When Can I Start Giving My Baby Ice Cream?

Whose mouth won't water for ice cream? But, if ice creams are so tempting and irresistible for grown-ups, think about babies who are still discovering tastes and foods! Having said that, what is the right age for a baby to indulge in the delicacy of ice cream? Well, ask a mother, and she'd say, NEVER! But don't you feel like making your baby taste a pinch of ice cream when you are eating one? Can you ignore their cute little face asking for it? Impossible, isn't it?

Wait For Some Time

All emotions aside, it is best to wait until your baby is one year old before you can get him/her to eat ice cream. Your baby's tummy is tiny and digestive capabilities are low. Once your baby is a year old, he/she would have gotten used to all the dairy products like cow/buffalo milk, curd, cheese, paneer, etc.

Ice cream = Unhealthy Food

But do you think ice cream will do any good for your baby's health? It is not enriched with vitamins and minerals. Being a parent, you only want to give your baby nutritious food because this is their growing age, and what you build now will last forever. Ice creams are full of sugar, which is not what your baby's body needs.

You may like: Baby Diet Chart: What to feed your baby from birth to 1 year? (mylofamily.com)

Points To Keep In Mind

• Ensure that the ice cream is not bought from a roadside ice cream vendor because cleanliness, quality, and good storage conditions aren't their main qualities.

• Ensure that the brand you choose for ice cream is a reputed one. Although the pasteurization process, which destroys most bacteria, makes most ice creams safe, it is still advisable to exercise caution when consuming this delectable delicacy.

• Always be sure of the ingredients in the ice cream. At such a tender age, you never know what may cause allergies in your baby.

• Once in a while is okay, but don't make it a regular ritual no matter how much your baby tries to convince you with his/her cute little hugs and gestures! Too much ice creams can cause tooth decay in your baby.

• Try making ice creams of similar alternatives at home. For example, you can make fruit custard, shrikhand, homemade milkshakes and smoothies, Mishti doi, orange candies (you do get candy moulds in the market!), one and only traditional kheer, lassi of different flavors, and many more healthy options!

P.S- if your baby is intolerant to lactose, it's best if you can avoid dairy-based desserts and ice creams. However, the good is news is that there are a lot of dairy-free dessert options available too!

References

1. Brian Rohrig. (2014).Ice, Cream... and Chemistry.acs.org
2. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition. (2022). Why Do Infants Need Baby Formula Instead of Cow's Milk?. helthychildren.org
3. CBE. Can Babies Eat Ice cream?. https://canbabieseat.com/ice-cream