Can babies have cinnamon in their diet? well, let’s first learn a little bit about the history of cinnamon, and why it’s called the ‘Wonder-spice.’
Cinnamon is a very old and popular spice in the whole world and there was a time when it was as precious as gold. Cinnamon has an awesome spicy sweetness and powerful health benefits, which is even preferred by babies.
So, Can babies have cinnamon? Yes, Cinnamon is usually safe for your babies when they are ready to eat solid foods, which is usually around the age of 6 months. It is rare to find any allergies to cinnamon for babies and it is an excellent method to add flavor and health benefits into baby foods such as oatmeal or plain-rice.
Since old times, cinnamon has been used as a potent immunity booster. In this article, we will see the effects of this spice and learn if babies can have cinnamon without having any problems.
Is cinnamon safe for babies to consume?
Cinnamon is usually safe when used in small quantities in a variety of baby foods.
Yes, Cinnamon is safe for babies to consume. In the USA, most parents will start to add cinnamon and other spices into the food of their babies when they are at least 6 months old and, as long as there is no allergic reaction in the baby, it is safe to use, but always use in small amounts (less than half a teaspoon) in your baby’s food.
Some people debate on the fact that, whether various types of cinnamon are safe for children than others. The two main available types of cinnamon are Ceylon and Cassia. Each is a different type of cinnamon and holds various different properties.
Ceylon was first found in Sri Lanka back in 2000 BC and was imported by the Egyptians in the use of preserving mummies. In ancient periods, doctors used cinnamon to treat arthritis, hoarseness, aching throat, and general coughing. Ceylon could also be used for curing meats because this type of cinnamon has antimicrobial properties.
On the other hand, Cassia was originated in the southern part of China. This type of cinnamon is way cheaper than Ceylon and is used more often around the world in foods. This type of cinnamon has a rougher texture.
What are the possible side effects of cinnamon for babies?
Though cinnamon has a variety of benefits, there can be some side effects of cinnamon if consumed in larger quantities.
Cassia cinnamon has large amounts of coumarin, which acts as a blood thinner. Consuming Cassia in large amounts can lead to liver damage. On the other hand, Ceylon contains little to none of the coumarins.
Though cinnamon is said to have side-effects, it would take a lot of cinnamon consumption to cause side effects, so adding a little amount of cinnamon into baby food should not create any problems.
Other side effects can occur from the outside or even from the inside:
- Can cinnamon cause diarrhea in babies? Yes, babies can get an upset stomach or even diarrhea from too much consumption of cinnamon.
- My baby has a red face after eating cinnamon and it can be seen usually around the baby’s mouth.
- My baby gets a rash after eating cinnamon – This type of rashes can appear on the skin, mainly around the baby’s mouth. The most reliable way to clear it is by washing with soap and water. If the rash gets more serious, hydrocortisone cream is recommended.
What are the potential allergies your baby can get from cinnamon?
It is very rare to get allergies from cinnamon, though it can happen especially if your baby has a compromised immune system or there is any history of allergies in your family:
Skin symptoms can include:
- Tingling or Itchy skin on body or mouth
- Hives (large red blotches)
- Rash, blisters, eczema
- General redness and irritation
Gastrointestinal symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
Getting cold symptoms:
- Coughing
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
- Itchy throat and tongue
- Runny or congested nose
- Soreness, Red and itchy eyes
- Anaphylaxis can happen in rare cases. If one or more of these takes place, it is always best to reach for emergency help as soon as possible. In emergencies call 911.
- Swollen lips, tongue, and throat, which can block the airways
- Tightened airways causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath
- dizziness/lightheadedness
- Vomiting/ stomach cramps
- Hives
- Drop-in blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness
- Rapid heart rate
What are the ways to include cinnamon in your baby’s diet?
You can add cinnamon to your baby’s diet in different styles. You can just sprinkle cinnamon over breakfast cereal, such as oatmeal. Below are some foods for your baby, in which you can add cinnamon for great flavor and added health benefits.
- Mashed sweet potato
- Apple sauce
- Carrot and pumpkin puree
- Quinoa
- Oatmeal
- Any homemade fruit combo or baby foods
- Toast with butter
- Most chicken recipes go well with cinnamon
Cinnamon can also be added to foods such as eggs and fish once your baby begins to eat solid foods, which is around the age of 6 months.
Stay away from the idea to give cinnamon in its powder form to your baby or child. Eating cinnamon in this way can cause choking and even death in certain circumstances.
Side effects can include:
- Can cause problems such as suffocation, and serious coughing.
- Severe skin irritation such as rash or itchiness or even allergies around the mouth.
- Rashes around the mouth and throat of babies.
When can babies have cinnamon in their diet?
Some studies have shown that babies can react to several flavors and spices through the amniotic fluid in the womb. This can be a blueprint of what the baby will probably enjoy in their diet in later times, as they grow.
Taste Buds of babies develop as early as 7-8 weeks of age. Doctors recommend waiting until the baby is at least 6 months old before trying any spices or even solid foods. Cinnamon can be added to any food your baby loves to eat to enhance their taste buds in small quantities.
Many cultures use cinnamon and other aromatic spices in their baby’s food.
Can you put cinnamon in baby formula?
Yes, you can put cinnamon in baby formula. But the main question should be if it is important to add cinnamon to the baby formula in the first place.
Babies, younger than 6 months, who haven’t begun having solid foods, shouldn’t use cinnamon in their baby formula. On the other hand, once your baby starts having solid foods then you can take your baby away from baby formula and give him or her solid foods that taste better using cinnamon.
You can also use cinnamon in milk or any other milk alternatives. Still, it would be best if you check with the pediatrician before using.
I have also written an article for new parents on baby formula. The article will give you knowledge on the expiry of baby food after opening or oven unopened
Benefits of cinnamon for babies
Though there are no medical studies to back up the benefits of cinnamon, still there are many reported benefits of having cinnamon in food, regardless of your age. No matter what, cinnamon is however a tasty and overall healthy spice to include in food cooked for both you and your baby!
Benefits can start as early as in the womb from the mother consuming cinnamon in her foods. Having cinnamon through foods can regulate blood pressure in pregnant women. Cinnamon is said to increase the milk supply and blood flow.
Cinnamon offers a variety of immune-boosting benefits to children :
- Inflammation and antioxidation – It is considered that eating foods rich in anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation properties is good for overall health, and it even helps to get relief from pain caused by inflammation. Cinnamon has high anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation properties.
- Immune system – Cinnamon helps to boost resistance to allergies and generally improves the immune system‘s ability to resist certain fungal infections.
- Digestion – Cinnamon can help protect the stomach against bad bacterias and your own stomach acid. But, consuming too much cinnamon can lead to diarrhea and stomach upset in children.
- Blood sugar – Some evidence shows that cinnamon helps with the body’s ability to control blood sugar which could reduce the possibility of growing type 2 diabetes.
- Regulates blood flow – Some properties of cinnamon work as blood thinners which can help regulate blood pressure, reduce the possibility of heart disease. But too much use of cinnamon can lead to liver problems
- Metabolism – Some studies show that cinnamon can improve your body’s metabolism and reduce the body’s reaction to foods having fats.
