How to feed baby spaghetti

When Can Babies Have Noodles? Experts Say It's Earlier Than You Think

Life

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by Abi Berwager Schreier

Jan. 4, 2020

Growing up, my pasta of choice was macaroni and cheese because I'm a southerner and also a red-blooded kid. My husband's, however, was spaghetti. His mom is a third-generation Italian, and his great grandmother immigrated from Italy. So basically his biggest concern about becoming a parent was figuring out when babies can eat noodles. For Christmas, we serve my husband's great grandmother's recipe of Christmas "gravy" and rigatoni, meatballs, and sausage, and our kid missing out is just not an option.

Last Christmas, our son Jack was 7 months old (and only had two front teeth), and while he was eating solids, we were still a little nervous to give him something like spaghetti noodles or rigatoni noodles. But this year, he definitely had his very own plate of meatballs and pasta. Could we have given him the actual food of the gods that first Christmas though?

Melanie Potock, a pediatric speech language pathologist and feeding specialist, tells Romper in an email interview, "Babies need teeth to tackle longer noodles, like spaghetti. But if parents chop up the noodles, babies as young as 6 months can rake up the noodles in their little fists and try to eat the smaller pieces. Kids this age won’t have the fine motor skills or dexterity to pick up each noodle individually, so a small pile on the plate or tray can make them easier to grasp. Another strategy is to toss the chopped noodles with a few breadcrumbs to add a bit of texture, making the noodle easier to manage in both the mouth and the hands."

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So it looks like, once again, I was being overprotective of our first baby, and he could have had some of the rigatoni chopped up. As far as the "exact" age of when babies can tackle spaghetti noodles, Dr. Lisa Lewis, a board-certified pediatrician and author of Feed the Baby Hummus, Pediatrician-Backed Secrets from Cultures Around the World, tells Romper in an email interview, "Typically, spaghetti noodles can be introduced between 8 and 9 months, just like any other finger food. To start finger foods such as spaghetti noodles, a baby must be able to sit up with good head control and also have the ability to readily grab food from the plate."

Lewis adds, "Although this point may be debated in other countries, most pediatricians in the United States and many parts of Europe agree that the spaghetti noodles should be chopped into pieces and cooked well to soften." Pretty sure that with this knowledge, my husband had spaghetti in his bottles from birth.

As far as other "noodles" like macaroni and cheese, Potock says, "Babies can start with macaroni and cheese or other mixed dishes that have noodles as early as 6 months of age. However, check with baby’s pediatrician before introducing dairy right away. Most babies can tolerate a small amount of dairy at first, but it’s always best to check with your family’s physician, especially if dairy intolerance or allergies run in the family. Remember to cut all noodles into small pieces, about the size of baby’s thumb or smaller."

Lewis also says to try to make your baby's macaroni and cheese yourself to ensure there is "real" cheese in there for the nutritional benefits. But at 8 or 9 months old, "spaghetti is no more difficult to eat than other pasta, provided it is well-cooked and cut into small pieces," she says.

So if you're ready for all those messy spaghetti face photos for Instagram, or just desperately want an easy dinner of buttered noodles, your baby can totally dig in. Just cut them up so they're easier for baby to grab, and teach them the beauty of a bowl full of noodles.

Experts:

Dr. Lisa Lewis, a board-certified pediatrician and author of Feed the Baby Hummus, Pediatrician-Backed Secrets from Cultures Around the World

Melanie Potock, a pediatric speech language pathologist and feeding specialist.

Pasta for Babies - How to Introduce & 5 Delicious Recipes

It comes as a surprise that pasta is a great food to introduce babies to solid foods. It is made from whole grain and has its own health benefits. But, some parents might worry about introducing carbs too soon into their baby’s diet. While there is no need to worry because babies need carbs for their growth and development, parents also need to understand that pasta, when fed in limited quantities and with other nutritious foods, can be a healthy meal option for their little ones. You will, therefore, find this article very helpful as here, we will talk about when and how you can feed pasta to your little one and much more. Let’s get started!

