Before we delve into the topic of jaggery for babies, let’s acknowledge the complexity surrounding this issue. After expressing concerns about salt and sugar for babies under one, many parents approached me, curious if jaggery could be a healthier alternative. Determined to find an answer, I dedicated three months to thorough research and sought guidance from pediatricians and nutritionists.
But here’s what surprised me: there is no definitive answer! It’s quite unexpected, isn’t it? Experts have varying opinions on whether jaggery is suitable for babies. Their perspectives differ, leaving me in a state of confusion. It became apparent that the decision to introduce jaggery to your little one should be based on your specific lifestyle and feeding practices. It is a personal choice that demands careful consideration of the potential risks involved. So, let’s dive deeper into this matter and make an informed decision for the well-being of our precious babies.
Can I give my Baby Jaggery?
During our medical internship, we were taught to advise mothers to add jaggery to their baby’s food. This recommendation was based on the guidelines from the Food and Nutrition Board of India and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics. The belief behind this advice was that jaggery, being energy-dense, could provide nutrition to the baby. In rural areas, where the weaning process often occurs later and lacks nutrient content, jaggery for babies can help meet their iron needs and prevent iron deficiency anemia. So, in such cases, the recommendation holds good.
However, the situation is quite different in urban Indian households. Here, a fussy baby can lead to a mother overdoing it with jaggery. When consumed in excess of the recommended level, jaggery can actually be harmful to the baby, resulting in the opposite effect of what the mother intended.
Now, let’s take a closer look at jaggery, examining its benefits as well as potential risks when considering its use for babies. Understanding the full picture will help us make informed decisions regarding jaggery for our little ones.
Benefits of Jaggery
Jaggery, also known as Gur in India, is a wonderful alternative to regular sugar when you’re craving some natural sweetness. It’s derived from various sources like palmyra, date palm, and coconut, and guess what? It’s packed with more nutrients than sugar! Jaggery contains beneficial minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and iron, making it a healthier choice.
When it comes to calories, jaggery holds its own too. For every 100 grams, cane sugar jaggery provides around 383 kcal, while jaggery made from sesame seeds packs around 563 kcal. So, not only does jaggery add a delightful touch of sweetness to your dishes, but it also brings some nutritional value to the table.
But remember, when considering jaggery for babies, it’s essential to weigh the potential benefits against any associated risks. Let’s dive deeper into this topic to get a comprehensive understanding of how jaggery can be beneficial and what precautions we should take when introducing it to our little ones.
Risks of Jaggery
1. As with sugar, a daily diet of jaggery for babies can get them used to too much sugar. Research has shown that consumption of sugar-sweetened food during infancy doubles the odds of consuming them more at age 6.
2. Jaggery is very high in calories and while it has some health benefits, a baby’s immature digestive system is not prepared to absorb all the nutrients in jaggery.
3. Some babies are seen to have issues like worms, stomach problems and mild rashes due to overheating, like prickly heat and heat bumps
4. Good quality jaggery is hard to find, and most of the commonly available varieties contain more than 90% of sugarcane. We recommend buying 100% organic jaggery, that is specially suited for babies and young children.
Healthy Ways to Sweeten Baby’s Food
If you’re wondering how to sweeten your baby’s food without sugar or jaggery, there are several other healthier, and yummier options! You can try each one, a little at a time, to see which one baby prefers the most.
1. Apple sauce – This is the most popular choice among Moms to sweeten foods like pancakes and baked goods
2. Fruit Puree – Nearly any fruit can be pureed and added to soft foods like porridge
3. Mashed Banana – Mashed banana goes surprisingly well with all kinds of foods
4. Dry Fruit Powder – For a baby over 8 months,dry fruits powder or dry fruit that has been soaked and pureed can be added in small quantities.
5. Breast milk – Breast milk is naturally sweet and your baby’s already used to its taste
Note: Please avoid jaggery for babies under one year, as it can lead to botulism poisoning.
When it comes to jaggery for babies, it’s crucial to prioritize their well-being. The risks associated with feeding jaggery to babies under one year old outweigh the potential benefits. It’s always best to consult your pediatrician, who can provide personalized advice based on your baby’s specific health needs. Their guidance will help you make an informed decision about whether or not to introduce jaggery into your baby’s diet. Your pediatrician is your trusted partner in ensuring the best care for your little one.
Reference
1. Food and Nutrition Board,Department of Women and Child Development, Government of India
2. Indian Academy of Paediatrics- Infant Feeding Guidelines
3. Infant feeding practices and 6 year follow up – Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Hi Dr Hema , my baby has eczema especially on face . She is 7 months old , is there any specific diet of solid food I need to introduce to her? Or I can just use the products I bought from your site ?
