When parents want to please their child, the first thing that comes to mind is a piece of chocolate or candy. So is chocolate a baby treat and at what age can it be given to babies?
What is chocolate
Chocolate is made from different parts of the cocoa beans. Cocoa fruits are ground to make a powder, or oil is squeezed out of them. If you mix powder (cocoa liquor) with this butter, you get dark chocolate. This delicacy is considered the most natural product. When cream (milk) is added to powder and butter, manufacturers obtain milk chocolate. For the preparation of white chocolate, cocoa liquor is not used at all. Each of these types of chocolate has its own characteristics that must be considered when choosing treats for your baby.
What are the benefits of chocolate for a child
Chocolate contains a special substance - tryptophan, it stimulates the production of "happiness hormones" in the body, activates the brain, improves the mood of the baby. In addition, chocolate contains phenylalanine, an amino acid that can improve memory and other thought processes. Cocoa beans are a source of vitamin A, B1, B2, PP, potassium, magnesium and iron.
When can a child taste chocolate?
Despite the undoubted benefits of the product, nutritionists do not recommend giving chocolate to a baby under one and a half to two years. It is a fatty product that contains high amounts of caffeine and theobromine. They negatively affect the fragile child's psyche. In addition, it is better to introduce chocolate into the child's diet after he has fallen in love with vegetables, fruits and cereals. At a year and a half, the baby can be given a drink made from cocoa powder, diluted with milk. Watch your baby's reactions closely, because chocolate is one of the most allergenic foods. After the child is two years old, you can treat him to a chocolate biscuit. By the age of three, offer your baby a piece of milk chocolate or candy. The daily norm of this product for a three-year-old toddler is no more than 25 g per day.
