Breast milk is considered to be the best for the baby’s overall growth and development. There are other options as well that you may want to try as the baby grows such as cow’s milk, almond milk or soy milk. Almond milk can be easily obtained by grinding almonds with sugar, water, and add-ons. Most parents question about giving almond milk to babies. In this article, we will be discussing if almond milk is safe to be given to babies or not.
In this article:
Is Almond Milk Safe for Babies?
What is the Nutritional Value of Almond Milk?
At What Age is it Safe to Introduce Almond Milk to Babies?
What are the Health Benefits of Almond Milk for Infants?
How to Introduce Almond Milk to the Baby?
What is Recommended Daily Intake of Almond Milk for Babies?
Comparing Almond Milk with Breast Milk
Comparing Almond Milk with Cow Milk
Recipe of Almond Milk
Is Almond Milk Safe for Babies?
Yes, almond milk is considered to absolutely safe for babies. However, you can only give it to your baby if he/she is above twelve months of age. In case, your baby is less than a year old and you are not able to breastfeed, you can go for formula milk which works as a great substitute option. And in case, the baby is older than twelve months, you can safely give almond milk to him/her.
What is the Nutritional Value of Almond Milk?
Almonds are a rich source of vitamin E, Vitamin A, Potassium, Sodium, Calcium and other essential vitamins and minerals. Considering 100 grams of almonds, you can find the following:
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Proteins-20g
- Fats:50g
- Dietary fiber:12g
- Calories:570
At What Age is it Safe to Introduce Almond Milk to Babies?
You can only begin to give almond milk to your baby after he has turned a year old but never before that. Being a rich source of calcium and vitamin D, it is beneficial for your growing baby’s bone health. But one thing is that almond milk lacks protein. Thus, you may choose to add almond milk to your baby’s diet if he/she is getting enough nutrition and protein from other food sources.
What are the Health Benefits of Almond Milk for Infants?
Listed below are a few benefits of almond milk for babies:
- Almond milk works as a great substitute for babies who are allergic to dairy products.
- With low glycaemic index, almond milk is effective in protecting your baby against medical conditions like diabetes.
- Almonds help in keeping the cholesterol levels under check.
- Consisting of riboflavin and L-Carnitine, almonds help for better brain development in babies.
Read More: 5 Must-Know Health Benefits of Almond Milk for Children
How to Introduce Almond Milk to the Baby?
You can begin to give nuts to the baby when he is twelve months of age and then, almonds can be a great option. An alternate option can be to give it in the form of almond milk. You can start by giving it as a snack to your little one in the small portions. Almond milk can also be added to vegetables, porridges or smoothies.
What is Recommended Daily Intake of Almond Milk for Babies?
Almond milk should only be given as a supplement to the baby. it should not be considered as a substitute to the main meal of the baby. you should not exceed two to three servings or 16 to 24 ounces of almond milk or any other milk for your baby in a day. This is mainly because if you exceed these amounts of milk in your baby’s diet then it will make your baby less hungry, thus making him eat fewer solid foods, which will in turn not provide your baby with enough iron from his diet.
Comparing Almond Milk with Breast Milk
Breast milk consists of all the essential nutrients required by the baby until six months of age. Thus, breast milk is considered to be the best for the baby. one should only provide their baby with breast milk until six months, which can gradually be replaced with solid foods after some time. Apart from that, do not provide your baby with any other milk except for breast milk until one year of age.
Read More:31 Breastfeeding Benefits for Mom and Baby
Comparing Almond Milk with Cow Milk
Almond milk is an excellent source of Vitamin A and D. it is a great option for babies who are intolerant to lactose. But on the same side, almond milk is also low in calcium and protein when compared to cow’s milk. Therefore, in case your baby is allergic to dairy products, you can give him/her almond milk.
Recipe of Almond Milk
Ingredients
How to prepare
- Soak some almonds overnight.
- Remove the skin. By adding some milk, blend them into a smooth paste.
- Boil some milk in the pan and add the paste to it.
- Cook for some time.
- Add saffron or cardamom powder for taste.
- Add sugar.
Conclusion
Almond milk is considered to absolutely safe for babies. However, it should never be given as a substitute to the main meal of the baby. more importantly, you should only give almond milk to the baby if he/she is twelve months of age and never before that.
Reference
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7590429_The_almond_milk_A_new_approach_to_the_management_of_cow-milk_allergyintolerance_in_infants
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drinking-non-cows-milk-soy-almond-may-affect-childrens-height-study/
