When & How To Give Ghee to Your Baby, Infant and Its Health Benefits ?

As your newborn baby turns 6 months the struggle of what to feed him or her and what not to feed begins. While some food can be given right from the day weaning process starts there are certain foods that are introduced gradually to your infant’s diet and one such food is desi ghee. Ghee is one of the wonder nutrient that not only helps in keeping him or her healthy overall, it also helps in child's brain development. Hence our proparent Soma Sarkar today here shares everything you wanted to know about desi ghee.

What Is Ghee and Its Uses?

Ghee is clarified butter used mostly in India, however, the West is also warming up to this natural saturated fat because of its high health benefits for both babies and adult. In India, ghee is used not just in foods, but also as a medicine. Ghee is also used for religious purposes like 'havans' and holds a huge significance in religious rituals. Many families still prefer making their own ghee at home, which involves simmering milk cream (preferably from cow's milk) and obtaining the clear liquid that leaves a brownish residue behind. Though time taking process, packaged ghee does not match the taste or the aroma of homemade ghee. Mothers are often seen feeding their babies with home-made ghee to derive maximum benefits.

Nutritional Value Of Ghee For Babies

Besides all other nutrients and carbohydrates, proteins, fats, another fat we need is Ghee (fat).High in calorific value it has some amount of Vitamin A,E and D.Omega-3s (monounsaturated fats) conjugated linoleic acid and butyric acid also found in ghee.

What are the Health Benefits of Ghee in Infant's Diet?

There are numerous health benefits of ghee for newborn babies - we have summed up 8 below for you -

1. Helps in Digestion: Ghee is not only easy to digest by itself, it also aids in digestion and keeps the stomach troubles in babies at bay. The saturated fatty acids in ghee are easily absorbed by the kid
2. Helps in Providing Energy: Babies need approximately 1500 calories a day for their optimum growth and development. Ghee is a good source of energy given the high content of saturated fatty acids and provide with energy and stamina. Moderate quantities of ghee in your baby's diet also keeps him active, especially the pure ghee that is made in Indian homes
3. Brain development: A baby's brain develops the most in the first 5 years - and that is the time to promote the same as well. Ghee is a rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids that help in brain development
4. Boost metabolism: Ghee helps in boosting metabolism and keeps the child active instead of making him or her slow and lethargic
5. Help in weight gain in babies: Ghee also helps in gaining weight in babies as it is a saturated fat. However, only moderate amounts of ghee should be given to babies as too much of ghee can also have some negating effects
6. Bone health: Being a rich source of Vitamin D it keeps the bones of the baby healthy and strong
7. Lactose intolerant friendly: Though ghee is a by-product of milk, it doesn’t have lactic acid and hence can easily be given to lactose intolerant babies as well
8. Helps with dry skin: The problem of dry skin in babies can be dealt by using ghee - ghee has been used to get relief from dryness since times immemorial

What Are Other Health Benefits Of Ghee For Babies?

While there are numerous health benefits of Ghee in baby’s diet, there are other benefits as well. And here are they—

1. Severe Cold and Cough: If infant is suffering from severe cold during the change of season, then heat two teaspoons of ghee with few cloves of garlic till the ghee melts and garlic cloves turn slightly brown in colour. Let this mixture cool down and then you can massage your baby with this mixture. You may also make your child sniff this to get relief from cold and cough
2. Helps in Chest Congestion: Ghee is also useful in relieving chest congestion in babies. Just heat the ghee and let it cool. Once cooled massage child with it, it gives an instant relief from chest congestion in babies

How Much Ghee Can I Give My Children?

After seven or eight months you can give a few drops of ghee in his\her meal.After one year you can go upto one tablespoon a day. And it’s best if you give homemade ghee. Not only It enhances taste of food but is also free of chemicals as well.

Can I Use Desi Ghee For Newborn Baby Massage?

Yes, you can use ghee for newboen baby massaging as well. In fact ghee contains oleic acid that makes skin more soft and supple in babies. Massaging baby has many benefits – and helps to grow and develop better and faster. In addition, massaging with ghee helps in making babies bones strong and healthy. Some other popular choices for massaging a baby include almond oil, coconut oil and mustard oil. Some mothers also use olive oil.

How Can I include Ghee In Infant’s Diet?

There are numerous ways you can introduce desi ghee to your child’s diet. Here are few suggestions for you to try, these are tried and tested suggestions – the way I give ghee to my kid.

1. In the morning if you are giving a parantha, roti or upma just add few drops of ghee on the dish. Not only will the plain simple dishsmelllike heaven but will also make love his or her food because of the enhanced taste
2. In the afternoon you can either add ghee in his or her dal or khichdi or rice. In case you are giving him or her roti, sabzi and dal then you can also smear some ghee on roti
3. Use desi ghee for frying purposes as well. For instance if you want to give omlete to baby, fry it in desi ghee it will enhance the flavour and will also be rich in essential nutrients

How To Make Ghee At Home?

Remember, how your mommy used to collect all the milk cream and turn it into the ghee by 3 -4 days. Of course there was no magic; it was just that when she made ghee you used to be in school or playing outside. So here are simple steps to make homemade ghee.

1. Keep on collecting the milk cream which forms after boiling milk in a jar for a week
2. While collecting the cream keep it refrigerating also so that it doesn’t get sour. Once the jar is full keep it out for sometime so that it comes to a room temperature
3. Once the cream is soft you can start churning it either in a blender or with your hands so that the cream and buttermilk gets separated
4. Now take a heavy-bottom pan and heat the cream in it till you see the milk solids settling down and a foam forming on the top
5. You need to wait till the milk cream at bottom starts burning
6. Then cool and strain your ghee

How Long Does The Homemade Ghee Last?

If stored properly with proper precautions the homemade ghee lasts for up to 3 months without refrigeration and up to 1 year if refrigerated.

Can I Make Ghee At Home?

Yes, you can easily make ghee at home. In fact it will be the purest form of desi ghee and you will also be sure that there are no added preservatives or chemicals added in the ghee. Packaged ghee has that disadvantage. You can store the homemade ghee either in a glass jar or in a steel container. Just ensure that you don’t expose the ghee to the light or heat.

We hope that with this blog you will start including ghee in your infant’s diet or else start massaging your newborn with ghee or even do both.Stay healthy.