14 Spices in Baby Food – What, When and How to Add?

India is well known for its exotic and tempting spices and these spices are heavily traded all over the world. They usually are seeds, fruits, bark or roots of a plant that is used for a variety of purposes. In addition, spices contain medicinal properties and help in treating several ailments.

Including spices in our diet is an easy task. But when it comes to your baby’s diet, it becomes more of a tedious task. Your baby’s feeding timeline is highlighted below:

• 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding
• 7 to 9 months weaning period
• 10 to 12 months solid diet

What Spices can I give my baby?

Babies require a good portion of food for their overall development. Spices act as a protective food for your baby’s immune system as they contain medicinal properties.

We have listed few types of spices that can be used in your baby’s food and the very common questions that arise in every parent’s mind –

• Can I give Nutmeg to baby?
• Can I give Turmeric my baby?
• Can babies have Cinnamon?
• Can babies eat Black pepper?
• Can I give Cumin to baby?
• Can I give my baby Coriander?
• Can I give Mint to my baby?
• How to add Mustard Seeds in baby food?
• Does Fenugreek make baby fussy?
• Is Cardamom safe for babies?
• How to give Saffron to Toddler?
• How to add Star Anise to baby food?
• When can my baby have Garlic?
• Is Ginger safe for babies?

You can also watch this video to know how spices can be introduced in your babies diet and when –

When can my baby have Spices with his food?

Spices are of different kinds including hot ones, aromatic ones, mild ones and more. So once your baby jumps onto complementary feeding, then you can include a pinch of spice in your baby’s food.

Mild and aromatic spices like cinnamon, coriander, mint, cardamom, saffron, turmeric and nutmeg can be introduced after 6 to 7 months in small amounts. But now the main question arises, how to introduce spices? Adding a pinch of mild spices in baby food such as puree and cerelac can solve the purpose. Rest all spices such as garlic, ginger, black pepper, star anise, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, and cumin are good to be given after 9 months.

Every spice profile stands different in the case of your baby’s diet. Incorporating them in appropriate amounts is necessary, as less won’t serve the purpose and excess can be harmful. The benefits and various ways to incorporate different spices into your baby’s diet are mentioned below:

1) Cumin – Jeera

Cumin is what our moms call ‘Jeera’, the most consumed tiny flavoring seeds of India. It can be incorporated in baby foods when their weaning period has begun, at around 9 months of age. Cumin comforts your baby with a lot of benefits.

• Helps in treating colic
• Supports digestion
• Fights cold and cough
• Prevents infections in the gastrointestinal tract
• Produces sound sleep in babies
• Increases hemoglobin count

Recipe – Pumpkin-cumin puree

Ingredients: 1 cup chopped Pumpkin, Cumin

Instructions

• Take a fresh pumpkin. Peel and chop it into small chunks.
• Prepare one cup of chopped pumpkin.
• Now add 1 teaspoon of cumin in it.
• Add them in a blender and puree it.

2) Turmeric – Haldi

Turmeric is a mild spice obtained from the root of the turmeric plant. It is rich in Iron, vitamin B6, potassium, and magnesium. It can be incorporated in baby foods when their weaning period has begun, at around 7-8 months. An aromatic spice that provides your baby the following benefits.

• Acts as an antioxidant
• Antibacterial properties to fight infections
• Improves bowel movements
• Strengthens immune system
• Protects from diseases and infections
• Treats eczema

Recipe – Baby Dal

Ingredients: ½ cup dal, ½ cup veggies, salt turmeric

Instructions

• Soak dal for 30 minutes and chop veggies.
• Add dal and veggies like bottle gourd, carrot, and onion.
• Add a pinch of salt and turmeric.
• Pressure cook them till 2 whistles.

3) Mustard Seeds – Sarso seeds

Being a strong spice with a pungent smell, mustard seeds can be given at 8 months. It helps your baby in a lot of ways:

• Prevents cold and cough
• Has antibacterial and antifungal properties
• Fights against skin infections
• Helps relieve nasal congestion
• Strengthens bones of babies
• Promotes hair growth in babies

Mustard can be used to season dal, sambar or soups. These spices are to be incorporated in small amounts just to make your baby’s food flavorful.

How to season baby food?

• Heat half spoon ghee in a pan, add mustard seeds in it and let them crackle.
• Now take a strainer.Keep half of the strainer dipped in the baby food.
• Add the seasoning of ghee and mustard in the strainer and let its flavor infuse in it.
• Make sure you don’t leave any mustard seeds in the sambar or babyfood.
• Tap the strainer on the container to get rid of baby food sticking on it.
• Remove the strainer with mustard seeds in it, this way you can season your baby’s food.