Pasta is best introduced during the solid food period, that is after the initial introduction of purees after your baby turns 7 months old. Pasta, which is usually eaten al-dente is NOT how it is introduced to the babies. When cooking pasta for babies, remember that it should be fully cooked and preferably in a sauce so that it can be mashed if required.

You can get creative by choosing different kinds of pasta such as stars, bows, or elbow-shaped, and make mealtime fun for the baby.

So, what is it that your baby gains by eating pasta? Read below to know the nutritional value of pasta.

Nutritional Contents in Pasta

Pasta is high in flavour and taste but not on calories. It is not heavy on the stomach, and hence it makes a good meal for babies.

Nutrients	Quantity
Kcal	353
Energy	1476 J
Protein	10 g
Carbohydrates	35.2 g
Fat	8 g
Riboflavin	0.20 mg
Niacin	2.50 mg
Calcium	22 mg
Iron	1.40 mg
Phosphorous	189 mg
Magnesium	51 mg
Potassium	192 mg
Copper	0. 32 mg
Selenium	2.70 mg
Zinc	1.15 mg

The best pasta to feed your little one is homemade pasta. However, some mothers may not have time to make it at home and would prefer store-bought pasta instead. They may then select the safest kind, and cook it at home with some nutritious ingredients that have already been introduced to their little ones. We will talk about selecting and storing pasta below.

How to Select and Store Pasta

It is essential to know your pasta, especially if it is not a staple food in your region. Here’s what you need to bear in mind when selecting pasta for your little one –

Make sure the kinds of pasta you pick are not instant, processed or made from all-purpose flour (maida)
The kinds of pasta given to babies need to be made of whole wheat, durum wheat, or rice flour pasta
It is best to purchase organic pasta if you cannot make some at home.
Always check for the expiry date on the pasta packet before buying it. Discard any expired product.
Ensure there are no additives or artificial flavouring as they could affect your baby’s health.
Store the package according to the instructions given on the package or empty the contents in an airtight container and store it in a cool and dry place, preferably your pantry.

As mentioned earlier, pasta needs to be cooked in a particular way to make it easy for the babies to digest it. The recipes given below will help you make different pasta dishes your little would never resist.

Easy Pasta Recipes for Babies

Below are some recipes on how to cook pasta for baby –

1. Pasta and Avocado

The recipe is dense with vitamins and minerals. The taste is fresh and savoury. Remember that the pasta needs to be cooked well and not al-dente so that your little one can digest it easily.

Ingredients:

Whole wheat pasta – 1 cup
Avocado – 1 cup
Garlic Cloves – 2 large
Lemon Juice – 2 tsp
Oil – 2 tsp
Salt (optional)

Method:

Sauté the garlic in a tsp of oil.
Add the avocado and stir.
Add the lemon juice and stir for a minute.
Turn off the flame and let the sauteed avocado cool a bit.
Then, grind it to a paste.
Now, strain the excess water from the cooked pasta and toss it in the pan with a tsp of oil. Stir it for a minute.
Add the avocado paste and mix it thoroughly.

2. Tomato Pasta Stars With Mozzarella and Basil

Build baby bones with Mozzarella! And the stars are just the beginning of the fun. You may choose to puree all the vegetables depending on your baby’s age and preference.

Ingredients:

Pasta – 1 cup
Mozzarella – 0.5 cup, grated
Carrot – 1 chopped, steamed
Potato -1 chopped, boiled
Tomatoes Puree – 3 to 4 tbsp
Garlic – 1 clove
Oil – 1 tsp
Basil – a pinch, dried
Water

Method:

Cook the pasta till its soft and mashable.
Drain the pasta and set it aside.
In a pan, heat a tsp oil and sauté the carrot, potato, and garlic for a minute.
Add the tomato puree, basil, and water if required. Let it come to a boil.
Add the pasta and give it a good mix.
Then add the grated cheese and stir it till all the flavours mix completely.
You may mash the dish before feeding it to your baby at room temperature.

