Reviewed by Infant Feeding Specialist and Little Melly Founder, Jennifer Muller Mansour
Babies are very fragile and food affects their growth and development. After all, 80% of their brain develops by age 2! Choosing the best food for their development becomes critical. As parents, you probably have so many questions about what to feed your baby, and one of them is: can babies eat jello?
What is Jello?
Jello is a sugary and colorful snack made from gelatin, a substance made from animal collagen. It comes in a variety of colors and flavors and kids generally love it.
But the answer is clear. Most health specialists agree and have a clear statement regarding jello: it is not a healthy snack for your baby. Remember that too much sugar in your baby's diet is not good. Jello is dissolved in boiling water and then cooled to form a gelatinous substance.
When can babies eat Jello?
Jello is full of sugar, artificial flavors and sweeteners that can impact your baby's mood and behavior as well as increase their risk of "Type 2 diabetes" and insulin resistance. It is advisable to avoid Jello until your baby is at least two years old, and should only be given in moderation after that. But it's okay to feed it to your baby in moderation and occasionally, such as at birthday parties or playdates.
Things to consider about Jello:
- Jello has no nutritional value: As mentioned previously, Jello is made from gelatin that is low in calories and fat-free. Your baby needs nutrient-rich meals to build healthier food preferences.
- Jello is high in sugar: Jello is low in nutrients, but it also has added sugar, which may be harmful to babies and can damage the teeth of a baby. A typical Jello snack cup contains 17 grams (4 teaspoons) of sugar with 16 of those grams coming from added sugar.
- Jello contains collagen: Although Jello is not a healthy snack, gelatin itself might be good for your health since it contains collagen. Collagen is known to reduce joint pain, increase bone health, and reduce the effects of skin aging. But since Jello has a very small of amount of collagen, its effect is unnoticeable. We can also give our baby collagen through healthy bone broth.
- Jello contains harmful ingredients: Jello contains food dyes - such as red #40, yellow #5, and yellow #6 - artificial sweeteners and artificial flavors - such as sucralose and aspartame. When consuming these additives in excess, the baby can become hyperactive. So it’s best to avoid these ingredients.
Did you know?
Jello can be used as a sensory activity for babies to help them improve and develop their motor skills. It helps them with their gripping, squeezing, and picking skills. The different colors and textures of jello is also helpful.
