Written by Infant Feeding Specialist and Little Melly Founder, Jennifer Muller Mansour
Here's an interesting fact: a baby's palate is many times stronger than an adult's palate. This means that food we would consider bland is actually quite flavorful for a baby. This is encouraging! Babies don't need extra seasoning to enjoy a meal.
That said, it is safe to add soft herbs or mild spices to a baby's meals. We list the best types below in this article.
The important takeaway is here: our goal as parents is to accustom our baby to a very wide range of flavors throughout their first year of solids. This means offering meals without spices and also offering others with.
Benefits of introducing spices early on:
- Evolve baby's palate through flavor experimentation
- Help baby transition to family food
How to introduce spices to your baby
Introduce one spice at a time into your baby's diet and only add a very little amount to the meal. Keep in mind that spices tend to overpower the taste of food.
Spices you can start with:
For Savory Meals
- Cumin
- Cinnamon
- Thyme
- Turmeric
- Ginger
For Fruity Meals
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cloves
- Caraway
Spices to Avoid:
- Cayenne Pepper
- Black Pepper
- Chili Flakes
- Salt
- Sugar
Make sure to avoid anything that is spicy as it may irritate your baby's tummy.