3. Cheesy Carrot Pasta

A carrot a day keeps bad vision away! This has vitamins, calcium and carbs.

Ingredients:

Pasta- 1 cup, cooked
Carrots – 0.5 cup, pureed
Grated cheese – 0.5 cup

Method:

Heat the carrot puree in a pan.
Add the cooked pasta and stir it well.
Add the grated cheese and cook till it melts.
Serve the dish to your little one at room temperature.

4. Pasta Chicken Stew

This is the quickest chicken and pasta dish with enough flavour for your baby to relish.

Ingredients:

Chicken broth (homemade) – 2 cups
Pasta – 0.5 cups
Chicken breast – 0.5 cups, cubed
Peas – 0.25 cup
Cheese – 2 to 3 tbsp

Method:

Boil chicken broth in a pan.
Add the pasta, chicken, and the peas.
Simmer on low flame until the chicken is cooked and all the flavours come together.
Mash the food and garnish with cheese.

5. Cheesy Pasta

This is a simple and classic way of serving pasta to your little one.

Ingredients:

Whole wheat pasta – 1 cup
Unsalted butter – 1 tsp
Cheese – 0.5 cup
Tomato Puree – 4 to 5 tbsp
Mixed herbs – as needed (optional)
Garlic powder – a pinch (optional)
Salt (optional)

Method:

Cook the pasta, drain and set it aside.
Heat some butter in a pan and add the tomatoes puree.
Then, add the garlic powder and the herbs.
Once the tomatoes are cooked, add the pasta and mix well.
Add the cheese and turn off the flame once it melts.
Feed your baby this dish at room temperature.

We hope you like these recipes. They are easy to make and are sure to become your kid’s favourite. Having said that, you must remember to check for a few things before you introduce pasta to your little one.

A Few Things to Remember

Check for wheat allergy in your baby before you feed pasta.
Always seek advice from the doctor before introducing this as a new food.
Pasta has a different flavour, and your child may not like it immediately. Therefore, makes sure you repeat the same recipe a few times on schedule for the baby to be familiar with the taste.
Check the package for the main ingredients before you buy.

Pasta like any other whole grain product is good for health if cooked with caution. Try these recipes and add some of your creativity to make the dishes more nutritious for your little one.

Also Read: Introducing Solid Foods to Infants

My child eats only pasta and bread! This is fine?

But, of course, my child’s food choices haunted me: scientific predictions were spinning in my head about what happens to children who lack important micronutrients, and images of obese kindergarteners who eat only fast food (yes, I know that pasta is not fast food).

In general, for my peace of mind and the peace of mind of my parents, who, like me, were held hostage to the pasta hobby of my own children, I decided to study this issue and figure out whether it is normal to eat pasta alone every day, and how to drown out the inner grandmother, who shakes her head in displeasure with each new plate of “horns”.

According to modern research, children's interest in sweet and carbohydrate-rich foods is formed at the biological level. This is due to evolution - children tend to consume soft, mild-tasting foods that give them a lot of energy (and avoid foods with strong tastes and smells - to avoid poisoning).

Short answer: yes, there is nothing wrong with that. Despite the fact that adults are often advised to "cut" carbohydrates and replace flour with vegetables and cereals, this rule does not really apply to children. Children need high carbohydrate foods to provide their growing bodies and developing brains with the fuel they need.

Foods like pasta or potatoes, which grown-up nutritionists scornfully refer to as "empty carbs", are not really that useless. For example, one bowl of pasta helps meet a third of a child's daily protein requirement, and jacket potatoes can be a good source of vitamin C and fiber . So don't rush to demonize pasta as unhealthy or "empty" food - it's not all that scary.

