Green vegetables are high in nutrients, and their nutritional benefits are unquestionable. But when it comes to feeding our babies with vegetables, we always ask,” Can babies eat cabbage?”
Yes, babies can eat cooked cabbage. The cabbage can be introduced to babies in puree form.
Then, as your baby grows, you can add cabbage to their regular meal in different forms, such as soup, curry, salad, and dessert.
This vegetable is tasty, healthy, inexpensive, and versatile, so it deserves more space in your baby’s food menu.
Read on to explore the health benefits, side effects, and the right age to introduce cabbage to babies. We also share some exciting cabbage recipes for babies.
When can babies eat cabbage?
Cabbage may be introduced to your baby when it is ready for solid meals, which is usually around the age of six months. Weaning babies who have started solids such as rice and potatoes can generally be introduced to cabbage.
However, not all babies are ready for solids at the same time. Therefore, consult a pediatrician or nutritionist before introducing cabbage to your baby.
Once satisfied, this vegetable would be a great addition to your baby’s diet, as it has many potential health benefits.
Cabbage for baby benefits
Cabbage is a powerhouse vegetable. It’s a good source of fiber to support the gut, vitamin B6 for energy, and folate for nervous system development.
It also contains a wide range of other beneficial nutrients: vitamin C to power a baby’s immune system and help with iron absorption; vitamin K to support healthy blood; carotenoids that convert into vitamin A for healthy skin and vision; and even calcium to build healthy bones.
Although the nutritional profile varies depending on the variety, cabbage is an excellent source of phytonutrients (from glucosinolates to antioxidants) that support diverse functions in our bodies and help babies stay healthy.
Red and purple cabbages, in particular, contain potent levels of anthocyanins, a heart-healthy nutrient also found in berries and grapes.
Compared to raw cabbage, fermented cabbage dishes contain more antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, and beneficial bacteria called probiotics, which help diversify our gut microbiomes.
Since babies are born with an immature microbiome, it’s important to help cultivate friendly bacteria in their gastrointestinal tracts, which help support their metabolism, a robust immune system, and more.
That said, some fermented cabbage dishes can be high in sodium, so offer those in small amounts.
Cabbage, as with many green vegetables, has a high level of vitamins K and C.
The antioxidants in cabbage have led to it being associated with reducing inflammation and protecting the bowels against cancer.
Additionally, cabbage also contains B6, a nutrient necessary for normal methylation processes (you want your baby’s methylation to be normal!).
It contains a compound called sinigrin, which is thought to help the body protect itself against cancer.
Cabbage has also been shown to have a strong association with preventing type 2 diabetes.
Related: Are brussels sprouts good for diabetics?
Is cabbage a common choking hazard for babies?
No. Cabbage is not a common choking hazard, though thick chunks of the cabbage core could be. To minimize the risk, cook and serve thin strips, shreds, or finely chopped pieces.
Always maintain a safe eating environment and keep the baby within arm’s reach throughout mealtime.
Is cabbage a common allergen for babies?
No. Babies rarely have cabbage allergies when they eat it, but it does happen. Some people are allergic to or sensitive to cabbage if they are also allergic to or sensitive to mustard greens, broccoli, or kale.
People who have Oral Allergy Syndrome, which is also called pollen food allergy syndrome, and especially those who are sensitive to mugwort pollen, may also be sensitive to cruciferous veggies like cabbage.
Oral allergy syndrome usually causes itching, tingling, or burning in the mouth that goes away quickly. It doesn’t usually lead to a dangerous response.
When you give your babies new food, please give them a small amount the first few times. If there are no negative reactions, slowly increase the amount over the next few meals.
Is cabbage safe for babies to eat?
Yes, cabbage is safe and healthy for babies. There are a lot of soluble and insoluble fibers, glucosinolates, and phenolic substances in cabbage. All of these help keep your digestive system healthy and your bowels regular.
Raffinose is another substance found in cabbage. It is a prebiotic that the large gut’s bacteria break down and can result in gas. Gas is normal, but kids can feel uncomfortable having too much of it.
To keep a baby’s stomach from getting upset, add cabbage to their food slowly and regularly. Keep in mind that a child’s pooping habits can be very different from one to the next.
Talk to your baby’s pediatrician if you are worried about how they are pooping or digesting food.
How to introduce cabbage into baby’s food
Each baby grows and learns at their own pace, and the tips on how to cut or cook certain things are meant to help a lot of babies.
Your child is a unique person who may have wants or concerns that go beyond what is normal. Also, it would help if you thought about your child’s age when you decided how to add cabbage to her food.
6 to 9 months of age:
Let baby munch and suck on long strips of cabbage that have been cooked until pliable and soft.
A good size is the width of about two adult fingers pressed together and long enough that they could comfortably pick it up.
If a piece breaks off in the baby’s mouth, stay calm and let the child try to work the food forward in the mouth and spit out the food.
Cabbage can easily stick to the tongue and cause gagging. If you are nervous about serving cabbage strips, finely chop cooked cabbage and mix it into a soft, scoopable food for babies.
9 to 12 months of age:
At nine (9) months, babies learn to pincer grasp when the thumb and the pointer finger meet.
When you see signs of this development, try offering finely chopped or shredded cooked cabbage, either on its own or as part of a meal that you are sharing with the baby.
If the baby struggles to manage a piece of cabbage, you can demonstrate how to stick your tongue out and spit it out.
12 to 24 months of age:
Offer cabbage as desired in meals, and when you feel comfortable with the child’s biting and chewing skills, try decreasing the cooking time to offer cabbage with a bit more crunch.
By 18 months, many toddlers can manage raw cabbage cut into shreds or thin strips. Eighteen (18) months is also a great age to encourage self-feeding with utensils.
If the child needs help, pre-load an age-appropriate fork with bite-sized pieces of cooked cabbage and lay it next to the food for the child to pick up.
The possible downside of cabbage for babies
Like any other food, cabbage, too, has some possible side effects when consumed in large amounts. Some of them are:
1. Flatulence: Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable rich in sulfur and dietary fiber and can upset your baby’s stomach health. These substances often contribute to gas formation. Almost all the varieties of cabbage cause gas formation.
Fiber is beneficial, but only in small quantities; otherwise, it can cause diarrhea. Hence, their consumption by babies must be controlled well.
If the baby has colic, the excessive gas formation can cause discomfort that can worsen further, making colic relief necessary.
2. Goitrogens: Certain foods, when consumed raw, can suppress the functioning of the thyroid gland by interfering with the uptake of iodine.
It can harm your baby’s health, as thyroid functioning is pivotal for proper mental and physical growth.
Therefore, avoid giving raw cabbage to your baby. However, the benefits may outweigh the potential side effects of goitrogens.
3. Anti-thiamin: Certain vegetables, such as cabbage, are known to have thiaminase. Thiaminase is an enzyme that breaks vitamin B1 (thiamin) and renders it inactive.
Vitamin B1 is a crucial vitamin for the healthy mental and physical development of babies. The good thing is that cooking can destroy thiaminase (12). Thus, the consumption of cabbage should be done in cooked form.
Conclusion
Cabbage is a healthy vegetable that your baby can eat. It has numerous health benefits for your infant. Fermented cabbage provides probiotics, which aid with digestive health.
It is safe to eat for a baby at around six months when she starts feeding on solid foods. However, cabbage should be introduced to your baby’s diet slowly and gradually to get familiar with it.