When to give baby eggs? How to start giving baby eggs?
Eggs are a very useful product that contains proteins, necessary for the body. The question arises: At what age and which eggs to give to babies? Despite their usefulness, eggs, like any other protein products that can cause allergies in babies, that’s why you need to keep to the shedule.
Giving eggs to babies: When can I start?
You shouldn’t give your baby eggs until his body is ready, as eggs are a very complicated product for babies. The digestive system of a 0 to 6 months old is not capable to digest eggs. However, there is another opinion. European pediatricians believe that some elements in eggs improve digestion of breast milk and infant formula and prevent frequent regurgitation. Therefore, they recommend giving babies eggs beginning from 3 months.
Still the optimal time to start feeding your baby eggs is at 6−7 months.
You can also read our baby feeding schedule to learn when you can begin giving your baby other solid foods.
What to give first — white or yolk?
Protein in whites is a source of amino acids, which are the «building blocks» of the body. Any growing body needs much protein, that’s why eating white is highly recommended for babies.
Yolk is also useful. It is rich in monounsaturated fats, which are the «defenders» of our hearts. According to statistics, those people, who eat egg yolks daily, have heart attacks very rarely. Egg yolk is also rich in polyunsaturated acids — omega-3 and omega-6, which are not synthesized by the human body and can get into only with food. These acids do great work: they support normal cholesterol levels. As you know, cholesterol increase leads to atherosclerosis and diabetes. Besides, high cholesterol level also affects the condition of hair, skin and nails.
First, you should give your baby yolk. You can start at 6 months or a little later. Start with literally a few specks added to breast milk or infant formula. For the first time, give your baby eggs in the morning — you’ll be able to monitor the reaction all day long.
Egg yolk can cause allergic reactions:
- rash,
- vomiting,
- constipation,
- diarrhea.
If you’ve noticed that something is wrong, stop giving eggs to the baby. Wait a month or even two, and try again. Perhaps the digestive system of your baby was not yet ripe for such a product.
If the yolk has not caused any reaction, begin to increase the dose after 2 — 3 days. Do it gradually. At one year, your baby shouldn’t eat more than half a chicken yolk at a time.
First, we introduce yolk into baby diet, because it’s easier to digest than white. You can start giving white only at 9−10 months. Egg white is the most valuable thing in an egg. However, it causes allergies 40% more often than yolk. Therefore, children with food allergies shouldn’t even try it before 1 year!
Again, start with a few specks in the morning and carefully watch the reaction. Increase the dose gradually. At 1 year and 3 months the baby should eat half a chicken egg (½ yolks + ½ white). Further, you can increase the amount, and at 2 years your kid can eat the whole egg at a time.
Which eggs are better for my baby: chicken or quail?
Chicken eggs contain B vitamins, which are responsible for the formation of the nervous system and normal metabolism. Therefore, chicken egg must be necessarily included in your baby’s diet. However, very often it happens that egg protein causes allergic reaction. What to do in this case? You can try giving a quail egg.
A quail egg contains less allergens, but has abundant nutrients. Despite its small size, a quail egg contains a lot of vitamins, iron, potassium and phosphorus.
If your baby is prone to allergies, begin with quail eggs. If the baby has no allergic reactions to foods, you can give him both types of eggs.
When can I give my baby scrambled eggs?
Up to one year you can give your baby only hardboiled eggs. Before cooking, they need a good wash under running water, and then cook eggs for at least 5 minutes after the water boils. After a year you can give eggs with runny yolks. After a year and a half you can make your kid scrambled eggs or an omelette.
Giving eggs to babies is not a simple thing, is it?