And here is just a tricky moment. We found out why bread, pasta and potatoes attract small eaters: they are neutral in taste, soft in texture and provide the body with energy. But they are clearly not enough to close the child's daily need for useful substances and trace elements. Here's what you can do with it.

Experiment with cereals. Oatmeal cookies, corn tortillas, buckwheat pancakes, rice noodles - try to diversify your child's diet by keeping sweet and bland carbohydrate-rich foods.
Add unfamiliar food to familiar food. Pasta is the perfect base for creativity. Try to cook your favorite pasta with vegetable or meat sauce for a picky child (personal advice: the more homogeneous the sauce is, the better, so use a blender), add grated cheese to them. So the child will get acquainted with new tastes without giving up the usual pasta, and get some more nutrients to boot.
Have a buffet. Go back to the beginnings when you were just introducing complementary foods and giving your baby new foods to try. Encourage him to top his bread sandwich or bowl of pasta with toppings of his choice, including familiar options like butter or cheese, as well as something new. Surprisingly, sometimes even completely unexpected and unfamiliar products, simply laid out on a plate, can arouse sincere interest in a child. The main thing here is not to push or insist.
Get what you need with snacks. Yes, maybe the child wants to get a plate of pasta for lunch every day and nothing else - let him get it. This does not prevent you from giving him a variety of snacks and afternoon snacks - with fresh vegetables, fruits, yogurts, curds, meatballs and sausages. This way you will avoid unnecessary scandals at the table and be sure that the child eats not only carbohydrates, but also products from other food groups.

This is just not worth doing (although, I agree, sometimes you really want to). Prohibitions, restrictions and other forms of food violence will not lead to good - instead of safely forgetting about your favorite pasta and switching to broccoli from quinoa (ha ha), a child may become obsessed with carbohydrate food, which will lead to breakdowns and overeating - already even in adulthood.

Instead of declaring pasta or bread as the enemy and limiting their consumption, it is better to use carbohydrate food as an ally and a Trojan horse with which you can introduce new foods and dishes into your child's diet . Don't worry, your child won't eat pasta for the rest of his life. True, I have not waited for this yet, but I have already calmed down.

"The child only eats pasta!" | PSYCHOLOGIES

Parents

The Birth of Taste

Starting at about two years old, children become picky eaters. Their taste buds are improved, they better distinguish shades of tastes. Food at this age gives them a real explosion of sensations.

It is difficult for adults to imagine the brightness of the perception of young children. Do we have any idea how unbearable the smell of vegetables or, for example, meat can seem?

It's no surprise that many children prefer pasta - it has a neutral taste and smell

In addition, they (like sausages, another favorite food) are easy and effortless to chew, unlike meat or raw vegetables. And pasta is high in calories and well replenishes the energy costs of young children who are very active.

Tricks

Strive to diversify the children's menu. Invite your son or daughter to try foods in different combinations and several times more often - you can also playfully, but never force feed.

Observe what the child likes and add little by little. For example, a small piece of tomato with your favorite pasta.

Trust

Give your child a choice, but only two options (pasta or mashed potatoes, egg or casserole). And take his decision with confidence: accept the fact that your son or daughter, like you, has his own food preferences.

If a child has chosen something and still does not eat, do not reproach him: perhaps he does not yet know what he wants. In general, nutrition is a sphere of awareness of one's own individuality. The first “I love - I don’t love”, “I want - I don’t want” are largely related to food.

The child may have "binge" periods of eating a single meal, such as scrambled eggs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is fine. And it passes.

Pleasure and communication

It is worth paying attention to your habits: do you yourself eat with pleasure what you offer children? In what mood do you sit at the table? After all, tasty for us, as a rule, becomes something that is associated with a flash of pleasant emotions.

And in an atmosphere of concern, anxiety, irritation, you must admit, it is difficult to eat with appetite

And finally, do you eat together with your child at the same table or feed him separately? A joint meal is a whole chamber world, with its tastes, smells, communication and small rituals that bring pleasure to all participants.