, sweet potato, and other pureed fruits and vegetables.
  • Separate the yolk from a raw egg. Heat up a fry pan with some oil or butter. Scramble the yolk with breast milk or whole milk. You can also add a tablespoon of pureed vegetables already included in your child’s diet.
  • Separate the yolk from a raw egg. Combine it with a half-cup of cooked oatmeal and fruits or veggies. Scramble until cooked. Then cut or tear into grabbable pieces.

Once your child is a year old or your pediatrician green-lights the whole egg, you may try scrambling the whole egg with either breast milk or whole milk. You may also add whole eggs to pancakes, waffles, and other baked goods.

Simple omelets with soft vegetables and cheeses are another great way to add whole eggs to your child’s day.

Takeaway

Eggs are now generally considered a safe early food for babies.

If you have a family history of allergic reaction to eggs, or your baby has severe eczema, talk to your pediatrician before introducing eggs to your baby as they start solids.

Your pediatrician is your best resource for what will work with your individual child.

If you do suspect that your child is allergic to eggs, keep in mind that eggs are in many baked goods and other foods, often as a “hidden” ingredient. Read labels carefully as you introduce foods to your little one.

When can you give your baby an egg

Reviewer Kovtun Tatyana Anatolievna

49605 views

November 02, 2021

nine0005

What do adults usually eat for breakfast? Omelet, scrambled eggs, porridge, muesli, casseroles, cheesecakes, sandwiches... There are more than enough options. And if a baby gets acquainted with grain products already at the age of 4 to 6 months, then the question of when and how to acquaint a baby with an egg is a burning one for mothers of grown-up babies.

The yolk contains lecithin, necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system, metabolism, as well as a large amount of nutrients. Egg whites also provide many benefits. When can you give your child these products? nine0005

How to give a baby yolk for the first time

The first acquaintance of the baby with the egg begins with the yolk. Pediatricians are advised to introduce him to the baby already at the age of 7 months. If the child has a predisposition to allergies, then the introduction of this product into the diet should be discussed with a specialist.

Start feeding with an egg with ¼ pcs. hard-boiled yolk. And be sure to monitor the reaction of the crumbs. By 8 months, it is recommended to increase the amount of the product to ½ pcs. nine0005

How to give your baby protein for the first time

Egg protein is almost completely absorbed by the body, but it can be allergenic. Therefore, when including it in the diet of a child, you should additionally consult with a specialist.

Complementary Feeding Restrictions

Do not introduce an egg or any other food item into your baby's diet if the baby is unwell, teething or vaccinations are planned.

There is no significant difference between chicken and quail eggs in terms of nutritional value. nine0005

How to cook an egg for a baby

Eggs should only be offered hard-boiled, and for older children also in the form of a steam omelette, which can also be supplemented with various vegetables. You can cook together, for example, beat an omelet with a whisk and have fun.

What eggs should not be given to children

Babies should not be given waterfowl eggs. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to give undercooked eggs. Soft-boiled and bagged eggs can be hazardous to health. Therefore, it is necessary to make sure that the egg is cooked, and the omelette is well steamed. nine0005

Reviewer Kovtun Tatyana Anatolievna

Scientific adviser to PROGRESS JSC, Candidate of Medical Sciences

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An egg is a unique product, its biological value can hardly be overestimated. The yolk is especially valuable. It contains a lot of useful substances.

  • Fats - please, and even in a well-digestible form, as many proteins as you like, and full-fledged amino acids.
  • Minerals - in the widest range, trace elements - the richest composition. nine0062
  • There are as many as 12 vitamins in the yolk. And among them, vitamin D is very important for every small child. There is also a lot of vitamin A in the yolk, besides, it is in an active state. There is also vitamin E (tocopherol), called a superfood because of its antioxidant properties. Yolks are rich in B vitamins, especially B1, B2, PP and B9 (folic acid).
  • Choline is a vitamin-like substance important for brain development and memory formation. It improves the functioning of the liver, helping it to remove everything harmful from the body, including drugs, when they have already done their useful work. nine0062
  • Calcium, phosphorus, as well as iron, iodine, copper and cobalt. These substances are also included.

If the egg is so useful, then why not introduce it into complementary foods at least from the age of six months? There are good reasons for this.

Scientific research and experience of domestic pediatricians have shown that too early introduction of the yolk is fraught with the development of allergic reactions in children. The allergenicity of the egg itself is quite high. Plus, the biochemical composition of eggs has changed in recent years. When raising chickens, various pharmaceutical preparations are widely used in order to preserve the number of birds kept in cramped and overcrowded conditions. nine0005

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So when can you give your child an egg? Pediatricians recommend doing this no earlier than eight months. At this age, the body is formed to take this product.

To reduce the risk of allergies, it is better to use quail egg yolks for feeding at first, which cause allergies much less often than chicken ones. Hard boiled eggs further reduce the yolk's ability to cause allergies. nine0005

The yolk of a hard-boiled chicken egg is given to children with a small piece pounded in a spoonful of breast milk. Gradually, portions are brought to a quarter of the yolk, and after another 8–10 days, to half. On average, half a yolk per day (four eggs per week) is enough for a child up to almost a year old. Quail egg yolks will need 8-10 per week.

Pureed egg yolk can be added to vegetable purees and soups. Mixing the yolk with porridge is not worth it; protein dishes are better combined with vegetables. A whole egg can be given to children from the age of one. nine0005