Eggs are so versatile that they are a marvel in the kitchen. They can be boiled in both soft and hard manners, fried, poached, or even scrambled. They can also be used for many uses in the baking of pies, cakes, and so on. They can be used to prepare delicious meals or even served as a meal once in a while.
But the question is when can babies eat eggs?
Eggs may be introduced to the babies as soon as they are ready for solid foods. This is around 6 months of age. Eggs are also allergens so take note of baby risk factors and start slow with scant quantities of well-cooked eggs.
Ensure both the whites and yolks are well cooked as babies could react to even the smallest amount of eggs. Avoid using dirty or cracked eggs as they increase the risk of unhealthy reactions.
Eggs are highly nutritious and therefore, excellent baby food. They contain proteins and essential fats, cholesterol, and DHA. All these contribute to brain development, cell building, and proper vision.
The vitamins contained in eggs such as B vitamins and folate, minerals like iron, selenium, choline, are all important boosters of the baby’s nervous system. The yolks of eggs are great sources of Vitamin D which is vital for the building of strong bones and teeth.
You’re probably wondering if eggs are choking hazards. The answer is no. Technically, it is not impossible to choke on any type of meal so this isn’t a huge factor. Also, family allergy history is not that big a deal unless the baby has shown allergic reactions to food substances in the past.
How Should Eggs Be Introduced To Babies?
Babies develop their egg-eating timeline at their own pace so it’s you mustn’t rush them. Below are the different ages at which different kinds of egg preparations can be introduced to the baby’s eating schedule:
1. 6-9 Months:
At this age, the easiest method is the introduction of well-cooked, rectangular trips of omelets about the size of two fingers put together.
This shape makes it easier for the babies to pick the strips of eggs up and the soft, cooked nature of the omelet makes chewing and swallowing easier. If the babies still struggle to pick up the egg strips, try handing the eggs over to them in the air vertically.
2. 9-12 Months:
At this age, the baby is learning how to grasp objects thus enabling them to pick up small pieces of food. This is a great time to reduce the egg strips to small bite sizes that can be picked by the baby.
Omelets, scrambled, or hard-boiled eggs can be introduced to the baby at this age. It’s okay to go back to egg strips if the baby still struggles to pick up egg bits.
You can also offer eggs in egg cups to allow the babies to practice taking bites of soft, easy-to-chew food.
3. 12-24 Months:
At this stage of development, a wide range of egg preparations are introduced to the baby’s feeding. Explore the various methods including cutting omelets and hard-boiled eggs into small pieces while still ensuring that the eggs are properly cooked.
It is also at this stage the baby develops the use of utensils so it is a great way to work on forks. This can be done by cutting omelets into squares for the baby to practice picking up with the fork.
CONCLUSION
Knowing when to feed eggs to babies is not the easiest task and is one that requires careful and patient planning. Babies take their time to get accustomed to certain meals and not all of them will end up loving the taste of eggs.
Eggs can also be mashed up with milk or yogurt for weaning babies which ensures they get the necessary dietary nutrients for growth. Also, check for allergic reactions to eggs and be careful not to serve extra hard-boiled eggs to prevent the risk of choking.