Lemons have numerous benefits for children and adults, but at the same time, they also have downsides when consumed incorrectly. After watching so many cute videos of babies tasting citrus fruits, have you ever wondered: Can I give my baby lemon? Lemons are good for you in many ways, but they contain a lot of citric acid.
Whenever introducing a new food to your baby, it's important to proceed with caution. Allergic reactions, choking hazards, and tummy ache can occur quickly. Lemons, in particular, require a cautious approach—so let's see if they're safe for babies.
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When can babies eat lemon?
For any new food introduction, I always recommend that parents only introduce one new food at a time, ideally for 7 days for grains and 3-5 days for fruits and vegetables. This will help parents know which food is causing the allergic reaction if an allergic reaction occurs.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, I encourage waiting until 4 to 6 months of age before introducing first foods. At this age, an infant's motor skills should be developed enough to tolerate spoon-feeding. This also gives their digestive system time to mature.
If your baby is around 8 to 10 months old and isn’t showing any sensitivity to new foods, you can offer some lemon. You can start by giving them a small piece or extracting some juice and diluting it. However, chances are your little one won’t be crazy about it. Babies don’t usually enjoy such a sour taste and tend to gravitate toward milder sweet flavors. When giving your baby lemon, serve it either on its own or with a familiar snack they’re used to eating. Don’t serve it with another new food—if your baby should react, you’ll know the culprit.
Benefits of lemon for children
If your child enjoys the taste, you can continue offering them a small piece once a week. Lemons have many beneficial properties. They are also highly acidic, so avoid eating them too often.
In clinical practice, I usually recommend introducing acidic foods (lemon, lime, orange, and tomato). At this stage, most children would be eating cereals, other fruits, most vegetables, and perhaps meat or legumes.
Because lemons have a strong flavor that many infants dislike when eating on their own, parents are often asked to add the juice as a "seasoning" to other foods they have already consumed. With any citrus food, I caution parents that skin contact may cause a mild rash on the cheeks or around the mouth.
Health benefits of lemon
For starters, lemons are low in calories, with only about 15 calories per medium-sized fruit. They also contain no sodium, fat, or cholesterol. A medium-sized lemon can provide 40 percent of your recommended daily intake of dietary fiber. They're also packed with vitamin C, providing XNUMX percent of your daily requirement.
Lemons also contain small amounts of magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B6. Lemons, or rather the vitamin C in them, can help the immune system fight off colds. If your child has a cold, you should limit the amount of lemons you serve them. Furthermore, lemons contain something called limonoids, which are known to contain cancer-fighting compounds. In one study, they were found to reduce tumors, particularly in breast cancer.
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Concerns about lemons Although lemons are good for you, that doesn't mean they don't have some potential downsides, including:
1. Allergies
If allergies run in your family, you should be extra cautious about giving your child lemons. Allergic reactions occur when the immune system mistakes a harmless substance as a threat. The substances that cause this are called allergens. If your child exhibits a pollen allergy or is allergic to pollen, they may react to citrus fruits.
The body can mistake proteins in citrus fruits for allergens. This, in turn, leads to cross-reactivity, creating a response similar to the actual allergen. The International Journal of Molecular Sciences discusses this phenomenon further.
citrus allergy
It has been shown that people with grass pollen allergies are often at risk for developing citrus allergies. During a prick test, approximately 39 percent of participants developed reactions to citrus fruits similar to those found in grass pollen.
Depending on your child's sensitivity, symptoms can vary. Some may show reactions within seconds of touching the fruit, while for others, it may take hours. Therefore, it's important to know the signs before introducing lemon to your child.
Be careful if you notice any signs of an allergic reaction. Contact your child's doctor immediately. If symptoms such as difficulty breathing, a weak or rapid pulse, loss of consciousness, or swelling of the mouth occur, immediate treatment is necessary. These reactions are indicators of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.
Symptoms are generally limited to areas of the body that come into contact with citrus fruits. These can include the gums, tongue, lips, throat, and diaper area. Symptoms include:
- Itch.
- Irritability and noise.
- Rash around the mouth and in the diaper area, usually a flat red area with no bumps.
- redness.
- swelling.
- Other symptoms resulting from an allergic reaction to ingesting lemon can include some of the following:
- coughing;
- Sneezing.
- Runny nose.
- vomiting;
- Diarrhea.
Parents should always keep their baby at home once new foods are introduced to their baby. At each doctor's visit, the appropriate weight for a baby experiencing an allergic reaction should be discussed.
Skin rash
Food reactions are not subtle. They are usually associated with a very obvious hives (skin rash) that changes position on the body, mouth or eye swelling, vomiting, and possible difficulty breathing. Anything more than just hives warrants a call to a medical professional, and possibly a visit to the emergency room. There should be a discussion about keeping emergency rescue medication injected at home, daycare, etc.
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2. High acidity
Excess acidity can worsen gastroesophageal reflux disease, which can result in fussiness and poor feeding. Even if your baby doesn't have gastroesophageal reflux disease, it's best to limit the amount of lemon you give.
Too much acid doesn't sit well in the stomach—your baby may experience an upset tummy. Acidity can also cause problems in the diaper area, leading to diaper rash.
3. Harmful to teeth
If your child has started developing teeth, you should try to limit the amount of lemon they eat. Even when diluted with water, the high acidity is quite corrosive and can damage tooth enamel.
Enamel protects teeth from high temperatures, biting, and grinding. Infants and children who drink less lemon water experience fewer cavities, plaque buildup, and tartar buildup. For this reason, your child shouldn't eat lemon slices every day.
If you're offering water or lemonade, serve it with a straw – this will limit the amount of acidity that directly touches their teeth.
While acid erosion is certainly something to consider, clinically, more dental problems are caused by juice consumption, sweet foods, and sleeping with a bottle. In all cases, teeth should be brushed before bedtime and sugary drinks avoided afterward.
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Other sources of vitamin C alternatives to lemon
A common reason parents want to give lemon to their children is because of its high levels of vitamin C. There are many alternatives, more child-friendly foods containing vitamin C that will benefit your child when included in their diet.
- sweet potato.
- banana.
- Peas.
- cabbage.
- Strawberries.
- watermelon;
- Raw tomatoes.
- kiwi.
- Broccoli.
- spinach.
- grapefruit.
How much vitamin C should you consume daily?
Children between the ages of one and three need about 15 milligrams of vitamin C per day. Vitamin C is water-soluble, so any excess is excreted in the urine. However, consuming more than 400 milligrams can lead to diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting.
Keep in mind that while you can give your baby lemon around eight to ten months, it's not the best idea. Lemons are sour, and your baby probably won't enjoy them. They're best used as a seasoning for other foods they eat. They also pose a risk of allergic reactions, especially if pollen allergies run in the family.
The high acidity in lemons can cause diaper rash and tummy upset. Giving your baby too much can also damage the enamel on their teeth. If you're looking for a source of vitamin C, sweet potatoes, strawberries, or bananas are a good bet.
the source : Are Lemons Safe for Babies?
Can I Give My Baby Lemon, And When?