4) Coriander – Dhania

Coriander is a herb as well as a spice. Its leaves can be used to garnish the dishes and soups while the seeds are used to flavor food just like other spices. It can be given when your baby has started his weaning period, at around 8 months. It is an aromatic spice that makes your baby’s food flavorful.

• Help prevent gastric disorders
• Have antimicrobial properties
• Aids in digestion
• Acts as an antiseptic
• Treats diarrhoea
• Helps in relieving gas problems in babies

Recipe – Dal

Ingredients: ½ cup yellow dal, 1 tomato, salt, turmeric, coriander.

Instructions

• Soak dal in 1 cup water for about 30 minutes.
• Add finely chopped tomato in Dal.
• Add a pinch of salt, turmeric, and coriander in it.
• Pressure cook it for two whistles.
• Mash the dal and veggies using a fork.

5) Fenugreek – Methi

Fenugreek leaves are also used to add flavor in the dishes whereas its seeds are used as a spice to season dishes. Due to its pungent smell, it can be given after 8 months, when baby’s weaning period has begun. Its benefits include:

• Improves digestion
• Prevents infections
• Fights cold and cough.
• Aids stomach disorders
• Promotes baby’s hair growth
• Boosts immune system

Recipe – Khichdi

Ingredients: Half spoon ghee, 6-7 fenugreek seeds, half cup Dalia, finely chopped veggies, salt

Instructions

• Add ghee, put fenugreek seeds in it.
• Add dalia, veggies and a pinch of salt.
• Add 1 cup water to it.
• Pressure cook it for 3 whistles.

6) Garlic – Lehsun

Garlic bulb is divided into fleshy sections called cloves. It is consumed for cooking as well as medicinal purposes. Once your baby has started with weaning period around 7 to 8 months, garlic can be included in baby’s diet. Enriched with Vitamin-B6 and Vitamin C, it helps your baby in the following ways:

• Helps improve digestion
• Fights common cold, cough, and infections
• Supports immune system
• Helps to relieve stomach ache
• Prevents stomach infections
• Have Antimicrobial properties

Recipe: Carrot-Garlic puree

Ingredients: 1 whole chopped carrot, 1 clove garlic

Instructions

• Take one whole carrot. Peel and chop it.
• Now take chopped carrot and garlic.
• Add them into a blender and puree them.
• You can add milk to lighten its consistency.

7) Ginger – Adrak

Ginger is a root which is usually considered as a spice. It is also used in folk medicine for treating certain ailments. Being a strong spice, it is good to be given after 8 months, when your baby’s weaning period has already begun. It serves a number of benefits such as:

• Ginger cures cold and cough
• Aids in stomach ache
• Boosts immunity
• Improves digestion
• Fights diseases
• Treats respiratory problems

Recipe – Ginger Halwa

Ingredients: half spoon ghee, ½ cup grated ginger, ½ cup sugar, milk

Instructions

• Add ghee in the pan.
• Add ginger and sugar in it.
• Cook well for about 5 -7 mins on medium heat.
• Add some amount of milk to lighten its consistency.

8. Star anise – Chakra phool

Star anise is a seed pod obtained from a plant, most commonly used spice in India. It can be given after 9 months, when your baby’s weaning period has already begun. Rich in vitamin and mineral content, it helps your baby in a lot of ways.

• Prevents cold and cough.
• Reduces stomach-ache and improves digestion
• Treats bloating and constipation
• Treats colic
• Fights stomach infections
• Induces good sleep

Recipe – Star-rice

Ingredients: 1 cup rice, star anise

Instructions

• Soak rice in water for about 30 mins.
• Add 1-star anise in between the rice.
• Pressure cook it for 2 whistles.
• Take out the star anise and mash the rice.

9) Mint – Pudina

Mint leaves are considered as herbs, used to garnish dishes whereas dried mint powder is used as spice to make dishes flavorful. It can be incorporated in baby foods when their weaning period has begun, at around 7-8 months. Being an aromatic spice, mint has a refreshing smell. It helps your baby in the following ways:

• Improves digestion
• Helps in treating skin infections
• Prevents bloating
• Improves bowel movement
• Prevents heat stroke
• Relieves stomach ache

Recipe – Mint Yoghurt

Ingredients: Few mint leaves, 1 cup yogurt

Instructions

• Take 3-4 leaves of mint and clean it thoroughly.
• Grind them using a hand grinder.
• Now add yogurt to it and mix well.
• Ensure it is served at normal temperature and not too cold.

