There always seems to be a list of things that babies can have, and can’t have. One of the things that aren’t always included in those charts and lists are spices, like cinnamon.
It’s perfectly okay to give your baby cinnamon and several other spices at six months old, though.
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Follow Feeding Guidelines When Giving Your Little One Spices
If you want to give your baby spices, like cinnamon, it’s perfectly fine. Yet, you need to follow the same guidelines that you would for other foods.
First, feed your little one their first foods. These are the pureed foods that come with only one food, such as sweet potatoes.
After that, you can give your baby combination baby foods, start working on solid foods, and even feed them spices like cinnamon.
Only Give Your Baby One New Spice At A Time
I go through spices just like I do other foods to make sure the grandbaby doesn’t have an allergic reaction. For example, when I started with cinnamon, he only had that spice for three days.
After that, I was comfortable enough to give him another spice. If you feed babies more than one spice at a time, and they have an allergic reaction, you won’t be able to tell which spice caused an allergic reaction.
Feed Your Baby A Pinch Of Cinnamon Per Feeding
When you give your little one cinnamon, only feed them a little bit at a time. If you accidentally feed your baby too much cinnamon it can make their stomach upset. It can also cause skin irritation.
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Because they are eating the cinnamon and you’re not applying it to their skin, you might notice that the inside of their mouth or their lips are irritated. This is a sign that they had too much cinnamon.
To avoid this, sprinkle one shake or one pinch on their food at a time. If you only feed them a little bit, you won’t have to worry about negative side effects.
Foods That You Can Add Cinnamon To
You don’t want to feed your baby straight cinnamon, but it can be a nice addition to a large variety of foods. For example, sweet potatoes taste delicious with cinnamon.
We’ve already given it to the grandbaby, and some of his favorite foods with cinnamon are:
- Sweet potatoes
- Pears
- Apples
- Applesauce
- Oatmeal
- Rice cereal
- Pancakes
You can add cinnamon to almost any fruit or orange vegetable and your little one will probably like it.
Don’t forget that they eat smaller portions than we do, and only need a pinch to start out. This is usually more than enough to add some flavor to baby food!
Watch For An Allergic Reaction When Feeding Your Baby Cinnamon
An allergic reaction to cinnamon is extremely uncommon. It’s so rare that most people don’t even consider it, but it’s important to know that it is still possible.
Allergies to spices are seen in 2% of all allergies. Cinnamon is the most common spice allergy. Signs of an allergic reaction to cinnamon include:
- Hives
- Itching
- Upset stomach
- Abdominal pain
- Itching or tingling of the mouth or lips
- Swollen throat
- Trouble breathing
- Itchiness
- Shock
Babies can’t tell us what is wrong with them, though. So, if your little one doesn’t understand how to scratch an itch, you’ll simply notice that they are fussier than usual.
If this happens after feeding them a new food, contact your pediatrician. They could have an upset stomach, but not be able to communicate that.
If your little one has a cinnamon allergy, any contact with cinnamon can trigger an allergic reaction. A sprinkle of cinnamon can make them break out on hives if it’s on their arm. Keep this in mind if your baby is allergic to cinnamon.
Other Spices To Feed Your Baby
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Spices are just like any other food. While it’s not recommended to feed babies herbal remedies, such as herbal teas, you can still give them herbs in their food.
In fact, it’s a great idea to help your baby expand on what they do, and don’t like. Babies that try a wide variety of foods when they are little are less likely to be picky eaters when they grow up. Other spices that you can feed your baby include:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Lemon pepper
- Basil
- Oregano
- Dill
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Garlic
Remember that although these spices are considered safe, it’s important to only give them in small doses. Even if your baby isn’t allergic to the spice, too much can give them an upset stomach.
Are Any Herbs Or Spices Toxic To Babies?
Cinnamon, aromatic spices, and others are great to give babies. Not only do they help them enjoy more flavors, they offer quite a few health benefits when included in a daily diet.
However, there are certain herbs and spices that you should not feed to babies.
Too Much Of Anything Can Be A Bad Thing
For example, nutmeg is safe to give a baby. However, if a person consumes too much nutmeg it can cause hallucinations. This is just one example.
When feeding your baby spices, make sure not to give them too much of one spice at a time. They only need a pinch.
Herbal Remedies Can Be Dangerous
Herbal remedies, even chamomile tea, seem like they would be safe for babies. It makes sense that if they are safe to ingest that they would be safe for children, but you should never give herbal remedies to babies without consulting your pediatrician first.
Most recommend that babies do not have any herbal remedies until they are five years old. The dosage is hard to determine for babies, and giving them too much can be dangerous.
Instead, avoid herbal remedies or herbs that are typically used for herbal remedies to make sure that your little one stays safe.
In Conclusion
If you’d like to give your baby cinnamon after their first foods, that’s a great idea! Spices offer a lot of wonderful health benefits and help prevent picky eating. However, make sure not to give them too much and watch for signs of an allergic reaction.
