What Spices Can I Give My 6 Month Old?
Surprisingly, there are many spices you can use when preparing meals for your baby that are safe!
And there are some wonderful healthy benefits from certain spices that can help your baby’s brain and body now and long term!
–>Starting solids soon? Learn about the holistic approach to baby led weaning that can protect and defend your baby’s gut, brain and body health from the start!
In this blog post you will find a list of 16 safe spices for babies 6 months and beyond, that you can use when preparing your baby’s food.
Like with the foods themselves, you will want to start with a small amount and add more as their eating skills strengthen and they become more familiar with and adapted to new flavors.
Remember, baby’s are brand new to eating solids, so even if they make a scrunchy face or spit things out, this is not necessarily an indication that they don’t like something! It might just be them getting used to a texture, chewing or even that they aren’t yet hungry.
Read this article to learn about the strange things that baby’s do when starting solids, that are actually normal! (besides eat the foods!)
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Benefits of Introducing Spices To Your Baby Early
A lot of times we think that baby food has to be bland to be safe appropriate for them, but that just isn’t true! And there are actually many benefits to starting with spices early!
- Your baby’s palate becomes acquainted and adjusted young, making them more open to new and diverse flavors in childhood and beyond.
- Less likelihood of pickiness in toddlerhood.
- Wonderful health support, like immunity-boosting and anti-inflammatory benefits that protect the gut, heart, body and brain now and long-term.
- You can cook one meal for the entire family, instead of short-order cooking something different for each person, and only have to modify slightly on spiciness/sweet/saltiness for baby.
—>Want my complete Low Stress Baby Led Weaning Starter Guide? Grab it here for FREE!
16 safe spices for babies 6 months old & beyond
1. Cinnamon
Rich in antioxidants and a wonderful dash of flavor to add to muffins, pancakes and oatmeal! Cinnamon is one of the safe spices for baby that is not a known allergen and has been shown to be safe for introducing at 6 months.
Start with a tiny dash and know that when it comes into direct contact with the skin, it can cause irritation.
*There have been reports of allergies to cinnamon, so be aware and always check with your pediatrician to see if your baby might be predisposed to having food allergies. If your family has a history of food allergies, your baby may be at higher risk.
—>Learn more about allergens, here.
2. Turmeric
Turmeric is at the top of the list when it comes to health benefits, as it is regarded as one of the ‘most effective nutritional supplement in existence‘, helping protect against heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s andn more!
With a sprinkle here and there, it is easy to include turmeric in a lot of things like cheesy scrambled eggs, taco meat, soups and even oatmeal!
(Yes oatmeal! Try a dash of turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg and full fat milk! Great for fall, has a nice orange color and yummy flavor. After baby is 1, you can add some honey*. Honey is not safe for babies under 1 because is can cause botulism due to baby’s immature digestive system. You could use maple syrup as a substitute for honey if you choose. I also add a few chocolate chips on the top for the toddlers – its a fave!)
*There have been reports of allergies to turmeric, so be aware and always check with your pediatrician to see if your baby might be predisposed to having food allergies. If your family has a history of food allergies, your baby may be at higher risk.
3. Basil
This tasty herb is often found on the spice rack in our homes. Fresh or dry spice-style basil is fine!
One of the safe spices for babies, this again, you’ll want to start with a small amount and build up from there.
Known to aid in managing blood pressure and cholesterol, basil also helps the body detox because it is high in antioxidants.
Starting Solids Soon?
Grab My FREE Low Stress Baby Led Weaning Starter Guide!
First foods list, foods to avoid, allergen safety information, gagging and choking info, feeding schedule example and more!
4. Garlic
Garlic is a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals. (And one I personally can eat raw, like chips – especially with pizza! I’m the same with onions. Sounds wild right?!)
But the health benefits are amazing, including immune system support, cancer prevention, infection-fighting abilities and more!
Mellow that strong natural flavor for baby by sauteeing and then smash and add to your favorite dishes – pasta, soups, steamed veggies and more!
*There have been reports of allergies to garlic, so be aware and always check with your pediatrician to see if your baby might be predisposed to having food allergies. If your family has a history of food allergies, your baby may be at higher risk.
5. Rosemary
Another herb that is on many spice racks! A little rosemary can give a delicious, aromatic flavor to veggies, potatoes, soups, meats and fish!
For fresh rosemary, clean and cook leaves into the dishes. Start with a little and build up from there.
Rich with vitamins like folate and minerals like calcium, rosemary is one of the safe spices for babies and a wonderful addition to your baby’s foods.
So many exciting flavors and flavor combinations for baby to explore!
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6. Nutmeg
Sweet and nutty, nutmeg can aid in upset times and has antibacterial properties to ward of sickness.
Easily added to oatmeal, muffins, mild curries and pancakes for baby!
7. Coriander
Coriander or cilantro, can add some nice freshness to rice and beans or even fruits like watermelon and blueberries! Add a tiny squeeze of lemon and some coriander onto steamed veggies!
Some people find the flavor unsavory or soapy, but introducing in young and using it regularly, especially if you eat it often, can help baby become accustomed to it!