10) Saffron – Kesar

Saffron is an aromatic spice derived from the saffron flower. Enriched with Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, iron, magnesium, and potassium. It can be introduced after your baby has completed six months of exclusive breastfeeding, at around 6-7 months. Being an aromatic spice, saffron has a very soothing aroma. It serves your baby with a lot of benefits such as:

• Fights infections
• Helps in tissue formation
• Increase red blood cell count
• Protects and maintains eye health
• Have Anti-inflammatory properties
• Works as a gastric tonic

Recipe – Sabudana Kheer

Ingredients: 1 cup milk,1 teaspoon sabudana, 1 teaspoon sugar, saffron

Instructions

• Add milk in the saucepan.
• Add sabudana and sugar in it.
• Add few strands of saffron.
• Let it cool and serve at normal temperature.

11) Cinnamon – Dalchini

Cinnamon is an aromatic spice, that is obtained from the peeled and dried bark of the cinnamon tree. It has several medicinal properties. Powdered cinnamon can be given after 6-7 months. Being an aromatic spice, it adds taste when incorporated into your baby’s foods. It helps your baby in the following ways:

• Has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
• Fights infections
• Improves brain functions
• Strengthens immunity
• Provides relief from nasal congestion
• Aids digestion

Recipe – Apple-Cinnamon Yogurt

Ingredients: Apple, Yogurt, Cinnamon

Instruction :

• Steam one apple and chop and deseed it.
• Puree steamed apple in a blender.
• Add yogurt to lighten its consistency.
• Add a pinch of cinnamon to it.

12) Cardamom – Elaichi

Cardamom is a spice, containing aromatic seeds of the plants from the ginger family. It is rich in iron, magnesium, calcium and vitamin C. Powdered cardamom can be given after 6-7 months. Being an aromatic spice, it adds taste when incorporated into your baby’s foods. It helps your baby in the following ways:

• Its aromatic smell helps prevent cold and cough
• Combats bloating
• Aids in digestion
• Contains anti-inflammatory properties.
• Helps get rid of hiccups
• Maintains dental hygiene

Recipe – Phirni

Ingredients: 1 cup milk,1 teaspoon rice, cardamom

Instructions

• Take milk in a saucepan.
• Add rice and sugar in it.
• Boil it for 10 mins.
• Add a pinch of cardamom in the end and mix well.

13) Nutmeg – Jaiphal

Nutmeg is a spice which is also known as ‘Jaiphal’. It is enriched with protein, fiber, magnesium, calcium, and iron. It should be given when your baby’s weaning period has begun, at around 8-9 months. Initially, it should be incorporated in other baby foods. It is beneficial for your baby. It provides the following benefits:

• Better functioning of the digestive system
• Helps to expel excess gas and relieves pain
• Strengthens immune system.
• Improves bowel movements
• Treats common cold and cough
• Induces good sleep.

Recipe – Nutmeg-Banana Puree

Ingredients: Nutmeg, Breast milk or milk

Instructions

• Peel a banana and chop it into small dices.
• Mash the banana.
• Now add powdered nutmeg in it.
• Add around 1 ml of Breastmilk/milk into it to improve its consistency.

14) Black pepper – Kali Mirch

Black pepper, known as ‘Kali Mirch’, is a strong spice that is used to flavor various dishes as well as salads. It is advised to be given after 8 months when your baby’s weaning period has begun. It helps your baby in the following ways:

• Improves digestion
• Relieves cold and cough
• Fights against infections
• Boosts immune system
• Purifies blood
• Treats gastrointestinal problems

Recipe – Banana-Pear puree

Ingredients: Pears, Bananas, black pepper, Breastmilk or formula

Instructions

• Steam one pear in a steamer.
• Now peel bananas.
• Then add pears, bananas and a pinch of black pepper into a blender and puree them.
• Add a little Breastmilk or formula to make it smooth.

Our Final Comments about Baby Spices

You must check out for allergies before including spices to your baby’s diet. Since every child is different, spices may cause allergies to your child. Opt for a four-day rule, when starting anything new. Give your child the same spice for four days and look closely for allergies before starting something new.

Do share your experience with giving Spices to your baby in the Comments below. Also, do let us know in the comments below if you found this article helpful in any way.

Thanks for Reading.

Happy Parenting!