Can Babies Eat Pickles – What You Must Know

How And When To Introduce Pickles In Your Baby’s Diet?

When can babies eat pickles is a commonly asked question. You can give your baby pickles to eat when they are ready to eat solid food, usually at six months (1). Still, if you are indecisive about using pickles for your child, it is suggested to consult a paediatrician. Once the doctor acknowledges feeding pickles to your baby, give them in small quantities. For example, a baby can be given a small piece of pickled vegetable during his teething phase to nibble and chew. This will soothe their swelling gums and relieve them from the pain and soreness. Supervising the babies trying pickles for the first time is essential as pickles are raw and chewy, creating potential choking risks. So, to prevent this, always serve them tiny pieces of pickles. Pickles with low sodium content are always preferable. Dietitians also state babies can eat pickles when they start solids at around six months. It can be advantageous to initiate babies to various tastes and shapes; pickles are incomparable in both features.

Can An Infant Be Allergic To Pickles?

Pickle Allergy cases are not well-attested. Yet, like any other food, pickles, too, may lead to allergic reactions among sensitive babies. Additives such as preservatives added to pickles are primarily responsible for pickle allergy rather than pickled food. Inklings of pickle allergy are akin to that of food allergy. If you have wondered, “Are pickles safe for babies?” then yes, they are safe if given in small quantities with no new food introduced concurrently. You should observe the baby for three to five days to see any signs of allergy. If the baby feels uncomfortable after ingesting the pickle, immediately consult the doctor. Pickles with the lowest sodium content should be given while introducing them to the baby.

Pickles are fermented foods that may elevate the microbiome and benefit health over time. Introducing your baby to different flavours and textures is a great way to help ward off picky eating later in life. Pickled vegetables are one of those foods with unique flavours. While the baby enjoys the new texture and taste, stay vigilant for signs of allergy and intolerance.

Benefits of Pickles For Babies

Pickles might not be the right choice for every child due to the high sodium content, but they are not a devil’s food. There are various advantages associated with them. The process of fermentation prepares Pickles to make them acidic. This type of food is connected with healthy gut flora, which helps with better digestion (2). However, it is important to note that pickles fermented with salt and not vinegar contain these probiotics (3). It also boosts immunity. Pickles also provide cooling vibes that can be comforting to the teething gums of infants. It gives them a revitalising feeling, and a couple of bites are enough to redirect the younger one from his gum ache. Letting the baby taste different savoury and touch can have a lifelong pragmatic result. Later in life, it opens up a more significant nutrient intake and dietary assortment. Pickles are great for baby-led weaning or to chew while the baby is teething.

1. Teething Snack

Pickles for teething babies serve as a great snack to chew and can help soothe their gums with their cooling effect (4).

2. Baby-led Weaning

Pickles can serve as good finger food. Finger food is used to hone a baby’s pincer grasp, which is essential for effective baby-led weaning (5).

Side Effects and Health Concerns of Feeding Pickles To Babies

Commercially made pickles are loaded with almost 400 mg of sodium, which may be detrimental if the baby is fed pickles daily. The most common side effects of pickles are as follows:

1. Pickles lead to kidney damage

Pickles with too much salt will cause the kidneys to overwork and might even damage them (6).

2. Risk of heart and non-communicable diseases

Excessive salt can also raise babies’ risk for heart disease and stroke. Overconsumption of salt can also lead to non-communicable diseases such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, and obesity (7).

3. Pickles are a cause of addiction

Salt is an addictive substance. Feeding babies with too much salt will breed a negative cycle (8).

4. Pickles can generate acid reflux and upset stomach

Few babies can experience digestive problems due to pickle brine. It can upset tummies and make babies sick.

5. Pickles can cause diaper rash

Pickles are acidic and can cause diaper rashes or irritate baby skin. Lactonic acid bacteria in pickles absorb sugars and manufacture lactic acid, which converts the pickle into its acid form (9). Pickles may irritate their skin and create rash around their lips, mouth, and buttocks in a few sensitive babies. Infants should consume less sodium due to undeveloped kidneys. They cannot steer the high amounts of sodium intake, but this does not mean that you should remove salt entirely from the diet of the infants. Pickles are rich in sodium, so you should not serve them daily. Different pickles have different types of sodium content, so check their nutrition facts label before consuming or serving to the child.

Sometimes, babies are subjected to acidic foods like pickles. Those foods can shoot up flatulence. Thus alternatively, you can prepare pickles at home with different foods such as vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, dairy, and fish. Babies should be fed pickles occasionally and in minimum quantities of up to a tablespoon, whether homemade or commercially made. Besides, premature introduction to salty foods may change a baby’s taste preferences later in life. Excessive salt intake can lead an individual to chronic diseases like high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. Under such circumstances, one should seek the advice of the doctor immediately.

Pickles can mean two things. It either means the act of picking, which is another word for fermentation, or it means pickled cucumber. You can pickle any vegetables out there. In recent times, pickles have been a good treat for infants. They are relatively safe to eat and are good options for weaning. The funky taste can make your kids make picture-perfect, funny faces! However, too many pickles can be harmful to babies. Excessive salt can provide a route to health issues affecting a child in the long run. Acidity is something worth mentioning. Pickles are acidic and can upset some babies’ stomachs.

FAQs

1. Are pickles with vinegar healthy for babies?

Pickles or pickled cucumbers, as they are also called, have benefits. Cucumbers pickled in salt contain healthy probiotics that might benefit babies, while cucumbers pickled in vinegar don’t.

2. How much pickle can you feed a baby?

Before feeding pickles to your baby, consult your paediatrician on the recommended quantity. Additionally, feed your baby a small quantity to check for any possible allergies before feeding them. You should ideally feed pickles in a small quantity as finger food because the high sodium content of pickles can pose a risk.

In many countries, pickles are served as a side dish and snack. They are tasty, crunchy, flavour-packed, and can be a tangy treat for taste buds. They are nutritious and can provide a few health benefits, including probiotics, antioxidants, and blood sugar control. Last but not least, moderation matters the most. Thus, pickles are suitable for babies if given at times.

References/Resources:

1. When Can My Baby Start Eating Solid Foods?; Nemours Kid’s Health; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/solid-foods.html

2. Fermented foods for better gut health; Harvard Health Publishing; https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/fermented-foods-for-better-gut-health-2018051613841

3. Sanders, B.O.; Fermented Foods for Gut Health; U Mass Medical School; https://www.umassmed.edu/nutrition/blog/blog-posts/2019/6/fermented-foods-for-gut-health/

4. 6 Teething Relief Methods That Really Work; Healthy Women Organisation; https://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/6-teething-relief-methods-really-work; 2014

5. Weaning; NHS Better Health; https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/weaning/what-to-feed-your-baby/from-around-6-months/

6. Lin, C.W., Chen, IW, Lin, Y.T., Chen, H.Y., and Hung, S.Y.; Association of unhealthy dietary behaviors with renal function decline in patients with diabetes; BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6954781/; January 2020

7. Sodium: Too Much of a Good Thing; Poison Control National Capital Poison Center; https://www.poison.org/articles/sodium-too-much-of-a-good-thing

8. Alan, Y.; Culture fermentation of Lactobacillus in traditional pickled gherkins: Microbial development, chemical, biogenic amine and metabolite analysis: J Food Sci Technol; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6675860/; August 2019

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Benefits of Garlic for Babies
Introducing Ginger to Babies

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