I believe that ice cream can make everything better. I am one of those people who can eat ice cream at any time, does not matter it is midnight or winter. Ice cream is loved by many around the world and I know I am not alone with my never-ending craving for ice cream.
If you have a newborn, it can be very long from the last time you peacefully sat down on the couch while scooping out ice cream to your mouth from a pint of gooey chocolate ice cream. It is almost impossible to eat food alone when you are a parent. You might be tempted to let your little one taste a spoonful of this heavenly food. But, can you give ice cream to your baby at any age you want? The answer is NO!
Ice cream tastes so good that we want to share it with our babies soon but it is not safe to give ice cream to them until their digestive system is ready for that. This article is about ice cream and babies. So, keep reading to know why you need to wait and when you can give ice cream to your baby.
CONTENT
1.  When can I give Ice cream to my baby?
2.  Why should I wait to offer ice cream to my baby?
3.  What type of ice cream should I offer to my baby at first?
4.  What to watch out for after offering ice cream?
5.  Alternatives for ice cream
1.   When can I give ice cream to my baby?
Ice cream is generally a dairy product made of cow’s milk. Therefore, you can offer ice cream to your baby after his first birthday. Your baby is ready to drink cow’s milk after twelve months and that and means he is ready to taste ice cream too.
Make sure you offer ice cream to your baby for the first time when you are at home. When you are at home it is easier for you to watch out for any reactions to lactose such as diarrhea, skin rash, gas, or vomiting. The best option is to prepare some ice cream for your baby at home. You can go for a simple recipe with few ingredients.
A plain ice cream bought from the store with a no-frills flavor like vanilla or chocolate too will work for a baby who has not tried ice cream before. Do not offer big scoops of ice cream for your baby. His digestive system is still new to cow’s milk. So, over-feeding ice cream can lead to tummy problems or vomiting.
2. Why should I wait to offer ice cream to my baby?
The digestive system of a baby is not ready to break down cow’s milk at least until they are twelve months of age. This is the first reason why you should wait to offer ice cream to your baby but there are many other reasons.
Ice cream is a friend in need for adults. But, if you keep eating a big bowl of ice cream every night just to let away the tire of your day, it is going to be an enemy to your health. Ice cream is stuffed with sugar, fat, artificial flavor and colors, and preservatives that make it junk food. Since your baby started eating semi-solid or solid food, you have been offering them the healthiest food. So, you must wait at least twelve months to offer them something that falls under the category of junk food.
3. What type of ice cream should I offer to my baby at first?
There are millions of ice cream types coming in different colors and flavors. But a bowl of ice cream that you made at home will be the best type of ice cream for your baby to try at first. Homemade ice cream is healthier and more flavorful than the ice cream you buy from the store.
But, it is not possible to make ice cream at home most of the time. Therefore, you will probably have to buy a pint of ice cream from the store for you and your baby to share. These are few factors to consider before choosing a brand of ice cream for your baby.
- A pasteurized, preferably organic brand
- Must be free of common allergens, such as nuts and strawberries
- Must not have additional ingredients that are not suitable for your babies like pieces of cookies, candy, caramel, and sprinkles. These ingredients can be an allergen or a choking hazard.
- Minimal ingredients with milk or cream at the top of the list.
- Low sugar (Sugar can cause tooth decay and cavities. Frozen yogurt has less sugar and is healthier than ice cream. If you are concerned about the new teeth of your baby, you can go for frozen yogurt too.
4. What to watch out for after offering ice cream?
Offer an ice cream brand with minimal ingredients at first. If you know that your baby has an allergy to certain types of food, choose an ice cream without that allergen. Avoid ice cream with additional ingredients that your baby is not ready to eat yet or can be a choking hazard.
After offering ice cream to your baby, keep an eye for the reactions such as swelling, hives, itching, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. If your baby ate too much ice cream once, they might get tummy problems such as gas or diarrhea. Therefore, offer few spoons of ice cream and finish the tasting.
5. Alternatives for ice cream
What can you do if your baby is too young for ice cream and you still want to offer him a cold dessert on a sunny day? The foods that your baby already eats after six months of age can be converted into a cold treat easily.
You will need only a food processor and a freezer to make ice cream for your baby. Take the favorite fruit of your baby and blend it with milk. You can use any fruit such as banana, avocado, or blueberries. If your baby is younger than twelve months, you can mix breastmilk, baby formula, or baby-friendly yogurt instead of cow’s milk.
There are two main ways to make ice cream. You can make a puree first and freeze it. But, you will have to wait till the mixture soften before you offer it to the baby. The second method is too frozen the foods and then blend them into a mixture with tick consistency. It is the same as making a smoothie but a bit thicker than that.
You can also put the mixture into a popsicle mold for a change. Popsicles can relieve the gum pains of your teething baby. Â
