When should children eat ripe papaya?

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Many parents wonder if papaya is good for their baby, should they give their baby a ripe papaya or add it to their baby's diet. The following article will help you better understand whether it is good for your baby to eat ripe papaya, and when to give your child a ripe papaya.

1. Is papaya good for babies?

A medium-sized papaya can be a good source of nutrients as it includes vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, folate and essential minerals like: magnesium, copper, iron, calcium, potassium, lycopene and phosphorus.
The following table provides a detailed breakdown of the nutrients in one cup of mashed ripe papaya:

Papaya has some outstanding benefits for babies such as:
May support immunity: Papaya is considered to have nutritional properties. These properties are believed to help boost immunity and improve quality of life in terms of good health. The fruit contains significant amounts of vitamins A, B, and C and proteolytic enzymes such as papain and chymopapain. These ingredients are said to provide antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties to the fruit. Aids in Digestion: In Traditional Chinese Medicine, papaya has been used as a remedy to treat digestive disorders. Papaya contains bioactive compounds like papain, which are thought to help with digestion. In addition, papaya has a significant amount of water and fiber that can help maintain digestive harmony by preventing constipation. Aids in Healing: Papaya is said to be helpful in healing wounds and sores. It has good amounts of vitamin C and the proteolytic enzyme, papain, both of which aid in wound healing. A recent study found that applying papaya extract can help speed up wound healing. Supports body functions: Papaya is one of the foods with a significant amount of folate. Folate is important for infants, as it supports many biochemical functions essential for growth, development, and nutrition. The most important functions that folate performs are - metabolism, brain development and DNA-RNA synthesis. Supports eyesight: Papaya is one of the richest sources of vitamin A, which is an important nutrient for growth and development. In particular, vitamin A helps develop vision, which is very important in the first years of a child's life. A study has shown the effectiveness of vitamin A derivatives in the treatment of degenerative retinal diseases. Promotes Overall Health: Papaya is rich in various important nutrients with significant amounts of antioxidants and bioactive compounds like papain. It also has a lipidic component that reduces inflammatory markers. These precious components of papaya make it a must-have fruit in the diet, especially for babies. Papayas also have significant amounts of other micronutrients like potassium and phosphorus, which are also important for babies.

Note: All the nutrients available in papaya can support the growth and development of the baby. However, papaya cannot be a standalone food for babies, especially after 6 months of age. Offer your child a variety of fruits, vegetables, and other food groups to ensure optimal nutrition.
You must also be cautious when introducing papaya into your child's diet. This is important because like any other food, papaya can have unwanted side effects.
Side effects of papaya for children:
Allergies: IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions to pollen inhalation and fruit consumption have been reported in the case of papaya ingestion. If your baby is allergic to latex, there is a good chance that an allergy to papaya will occur. If your baby has a history of allergies or anyone in the family has a history of allergies, consult your pediatrician before giving papaya to your baby. Stomach pain or cramps: Ripe papayas are known to have high amounts of latex. The sap can be irritating to the stomach, leading to stomach cramps and pain. This amount of latex is reduced as the fruit ripens. Therefore, it is important to only feed children ripe papaya.

2. When should children eat ripe papaya?

Usually, papaya can be given to children after they have been introduced to the most easily digestible foods (eg sweet potatoes, avocados, squash, bananas) and are well tolerated. Usually, pediatricians recommend, papaya should be introduced to babies aged 7-8 months.
Note when choosing papaya for children Papaya has a slightly thin skin, so it is easy to bruise from impact, these bruises can cause the fruit to start to rot or can be a sign of rotting. Depending on the type of papaya you want, when ripe it will be slightly red or yellowish. If the papaya is young, you can leave it for a few days and they will ripen beautifully. Ripe papaya clicks the hand and usually has a mild fragrance.
Nursery papayas are picked so that in the environment, they can ripen faster than you think. You can store uncut papaya in the refrigerator and also store sliced ​​papaya in an airtight container in the refrigerator, but it should not be more than 2 days.
How to prepare the best papaya for babies To prepare papaya for babies, all you need to do is peel, seed, slice, or dice. When you're done, mash the papaya into a paste your baby can use. The seeds are edible but they have a spicy taste and are not easily digested so it is better to discard them. Cut papaya for babies into small easy-to-hold bars and feed them as they please.
Some parents with children with sensitive skin will give fruit lightly steamed to help break down the sugar and fiber for easier digestion. And papaya can be processed too, cut the papaya into small pieces and then steam for 5-10 minutes until they are soft.

