Over the past six months, you have introduced your baby to the world. You have taken him for refreshing walks to see the sunlight shining through the leaves, introduced him to your loved ones, and helped him master new skills.
Now, it’s time to introduce your baby to solid foods. Weaning is such an exciting stage for both you and your baby.
You might be feeling anxious about the responsibility of feeding your baby solid foods. You might be wondering when babies can eat certain foods, and whether there are any foods you need to delay introducing. In this article, we’ll look at when babies can eat eggs.
When can babies eat eggs?
Babies can eat eggs as soon as they start eating solids, at around six months. It’s OK to introduce eggs as one of your baby’s early foods. As long as babies are ready for solids, they are ready for eggs.
For more inspiration for your baby’s first foods, take a look at 10 Finger Foods To Try When Baby Led Weaning.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says most babies are ready to eat solid foods at around six months. The AAP recommends waiting for the following signs that your baby is ready for solid foods:
- Your baby can sit up
- Your baby can hold his head up
- Your baby shows an interest in food
- Your baby doesn’t automatically push food out of his mouth with his tongue
- Your baby seems to be hungry between feeds.
The nutritional benefits of eggs for babies
Eggs are a healthy source of protein and fat, making them a great food choice for your baby. Eggs contain essential fatty acids, which are crucial for brain development. In addition, eggs contain plenty of nutrients such as biotin and iron and Vitamins A, D, E, and B12.
How do I introduce eggs to my baby?
Many parents feel anxious about food allergies during the weaning process. Eggs are a common allergen, so you might feel anxious about introducing eggs to your baby. If your baby has risk factors for an egg allergy, such as eczema or an existing food allergy, you should speak to your healthcare provider for advice before introducing this food.
If you are introducing eggs to a baby for the first time, it is vital to ensure they are adequately cooked. When preparing eggs for your baby, opt for well-cooked easy-to-eat dishes, such as boiled or scrambled eggs. Make sure both the yolk and white are completely firm before serving to your baby. You can mash or quarter a hard boiled egg to make it easier for your baby to eat. If serving an omelette, cut it into finger food-sized strips your baby will be able to grip. You can also add breast milk to your child’s omelette.
How long to boil eggs for baby?
To reduce the risk of salmonella poisoning, the inside of the egg must be cooked to 160° F. This might mean you need to cook the eggs for longer than you normally do.
When preparing eggs for a baby, you should cook the eggs for 8-10 minutes, to ensure the egg is cooked correctly.
When can babies eat scrambled eggs?
Babies can eat scrambled eggs from six months of age. Scrambled eggs are a great early food for your baby to try. You can make scrambled eggs using breast milk. Remember, babies shouldn’t eat added salt, so don’t season your baby’s scrambled eggs.
It might take your baby a while to perfect his pincer grip for eating scrambled eggs, so you may want to serve the scrambled egg cut up into bite-size chunks at first. As your baby masters the pincer grip, he’ll be able to pick up smaller chunks of scrambled egg by himself. By the time he reaches toddlerhood, you can offer him a toddler fork so he can feed himself using cutlery.
When can babies eat runny eggs?
The recommendations for runny eggs vary between countries, so you should check with your healthcare provider for local advice.
The differing advice is affected by farming methods, food risks and scientific interpretation of data. You should follow the official advice where you live.
How many eggs can a baby eat in a week?
Technically, you can feed your baby an egg every day without concern. This excellent source of protein is a wonderful addition to your baby’s diet. However, you might want to take steps to reduce the risk of your baby tiring of eggs.
If you offer food every day, even if it is a favorite food, your baby might grow tired of it and soon refuse to eat it altogether. For this reason, it might be better to serve and prepare eggs a few days a week rather than every day.
Are eggs a choking hazard?
Eggs are not a common choking hazard; however, you should take precautions when serving eggs to your baby. Ensure eggs are well cooked and soft and cut them into finger foods that your baby will be able to grip easily.
Always stay with your baby during mealtimes. Always ensure he is sitting up properly when eating and never offer him food when he is reclining, sitting in a car seat or playing.
Why can’t babies eat eggs?
If well-intentioned grandparents keep telling you not to give your baby eggs, you might be wondering why babies can’t eat eggs. Unfortunately, the idea that babies can’t eat eggs is an old wives’ tale that persists today.
It was previously thought that delaying the introduction of allergens would reduce the risk of a baby developing an allergy. Thankfully, we now know that’s not true. In fact, introducing allergens earlier reduces the risk of an egg allergy. Therefore, experts now recommend introducing common allergens such as eggs earlier rather than later.
Egg allergy is quite common and affects as many as 1 in 50 children. However, most children outgrow their egg allergy in time.
Signs of egg allergy in baby
Eggs are a common baby food allergen. If you are anxious about giving your baby eggs for the first time, it might help to know the signs of an allergic reaction to watch out for. Your baby might have an egg allergy if, after eating eggs, he experiences:
- Hives
- Itching
- Skin, lip or tongue swelling
- Sneezing
- Wheezing or breathing difficulty
- Trouble swallowing
- Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or diarrhea.
If you think your baby might have an egg allergy, speak to your healthcare provider and ask for advice.
Babies can have a severe allergic reaction to eggs. If your baby has difficulty breathing or swallowing, you should immediately seek emergency medical help.
Can babies without teeth eat scrambled eggs ?
Yes, babies who don’t yet have teeth can eat scrambled eggs. Toothless babies can eat most things. Babies use their gums to chew food, so they’re able to cope perfectly fine without teeth. Over the course of your weaning journey, you might be surprised at just how many foods your baby can manage without teeth!
If you’ve ever been bitten during breastfeeding, you will know that those toothless gums are pretty powerful.
Salmonella and eggs
Eggs can contain salmonella, a bacterium that can cause illness if you eat raw or lightly cooked eggs.
To reduce the risk of salmonella:
- Keep eggs refrigerated
- Do not use cracked or dirty eggs
- Opt for pasteurized eggs
- Cook eggs until both the yolk and white are firm
- Use only pasteurized eggs for foods that contain raw or lightly cooked eggs
- Wash hands and items that come into contact with raw eggs.