You can use our products, but please make sure to give little and then gradually increase the quantity. This can help you to find if baby is comfortable with the new food.
well i gave to my baby wen he was 13 months in porridge n it turned out to b total disaster he got severe diareah with so bad rashes in his loo area that it was one of the baddest nightmare a mother can have …
might b not same for others but YES b very cautious Mother’s …dont rush the kiddos hav got long way n life to eat ol this …let them adapt solids n then experiment ….
P.s : Ignore it u dont agree ..
Tysm
Thank you for sharing your view Neelu.
How much quantity can be given to 2 years old.
Hi Priya,
It depends dear. You can add one or two spoons depending on the sweetness you require. Anything in moderate is always good 🙂
can I start giving jagerry with sesame seeds for my two year baby daily?is ther any effect for giving daily ?
Yes you can now. Start with small portions. You can give daily in small quantities.
Thank you for guiding
I am glad I can.
Now she’s 6month.I give my baby Saffron Milk
Please do not give jaggery.
Is there a way to make khichadi tasty without adding jaggery. Taste of dal rice with ghee or any veggies is also quite bland my baby doesn’t eat more than couple of spoons
You can if you want to make it sweet add dates syrup. But we must remember that babies have not tasted salt and sugar as yet and hence they enjoy this bland taste too. You can add different veggies or mashed potato etc.
My lo is 2 month old and my mother in law already started giving her potli of jaggery she is suffering from cough now is this due to jaggery pls advice me for the same
Dear,please avoid giving overdose of jaggery as discussed in the article too. You may also see the doctor who will examine the baby and he will be able to advice you based on your baby’s current health status.
Hi
My baby is 9 months old(33 weeks preterm baby). He is not taking solids enough( takes only 2 spoons). He is not even interested in milk. If I add little jaggery to formula, he drinks well. Is it safe to add jaggery in formula everytime? Pls suggest
Do take time Anu to read the food chart for 9 months of the website and other wonderful options that can be given to babies of this age. Some baby’s eat very less yet are active and so just focus on healthy food and avoid jaggery till baby becomes 1 year, the baby will eventually gain weight.
my LO s 7 month old from today..without jaggery she is not eating ragi porridge im adding teaspoon of jaggery to a cup of porridge is it fine ?? else can i add fruit puree or something else??
Hi, My baby is 10 month old now, can i add Jaggery syrup in her foods and which one is advisable, Sugar cane jaggery or Palm jaggery?
Hi Dr.Hema
Can i use khadi sakar or patasa( sakar or whole sugar) as sweetner for my 7 months old baby???
Hello Hema..
I have a doubt.. my daughter is 8months old..
How about giving Misri (crystallized sugar lumps, rock sugar) mishri mixing in little hot water for sweeteness? Or u suggest to wait til 1yr..
My grandparents and my parents insists me to add salt n sugar to baby food.. but till date i haven’t added that.. so thot of adding mishri…
Plz suggest
can I keep jaggery to my kid when I’m feeding with apple rice…her age is18 th month mam …
Yes you can 🙂
Hi, thanks so much for this post. What about date powder? Is that a good substitute, and if yes, how much can you give (eg daily, once a week, lesser?)
Yes you can give homemade dates powder, can be given daily in moderation
Hello ma’am!
I am following your 50 first solid food recipe. I added Jaggery to my baby before reading this article. My 6 months old son got rashes around his mouth , when I was wondering why it came, that time I read about the risk of Jaggery. Could you please advice me what should I do next? Whenever I add Jaggery it is increasing , I am not sure but I suspect.
Thank you.
Dear Jasmina,
Please stop jaggery for now, it may cause allergy , instead of jaggery use whole fruit puree for sweetness
Cheers
Hema
Ok ma’am. Thank you very much for your reply. What kind of fruits can I add in ragi porridge?
Dear Jasmina,
You can almost all fruits like apple, pear, mango,chikoo in porridge
cn i give rock candy?? is it good for cough??
Hi Fousiya,
How old is your little one ?
Is it advisable to give palm candy or palm jaggery??..mixing n baby foods..
Hi Rekha,
It is better to avoid before 1 year
useful info… even raw cane sugar also should be avoided ?
Hi Dhivya
Yes better to avoid raw cane sugar too
How about giving jaggery after a baby turns one? Is it still not recommended?
Hi Arooz,
It cna be given after 1 year, but moderately