13 Warnings About Feeding Pudding to Your Baby

This seems like a silly question for the seasoned parent. New parents, however, will have loads of questions about what a baby can or cannot have for a meal. The idea of pudding makes many kids and adults alike smile. Pudding is one of those treats we look forward to as a kid, but as an adult, it is only when we splurge or cheat on a diet. There are many healthy puddings. Yes, I am chuckling, healthy, and pudding in the same line! Okay, so if it is healthy, is it even good? Yep! A million times, Yes!!!

Baby Companies

So seriously, the major baby food company has been producing puddings for decades for babies. If they make it to sell for babies to eat, it can’t be all that bad, right? All those companies that we rely on to produce healthy and nutritional foods or our little ones will still tell us that in moderation is best. Those companies do have a goal to make money, but they also want healthy babies; this way, parents will continue to purchase their product.

Moderation

Again, any food is good for you, even sweets, when eaten in moderation. As parents, you do not want to begin your child’s life being overweight because they love their pudding. Even homemade pudding must be eaten in moderation. Even with moderation, it is not a great idea to give too much pudding. A treat once in a while is fine, even if it is homemade.

Homemade Versus Store Bought

The foods you purchase in stores will contain preservatives and other ingredients that you may not want to feed your baby. You could spend double the money buying organic foods, or you can become one of those parents who is smart and stingy. When you make your baby foods, you know exactly what is in them. You are in control of the sugar content, the flavors, and the amounts. When you choose to make the baby foods yourself, there is no salt or very little.

Nutrition In Pudding

Again, when you choose to make your baby foods, pudding included, the ingredients are your choice. Pudding, as we know, needs milk. Those moms who are breastfeeding supply the healthiest milk there is for a baby. Breast milk is a great substitute for any other form of milk. Fruits are washed before use, as are vegetables. Let me surprise you here, how would you like a pudding recipe that has only four ingredients and is super easy to make? All it takes is a little trial and error. This sugar-free chocolate pudding is tasty and will have your whole family asking for more. Mash three large bananas, mix in three tablespoons of cocoa powder, two tablespoons of nut butter and one-half tablespoon of chia seeds. Use your food processor or blender. Easy Peasy!

Is That All

Oh, hardly! You can make homemade rice pudding, or add vegetable purees to puddings, or even fruit. You have heard of Yorkshire Puddings, yep, that is made with meat. In all reality, if you can think of it, you can make it. Therefore it will be as healthy as you want it to be for your baby.

Breakfast Pudding

My little ones were absolutely in love with unsweetened applesauce. Yes, I was lucky! I could mix their baby cereal into applesauce and give them breakfast pudding. Of course, I was kind of sneaky and snuck in some vegetable puree too. Hey, it is okay! Veggies have nutrition, and I now have kids that love broccoli, spinach, and many others.

Any Meal Is A Good Meal For Babies

Your baby will likely begin solid foods around four to six months. Why not begin feeding them all-natural foods, no added gunk. Just healthy, everything! Many vegetable mix with fruits to give a flavorful meal and added nutrition.

Added Grains

I previously mentioned chia seeds; rice is also an excellent ingredient for puddings. Rice is easily combined with fruits and vegetables alike. Oats with custard, egg custard for babies will provide added protein.

Yogurt

Did you know that yogurt can be added to fruits or vegetables to make a pudding? Talk about easy. Here I suggest organic brands or make your own.

Food Groups

The important aspect to remember is that your child needs certain amounts in each food group. Follow the recommended serving sizes out of each group, and the baby’s menu will be full of flavor and nutrition.

Seems Obvious

You would think that pudding would be a perfect choice for a baby due to the consistency. It is soft, the baby can easily chew with gums, but you can also put whatever flavor into the mix. I realize that when most people hear the word pudding, they think it is all sugar-filled and chocolatey and yummy for the taste buds. As a parent, you have an opportunity to create variety, healthy options, and increase your imagination and the baby’s as they grow up. Pudding can be just as savory as it is sweet.

Just as nutritious as it is creamy. Pudding is a perfect choice for babies that are just starting more solid foods. As the baby becomes more accustomed to having more solidified foods, you can begin to thicken the mix. Do this by adding smaller meat and vegetable pieces, small enough so that the baby will not choke on them. Again, chop up fruits and mix with a vanilla pudding you made with formula or breastmilk. Also, as far as vanilla or other flavorings, look for extracts more so than flavorings. The extracts are produced to be more of the actual ingredient, whether that is such as vanilla paste, or coconut oil or extract. Please remember that store-bought pudding mixes are a gelatinized starch. Look for the ones that have no added preservatives, or begin to become the kitchen diva and make your own using breastmilk, yogurt or fruit.

Will feeding your baby pudding impact his sleep schedule?

Absolutely! Feeding your baby pudding can have an impact on his sleep schedule. But, unfortunately, many parents feed their baby pudding without even considering that it may totally impact your baby for days to come.

Your baby’s diet will impact their sleep quality. Therefore, it is highly recommended to use this specific baby sleep schedule on nights your baby consumes pudding.

Can pudding cause your baby to have nightmares?

Some parents believe that the ingredients in pudding may cause your baby to have nightmares. You might be just as surprised as us to learn how much pudding impacts your baby’s sleep. However, there are ways to check if the pudding ingredients are impacting your baby’s sleep. Check out that link to learn about the powerful impact pudding has on your baby’s sleep.