Q: Is it safe to give scrambled eggs to my 8-month-old baby?
Answered by: Ms Aina Syairah bt Abdul Rahman, Dietitian, Pantai Hospital Klang (PHK)
Eggs can be introduced as early as when the baby is ready to start with solid food which is at 6 months old. Introducing a variety of foods once your baby is ready for solids is now believed to help prevent food allergies. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), you should introduce one new food at a time and wait two to three days before introducing another one. In between, monitor the allergic reaction to the newly introduced food.
Egg allergies commonly affect 9% of kids under 4 years old. Many children with egg allergies are allergic to raw egg but are able to tolerate baked or cooked eggs, while most will outgrow the allergy by the age of four. Some children’s immune systems are not fully developed and may not be able to handle certain proteins in the egg white.
As a result, if they are exposed to eggs, they may feel sick, get a rash, or experience other allergic reaction symptoms. If you have a family history of allergic reaction to eggs, or your baby has severe eczema, consult your paediatrician before introducing eggs to your baby as they start solids.
At the age of 6 months, puree or mash hard-boiled or scrambled egg can be served to your baby. Start small and progress slowly. Some suggest hard-boiling an egg and mashing it, adding a little breast milk or infant formula for more liquid consistency. Around 8 months, scrambled egg pieces are a fantastic finger food. Make sure that the eggs are cooked well in order to prevent Salmonella and other food-borne illnesses. Avoid adding sugar, salt or other condiments and keep the eggs plain to start with.
Egg is one of a good source of protein that is easy to prepare, convenient and healthy. They contain high-quality protein (HBV), calcium, selenium, zinc, iron, and choline. The production of new cells in infants is significant, and eggs being rich in folate, aid and assist in cell regeneration. Egg yolks contain choline and cholesterol which helps the brain development in infants.
Cholesterol assists in digestion of fats and also helps produce hormones as the hormone-producing glands use it up and produce the various hormones found in our bodies. Choline is a nutrient that contributes to proper functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. A single egg contains around 7g of protein which provides the recommended daily intake needs for infants, almost half recommended daily intake toddlers and almost a third of the recommended daily intake for older children.