Note:
Never introduce two new foods together, as similar items create confusion to determine which is not right for your baby. Always follow the "wait and see" rule of three to five days. While preparing any dish with papaya, keep it clean as children under the age of two are most susceptible to infection. Therefore, wash and peel the fruit properly and carefully remove any seeds or grit. Choose only ripe papayas to ensure easy digestion. Start with pureed papaya. Make sure there are no lumps in the blender to avoid choking. Initially, only feed a small amount like a teaspoon or two. As the baby grows, you can give papaya as a solid food, and then you can mix it with other dishes like porridge to increase the nutritional value of the whole diet.

3. Some dishes from papaya for children by age

3.1 Baby 7-8 months old Mashed papaya
You will need:
1 cup peeled and chopped papaya Water Procedure:
Puree the peeled and chopped papaya pulp in a blender. Make sure there are no seeds in it. If the papaya is lumpy, add 1/4 cup of water and mix again. When you see a smooth mixture, put them in a bowl. Feed your baby fresh purees and store leftovers in a glass container. Do not use papaya puree if it is more than two days old. You can also add breast milk or formula to the blender. 3.2 Children 9 – 10 months of age According to WHO, you can give babies six to eight months of age half a cup of soft foods two to three times a day. Your baby can eat anything but honey and egg whites until he is one year old. So now is the right time for you to mix papaya with other foods to form a more nutritious recipe.
Good foods to mix with papaya:
Apples, avocados, bananas, blueberries, mangoes, peaches Carrots, sweet potatoes Chicken, pork Yogurt Some dishes moms can refer to:
Milk sour papaya peach
Ingredients:
1/2 cup papaya puree / mashed 1/2 cup peach puree Plain yogurt Procedure:
Step 1: Puree papaya and peaches Step 2: Add whole yogurt cream and mix well Step 3: Add cereal (if desired) to thicken.

Tropical chicken
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Rice 2 cups water 1/4 cup papaya 1/4 cup mango cubes 1 or 2 boneless chicken breasts A little ginger and nutmeg if desired Make:
Step 1: Put all the above ingredients in a pot that has just been boiled. Step 2: Cook over medium-low heat for 30 minutes or until the rice is soft, fragrant and slightly thickened. Step 3: Take out the chicken breast and cut into small pieces, transfer back to the pan Step 4: Add more water if necessary and stir frequently to prevent sticking to the pot and add more milk or water if necessary. Step 5: Cook for an additional 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked. When the mixture is fully cooked, let cool for 10 minutes and then transfer to a blender or food processor. Puree or chop according to your baby's age and texture requirements.
3.3 Babies over 11 months When your baby reaches this age, you can start giving him soft foods in small pieces instead of mashing or mixing them.
Papaya Cake
Ingredients:
1.5 cups multigrain flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1.5 cups whole milk 1 teaspoon baking powder 2 eggs large 2 medium papayas (peeled, seeded and diced) 1/2 cup chopped almonds (optional) Directions:
Add flour, sugar, salt, eggs and baking powder to a bowl. Beat the mixture well and set aside. Grind chopped almonds and diced papaya in a blender. Mix them together until a smooth mixture is obtained. Add the papaya and ground almond mixture to the previously prepared mixture. Whip the whole mixture again and set aside. Take a flat pan and over medium heat, ladle each ladle of batter into the pan. Fry for a minute and flip. Until you notice the sides turn brown, the cake is done.
For children to be healthy and develop well, it is necessary to have a nutritious diet in terms of quantity and quality balance. If children are not provided with adequate and balanced nutrients, it will lead to diseases of excess or lack of nutrients, which adversely affect the comprehensive development of children in terms of physical, mental and motor skills.
Children who do not eat properly are at risk of micro-mineral deficiency causing anorexia, growth retardation, malabsorption,... If they notice the above signs, parents should supplement their children with products. The supplement contains lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet the nutritional needs of children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
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Reference source: beingtheparent.com