Ever since I wrote the post about why salt and sugar isn’t recommended for babies under one, many readers have asked me whether they can give their babies jaggery instead. It took around 3 months of research and discussions with several paediatricians and nutritionists to arrive at a conclusion.
The final outcome was that well, nobody knows for sure!! No one had a specific reason as to how jaggery was good or bad for babies. From these mixed opinions, I realized that the decision to feed babies jaggery had to be taken based on individual lifestyle and feeding practices.
Can I give my Baby Jaggery?
During our medical internship , we are taught to advice mothers to add jaggery to baby’s food. This instruction was according to the recommendation of the Food and Nutrition Board of India and from the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, based on the assumption that jaggery is energy dense and hence nutritious for the baby. Then and now, this recommendation holds good for rural babies as the weaning process in rural areas usually occurs late and is lacking in nutrient content. In such a scenario, jaggery for babies in rural areas can help to meet their iron needs and prevent iron deficiency anemia.
However, the situation in an urban Indian household is entirely different, where a fussy baby results in her Mom going overboard and overdosing the baby on jaggery!! When jaggery is consumed beyond the recommended level, it can prove harmful to the baby, thereby creating the exact opposite effect of what the Mom wanted in the first place!
Here is a more detailed look at jaggery, and it’s benefits as well as risks.
Benefits of Jaggery
Jaggery, also know as Gur in India, is obtained from many sources including palmyra, date palm, and coconut. Jaggery has more nutrients than sugar especially calcium, phosphorous, iron and other minerals. The calorific value of jaggery from cane sugar is 383 kcal and from sesame seeds is 563 kcal for 100 gm. This is why jaggery is recommended over sugar from some sweetness!
Risks of Jaggery
1. As with sugar, a daily diet of jaggery for babies can get them used to too much sugar. Research has shown that consumption of sugar-sweetened food during infancy doubles the odds of consuming them more at age 6.
2. Jaggery is very high in calories and while it has some health benefits, a baby’s immature digestive system is not prepared to absorb all the nutrients in jaggery.
3. Some babies are seen to have issues like worms, stomach problems and mild rashes due to overheating, like prickly heat and heat bumps
4. Good quality jaggery is hard to find, and most of the commonly available varieties contain more than 90% of sugarcane. We recommend buying 100% organic jaggery, that is specially suited for babies and young children.
Healthy Ways to Sweeten Baby’s Food
If you’re wondering how to sweeten your baby’s food without sugar or jaggery, there are several other healthier, and yummier options! You can try each one, a little at a time, to see which one baby prefers the most.
1. Apple sauce – This is the most popular choice among Moms to sweeten foods like pancakes and baked goods
2. Fruit Puree – Nearly any fruit can be pureed and added to soft foods like porridge
3. Mashed Banana – Mashed banana goes surprisingly well with all kinds of foods
4. Dry Fruit Powder – For a baby over 8 months,dry fruits powder or dry fruit that has been soaked and pureed can be added in small quantities.
5. Breast milk – Breast milk is naturally sweet and your baby’s already used to its taste
Note: Please avoid honey for babies under one year, as it can lead to botulism poisoning.
As you can see, the risks associated with feeding jaggery to babies under one far outweigh the benefits. As I mentioned at the start, the decision to give a baby jaggery depends upon her circumstances and general diet. In case of doubt, it’s best to consult your pediatrician who will be able to advice you based on your baby’s current health status.
Reference
1. Food and Nutrition Board,Department of Women and Child Development, Government of India
2. Indian Academy of Paediatrics- Infant Feeding Guidelines
3. Infant feeding practices and 6 year follow up – Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
can I start giving jagerry with sesame seeds for my two year baby daily?is ther any effect for giving daily ?
Yes you can now. Start with small portions. You can give daily in small quantities.
Thank you for guiding
I am glad I can.
Now she’s 6month.I give my baby Saffron Milk
Please do not give jaggery.
Is there a way to make khichadi tasty without adding jaggery. Taste of dal rice with ghee or any veggies is also quite bland my baby doesn’t eat more than couple of spoons
You can if you want to make it sweet add dates syrup. But we must remember that babies have not tasted salt and sugar as yet and hence they enjoy this bland taste too. You can add different veggies or mashed potato etc.
My lo is 2 month old and my mother in law already started giving her potli of jaggery she is suffering from cough now is this due to jaggery pls advice me for the same
Dear,please avoid giving overdose of jaggery as discussed in the article too. You may also see the doctor who will examine the baby and he will be able to advice you based on your baby’s current health status.
Hi
My baby is 9 months old(33 weeks preterm baby). He is not taking solids enough( takes only 2 spoons). He is not even interested in milk. If I add little jaggery to formula, he drinks well. Is it safe to add jaggery in formula everytime? Pls suggest
Do take time Anu to read the food chart for 9 months of the website and other wonderful options that can be given to babies of this age. Some baby’s eat very less yet are active and so just focus on healthy food and avoid jaggery till baby becomes 1 year, the baby will eventually gain weight.
my LO s 7 month old from today..without jaggery she is not eating ragi porridge im adding teaspoon of jaggery to a cup of porridge is it fine ?? else can i add fruit puree or something else??
Hi, My baby is 10 month old now, can i add Jaggery syrup in her foods and which one is advisable, Sugar cane jaggery or Palm jaggery?
Hi Dr.Hema
Can i use khadi sakar or patasa( sakar or whole sugar) as sweetner for my 7 months old baby???
Hello Hema..
I have a doubt.. my daughter is 8months old..
How about giving Misri (crystallized sugar lumps, rock sugar) mishri mixing in little hot water for sweeteness? Or u suggest to wait til 1yr..
My grandparents and my parents insists me to add salt n sugar to baby food.. but till date i haven’t added that.. so thot of adding mishri…
Plz suggest
can I keep jaggery to my kid when I’m feeding with apple rice…her age is18 th month mam …
Yes you can 🙂
Hi, thanks so much for this post. What about date powder? Is that a good substitute, and if yes, how much can you give (eg daily, once a week, lesser?)
Yes you can give homemade dates powder, can be given daily in moderation
Hello ma’am!
I am following your 50 first solid food recipe. I added Jaggery to my baby before reading this article. My 6 months old son got rashes around his mouth , when I was wondering why it came, that time I read about the risk of Jaggery. Could you please advice me what should I do next? Whenever I add Jaggery it is increasing , I am not sure but I suspect.
Thank you.
Dear Jasmina,
Please stop jaggery for now, it may cause allergy , instead of jaggery use whole fruit puree for sweetness
Cheers
Hema
Ok ma’am. Thank you very much for your reply. What kind of fruits can I add in ragi porridge?
Dear Jasmina,
You can almost all fruits like apple, pear, mango,chikoo in porridge
cn i give rock candy?? is it good for cough??
Hi Fousiya,
How old is your little one ?
Is it advisable to give palm candy or palm jaggery??..mixing n baby foods..
Hi Rekha,
It is better to avoid before 1 year
useful info… even raw cane sugar also should be avoided ?
Hi Dhivya
Yes better to avoid raw cane sugar too
How about giving jaggery after a baby turns one? Is it still not recommended?
Hi Arooz,
It cna be given after 1 year, but moderately