When can children eat oranges?

The article was professionally consulted by Resident Doctor Ho Thi Hong Tho - Neonatologist - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital

Orange is a fruit with a cool sweet taste, not only that, but it is also a fruit that is good for health, especially for children. So when can children eat oranges? And apply how to add oranges to children's diets so that they are reasonable and bring many health benefits.

“Can a 7 month old eat oranges or a 6 month old baby eat oranges?” These are questions that many mothers care about.
Babies who can chew or chew well can eat oranges after 6 months of age. Furthermore, your baby can also eat citrus fruits, such as grapefruit and tangerines. When parents feed the baby, these fruits can be processed into juice. Larger pieces of citrus fruit look soft and easy to chew, but they are often very slippery and can accidentally slide down a child's throat posing a choking hazard.
One thing to keep in mind is that after introducing any new food to your baby, wait at least 3 days before moving on to the next new food. That way, you can track any food's response to your body. At the same time, you also easily find out the cause that the food causes the condition. In addition to an allergic reaction, citrus can worsen acid reflux and can further lead to diaper rash.

Is it good for children to eat oranges? Here are some of the benefits of giving oranges to children:

Oranges contain a lot of nutrients, including various minerals and vitamins. For infants and young children, these are essential and important nutritional components during the early years of child development.
If some children have problems with their physical development, giving them orange juice can add vitamins and minerals to help improve their nutrition.

Nearly all babies and children face occasional indigestion. This is mainly because their digestive system is beginning to mature. The components of an orange are useful because they stimulate the digestive process and relieve constipation in children.

Given the rich amount of minerals and salts in oranges, these are excellent additions to elements like calcium and phosphate. With regular consumption of oranges, it helps to avoid bone weakening and joint softening. This is a disorder that arises when there is a lack of these minerals, known as rickets.

Colds and coughs are common symptoms when babies are sick. A good old solution that works and is a home-made method is to mix orange juice with a pinch of salt and honey then steam it for your baby to try. This has been known to be an excellent treatment for the common cold and cough.

Although mumps or is observed more in older children. A common way to treat mumps is to drink orange juice, supplemented with a variety of other juices. Mix them together and add some warm water for a milder taste.

Typhoid fever is known to destroy a person's digestive process along with causing severe abdominal pain, cough, headache, fever, etc. Because the stomach can only digest juices and liquids, So orange juice can aid in the recovery process and is one of the best options to give to children with typhoid.

Citrus fruits are acidic, which means that when the fruit is metabolized, it produces acids. Although an adult's stomach can handle the acidity of oranges, the stomachs of infants and children are much more sensitive and will likely react badly to acidity levels.
If you give your baby oranges too soon, in some cases the acidity of oranges can cause diaper rash and redness around the mouth. This does not necessarily mean that your child is allergic to fruit. Acidity can also upset the stomach or increase acid reflux symptoms.

One of the difficult parts about feeding oranges to babies is the orange membrane. This can cause the child to choke. Cut each portion into small pieces or peel off the film yourself before giving it to your baby.

You don't have to worry that your kids won't get enough vitamin C just because they don't eat oranges, because young children only need about 35 mg of vitamin C per day. You can get it from many other fruits and vegetables, including:
Sweet Potatoes Watermelons Strawberries Peas Papayas Kale

Many parents wonder about the question "How do you feed your baby oranges?" One of the most common ways is to introduce oranges slowly into your child's diet and use it in small amounts.
A few spoonfuls a day can be a good start. However, you should monitor any reactions for the next two to 3 days. Or look for red skin around the mouth and watch for a diaper rash.
If your child has hives, swelling, vomiting, wheezing or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention right away. In addition, you also need to make sure that the oranges are cut into very small pieces and remove the membrane or any seeds that could cause children to choke.
Also, to enhance the taste of oranges, you can mix it with a variety of foods including:
Avocado: This is a great fruit to pair with the tartness of oranges. Sweet potatoes: You can try making a soup with sweet potatoes that can be mixed with orange juice. Chicken: Once your kids start eating meat, you can use orange as a glaze over the meat. Yogurt: Frozen yogurt is made from yogurt and has a delicious orange flavor.

If even after removing the peel, fiber and seeds, your baby still has difficulty eating small pieces of orange, you can puree them for your baby. This will be super easy for your baby to eat and delicious.

Your baby has a variety of fresh fruit and other naturally ripened fruit every day.
In addition to nutrition, parents also need to supplement their children with other important vitamins and minerals such as zinc, lysine, chromium, B vitamins,... resistance to less sickness.
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your baby and family.

Reference sources: healthline.com, babycenter.com