*There have been reports of allergies to coriander, so be aware and always check with your pediatrician to see if your baby might be predisposed to having food allergies. If your family has a history of food allergies, your baby may be at higher risk.
8. Dill
With riboflavin, niacin and potassium, this herb is packed with goodness!
Sprinkle a little on veggies like cucumber, put in yogurt, on chicken, fish (mmmm buttery salmon with fresh dill!) or even in summertime soups!
*There have been reports of allergies to dill, so be aware and always check with your pediatrician to see if your baby might be predisposed to having food allergies. If your family has a history of food allergies, your baby may be at higher risk.
9. Ginger
Ginger is a wonderful safe spice for babies 6 months and beyond, and can help with upset stomachs!
It has anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties that make it a great aid in diverse immune system support.
Grate and add to breads, muffins, pancakes or, grate and steam and mix into soups, rice, veggies, or grate and add fresh to their sipping water or yogurt with fresh fruit!
—>Want my complete Low Stress Baby Led Weaning Starter Guide? Grab it here for FREE!
10. Thyme
Thyme is an herb and a safe spice for babies 6 months and beyond. Rich in Vitamins A and C, and the oil it produces has been found to protect, even increase, healthy fats in human cell membranes!
With a delicate flavor, you will want to add it just at the end of cooking. Try it with potatoes, chicken, baked treats, rice and veggies!
11. Fennel
Fennel has a licorice-type flavor. It contains non-heme iron and is high in essential fatty acids and magnesium, fennel is great for tissue-repair, bone health and more.
Warning – fennel can contain a high amount of nitrates that turn into nitrites, making it hard for oxygen to get to the necessary tissues in the body, even if organic. So, be sure to wash well and use sparingly in dishes.
*There have been reports of allergies to fennel, so be aware and always check with your pediatrician to see if your baby might be predisposed to having food allergies. If your family has a history of food allergies, your baby may be at higher risk.
12. Mint
Fresh and refreshing! Mint can be added to yogurt or fruits/fruit salads for baby to give a very different flavor profile.
Be sure it is finely minced for young babies.
Mint has vitamins C, K and A and makes an easy, safe spice for babies 6 months and beyond.
One of our favorite drinks in the summer here is blended watermelon, with ice and fresh mint! Toddlers love it!
13. Clove
Cloves have a warm, strong, fall holiday-like flavor, that goes well with sharp fruits like orange and rustic flavors like pumpkin bread and ginger muffins.
Rich in manganese that helps form bones and cartilage, as well as calcium and magnesium, clove makes a great spice to add into baby’s diverse list of spices and foods!
14. Oregano
Oregano is a nice, mild spice you can add to baby’s scrambled eggs, sauteed shrimp, pasts dishes, chicken and more!
Rich in antioxidants, helps decrease inflammation, fights bacteria, supports the gut and filled with vitamins and minerals, oregano is a wonderful addition to your and baby’s meals!
15. Cardamom
Cardamom has a similar flavor to cinnamon. It contains thiamin, vitammin b6, vitamin c, zinc, iron and manganese, making it a powerful seasoning that supports blood cells, skin, brain development, heart health and more! (Isn’t nature just amazing?! All the things nature’s foods, herbs and spices do for the body is amazing!)
—> Want to learn about the holistic approach to baby led weaning that can protect and defend your baby’s gut, brain and body health from the start? Check it out. It’s amazing, too.
You can try it with some fruits, puddings, shrimp or chicken stirfry, oatmeals, baked goods, pancakes or waffles.
16. Cumin
In many other cultures and countries around the world, babies are introduced to bold flavors of their country (curries in India and small dabs of wasabi in Japan!)
Cumin has iron, which helps boost the immune system, as well as other vitamins and minerals such as, calcium and magnesium.
Easily add into taco meat, chili-style meals, onto chicken or other meats, cooked into rice or mild curries or stews!
*There have been reports of allergies to cumin, so be aware and always check with your pediatrician to see if your baby might be predisposed to having food allergies. If your family has a history of food allergies, your baby may be at higher risk.
What Spices Are Unsafe For Baby?
Hot spices like cayenne pepper, black pepper and paprika are best introduced after 1 year old, and even later, as they can cause a numbing sensation and heat that is uncomfortable and even scary for young children.
Any spice listed above or otherwise, that has been associated with a higher risk of allergies is best to be avoided until you check with your pediatrician to see if your baby might be predisposed to having food allergies. If your family has a history of food allergies, your baby may be at higher risk.
You can also get informed about what to look for and what to do in case of an allergic reaction by reading this article.
Conclusion
Baby’s food does not have to be plain, bland foods! They CAN be a less-spiced rendition of what the rest of the family is eating because there are many safe spices for baby!
Play around with these spices, make all sorts of foods YOU love and share them with baby (in case baby doesn’t eat a ton, you can eat the foods!) And let your baby explore the beautiful, delicious and wholesome world of foods and all the ways they can be flavored by spices!
To learn how to do baby led weaning step-by-step, in a way that supports and defends your baby’s lifelong health, check out this holistic BLW course. (It’s truly the absolute best. Unmatched! And you can get 15% off when using the code POPPY)
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