The peaches are a powerhouse of nutrition and a good way to take care of the needs of the baby. This fruit has a high Vitamin A and C content and even has a lot of fibre. It is also known to have a plethora of health benefits. However, before starting anything new for the baby it is advisable to figure out if it will really benefit the baby. It is mandatory to figure out if the baby is allergic to the fruit? The age at what one should give the baby? The ways in which the fruit can be given, the method of storing and processing? The benefits accrued from giving it etc. Let us have a thorough insight into the same.
The Goodness Of Peaches For Your Baby
Peaches are famous and known for their succulent taste. They are densely loaded with nutrients and have a good fibre content as well. The sweetness of peaches is the reason for its popularity among the young and the old. The advantage of peaches is that you can easily make a puree of it for your baby or give it as a finger food to older babies. It has a juicy pulp that makes it tempting and edible. It has a high Vitamin C and Vitamin A content. A great fruit to give to your baby who has constipation issues.
At What Age Should Peaches Be Introduced To Babies?
The right age at which the babies can have peaches is from six months. Sometime around when solids are introduced to the baby. The peaches are densely packed with nutrients. We don’t want our little one to miss it so long. Due to its soft texture and sweet taste, it becomes a good choice as kids don’t fuss while eating the same and it is easy to digest as well. The peaches can also be added to the other preparations to enhance taste and offer more variety to the kids.
Can A Baby Be Allergic To Peach?
Peaches are a part of the plant family which is called as “Rosaceae”, which is known to elicit allergic results. The maximum amount of allergy is caused by the raw peaches, but once they get cooked the allergenic properties start to minimise. Fruits like apple, cherry, plum, almonds, walnut, hazelnut, apple, and apricot are all from the same family, and so in case the baby is allergic to any of these, he is bound to be allergic to peaches.
Being allergic to Peaches is common, so it is better to be cautious and keep an eye on the symptoms which persist in case the baby is allergic and they are as below:
| Feeling breathless with wheezing or taking long gasps of breathing |
| Getting small red boils on the skin, usually seen in clusters |
| Swelling in the lips and tongue as well as the neck muscles. |
| Pain in the abdomen with vomiting and diarrhoea. |
| Weakness and persistent fatigue |
How To Select And Store Peaches For Baby Food?
Selection:
May to October happens to be the right time to pick up peaches. It is advisable to look for an orange and pink tinge while picking up. The peaches that ripen are softer when you touch, one should never pick up peaches that have any spots. These are mostly unclean and contaminated so it’s best to choose the ones that are organically made. Remember, the more yellowish or orange colored the fleshy part of a peach is, the more will be the amount of beta-carotene in it.
Storage:
It is of utmost importance to wash them with utmost care in running water for removing all the remains of pesticides found on the outer layer of the fruit. This fruit ripens fast after plucking so best to select and store the unripe ones as they stay longer.
This fruit can be refrigerated in a basket or a plastic bag. Babies enjoy food at room temperature. Therefore, give them peaches that kept at room temperature rather than the refrigerated ones. If it is already refrigerated, keep it out for some time prior to processing it.
How To Process Peaches For Babies?
Peaches can be processed in a simple manner. They can be boiled, steamed, baked or even pureed. However, the skin should remain intact as it carries the nutrients but at the same time it should be cleaned thoroughly in order to get rid of any pesticides on it. It is advisable to peel that part of the skin which is stained or has spots while keeping the rest. There are many different methods to process peaches and they are mentioned as under:
- Boil: Add chopped pieces of peaches to about four to six bowls of water. Boil for a while, precisely, until the fruit gets tender. Cool and process.
- Steam: Put the large cut pieces of peach in a pan or a vessel with little water. Keep the pan closed and let it boil. Wait till it simmers for five minutes or so or until it becomes tender and soft.
- Bake: Slice it into four large pieces or eight small pieces and put them in a baking dish which has one-fourth of water. Preheat the oven to 200ºC. Bake for about 20-40 minutes or up to the point its skin crumbles.
When we cook the peaches, the skin becomes softer and infants can eat it easily. As far as the older babies are concerned, they can eat it straight away with the skin in a pureed form. It is prudent to keep a check that the peach is pureed thoroughly and has no traces of any large chunks in it.
Health Benefits Of Peaches For Babies
Peaches have rich antioxidant properties and even few essential vitamins as well as natural sugar intake. Some of the health benefits of peaches your baby can enjoy are as follows:
- It is good for the eyes as it is loaded with Vitamin A and C, antioxidants that help in the healthy growth and development of the baby’s eyesight and vision as well.
- It helps to keep the baby nourished as peaches ripen in the summertime, and also have an 85% water content that keeps the baby hydrated.
- It is loaded with potassium which helps in a healthy functioning of the circulatory system.
- Peaches have the goodness of nutrients and minerals, minus sodium. An overconsumption of sodium is dangerous to the immature kidneys of the baby.
- Peaches contain fluoride, phosphorus, and calcium, which is essential for healthy development of bones and teeth. Therefore, peaches help to keep maintain bone strength and prevent tooth decay.
Thus, it can be seen that peaches are no doubt a great choice to be used as a first food for the baby and it has its plethora of advantages, yet one cannot overlook the allergies that come with it. So it is best to be vigilant and follow all the required instruction before feeding the child after all “Nourishment is important but not at the cost of ones’ health”
Source: https://www.beingtheparent.com/peaches-for-babies/
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