Ice cream is a favorite food for many people to quench their thirst on a hot day. Have you ever been curious, actually can babies eat ice cream? The short answer: yes, of course! But, at what age can babies eat ice cream? Let's look at the answer below.
At what age should babies eat ice cream?
It's legal for parents to give babies to eat ice cream once in a while, provided the age of your child is over 1 year. At the age of 1 year, babies may be introduced to processed foods made from milk such as cheese, butter, including ice cream. The introduction of various food flavors and textures will further enrich the taste buds.
Which must be considered before allowing babies to eat ice cream
It should be noted, although ice cream sold in the market is made from milk and has gone through the process of pasteurization to kill bacteria, do not forget that there are other ingredients that are not good for babies and may also trigger food allergies or even choking. For example, pieces of nuts, fruits, or chocolate chips.
Even cow's milk as the main composition of ice cream itself can trigger digestive disorders in children who are indeed sensitive or intolerant of lactose. Because, cow's milk is indeed more difficult to digest by babies. This can cause excessive gas buildup, triggering abdominal pain or colic. Sugar, honey, caramel, preservatives, and additional dyes that might also be processed into ice cream should you consider carefully before allowing babies to eat ice cream.
Srelain, the introduction of sweet ice cream that is too early in children can make it grow addicted to sugar so children tend to be picky about food; just want food with that taste (sweet). As a result, children who love sweet foods will continue to eat sweet foods, making it risky to experience cavities. In addition, eating sweet foods can also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Tips when giving ice cream to your baby
Try to consult your pediatrician before you allow the baby to eat ice cream for the first time. You can make some of the following tips when giving ice cream to babies.
1. Pay attention to cleanliness
Most commercially available ice creams are pasteurized to kill bacteria, but you should still pay attention to the place where you bought the ice cream. Make sure the refrigerator where the ice cream is stored is clean. Storage is also very influential because bacteria can live in dirty storage. The use of water to make ice also needs to be considered. Make sure the water used is also clean. Dirty water can cause gastrointestinal infections.
2. Check the composition
Read the composition contained in the ice cream before giving it to your baby. Why? Because usually packaged foods or instant foods contain "hidden" sugar and salt. We recommend that you first read the nutritional value information on the packaging and see how much sugar and salt (sodium) is in the packaged food before you buy it.
Also, look at other supporting materials. Some food ingredients contained may trigger allergies in children, especially if your baby does have food allergies.
3. Not too much
Start with small bites, little by little. Don't give your baby too much ice cream. The sugar content in ice cream can cause tooth decay and excess weight in your baby later. Give only about 1-2 tablespoons and the frequency is not more than 1-2 times per week.
4. Give other alternative foods
If your baby likes ice cream, you can also give your baby other alternative foods such as fresh fruit, yogurt, smoothies, and gelatin. Always make sure your child gets healthy and balanced food, in addition to the ice cream snack. Try freezing your favorite papaya fruit juice or puree so that when your baby eats it, the food becomes similar to ice cream.