Watermelon for Babies – Health Benefits and Recipes

The early days of infancy have a telling effect on the future of the child, so every parent must take care to provide the best for their child in order to ensure proper growth. The growth of the child mainly depends on his diet, and what the child eats during infancy. Therefore, the diet of the child must be given utmost importance by the parent, and only the best food items must be fed to the child.

It can be confusing to choose what to feed your child, as there are many sources which seem to suggest contradictory food items and recipes. However, there is one fruit/vegetable which is ideal for babies- watermelon. Watermelon is highly recommended for any child, as it has a multitude of qualities that make it so attractive. It combines both a refreshing sweet taste and the nutritional quantities of a proper vegetable.

When Can Your Baby Eat Watermelon?

Your baby can eat watermelon right from the early stages of his infancy, with experts having deemed it safe for consumption for children as young as six months of age. The fruit contains almost 95% water, so it does a great job of keeping your baby hydrated always. Especially during hot summers, watermelons can be fed to children as young as six to eight months of age.

Nutritional Value of Watermelon

The most attractive part about watermelon is that 93% of the fruit is made up of water, making it a great option to prevent dehydration among babies. The nutritional value of watermelons is given in the table below.

Amazing Health Benefits of Watermelon for Baby

Watermelon has many health benefits, both for adults and babies. Some of these health benefits are given here.

1. Hydration: Especially during the summer months, it is important that your child has enough water in his body. Watermelon is the perfect food for that, as it is made up of 93% water.

2. Rich in Vitamin C: Vitamin C is important for growth and plays a huge role in the development of the baby during his formative years. Watermelon has high quantities of Vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system and iron absorption in the body.

3. Loaded with Vitamin A: Vitamin A improves eyesight, the health of the teeth and skin and also the development of soft tissue and mucous membranes. Watermelon is rich in Vitamin A too.

4. Strength of the Bones: Watermelon has a good amount of calcium and magnesium, which plays a huge role in promoting bone development and bone strength in infants. Calcium is also important for proper secretion of hormones in the infant.

5. Vitamin B Complex: Vitamin B complex consists of a set of vitamins, all of which play highly influential roles in promoting the growth and development of various systems in the body of the infant. These include the formation of red blood cells, development of the nervous system, strengthening the immune system and enhancing the metabolism in the child.

6. Good for the Heart: As watermelons ripen, the amount of lycopene in the fruit also increases. This is an antioxidant which is great for the heart and plays a role in maintaining cardiovascular health in the child.

7. Helps in Digestion: The fruit is also rich in dietary fibre, which helps prevent constipation and promotes digestion in the child.

How to Feed Watermelon to Baby?

There are a few important things to remember while feeding watermelon to your child:

• Cut the watermelon into small pieces.
• Remove all the seeds to prevent choking.
• Seat your baby in an upright position.
• Mash the watermelon into a pulp, and spoon-feed it to your baby.
• If your baby is old enough, you can offer diced watermelon as finger food to your baby.

Are There Any Risks of Giving Watermelon to Babies?

Watermelon allergies in babies are rare, but a few sensitive babies may end up with rashes due to the acidic nature of the fruit. The symptoms of allergy include rashes, diarrhoea, runny nose and vomiting. Another main risk is that of choking, which is caused due to the seeds which are spread out over the flesh of the fruit.

How to Select a Good Quality Watermelon for Infant?

Keep in mind these pointers while selecting a watermelon for your little one.

• The watermelon should be heavier, look smooth and a bit dull on the top.
• If you thump a ripe watermelon, it should sound hollow.
• If the fruit is rotten or overripe, there will be depressions, bruises, cuts or spots on the surface of the fruit.
• The ground spot or underbelly turns yellow or creamy, in the case of a fully ripe watermelon.
• Avoid pre-cut, canned or frozen watermelons for your child, as they have a high risk of contamination.

How Can You Store Watermelon at Home? 

Follow these methods to store watermelon at home.

• Wash the fruit under running water, and store it in a clean and dry place if it is uncut
• If it is cut, then store it in a refrigerator in an air-tight container, or wrap it with food-grade plastic over the side that has been cut
• Do not refrigerate for more than a day, after it has been cut
• To keep your child from catching a cold, bring the refrigerated melon to room temperature before serving it to your child

Watermelon Recipes for Babies

Here are a few watermelon recipes that your child can enjoy.

1. Watermelon Puree: Watermelon puree for babies requires cut and deseeded pieces of the fruit, which is then, blended using a blender to make a puree. You can also add any other food or cereal if you wish to thicken the mixture. To complement the taste of the melon, the best fruits are avocado, banana or mango.

2. Watermelon Juice: You can easily make watermelon juice for babies using one cup of sweet watermelon which is cut and de-seeded. The pieces are pureed using a blender, and the mixture is strained for the juice and then the flesh squeezed. The extracted juice can be directly fed to your child, for great effect.

3. Watermelon as Finger Food: Is watermelon good for babies? Definitely, and tasty watermelon treats are easy to prepare as well. For a simple finger food recipe, all you need is a cup of watermelon cubes which are de-seeded. The cube-shaped pieces are cut into thin slices, which are served with another nutritious dip like a fruit puree or yoghurt.

Watermelon has been found to be one of the least contaminated fruits by many health associations, which makes it a great choice as food for infants. The fruit also has high nutritional value and can be prepared for consumption in not more than ten minutes.