When can I feed my child chocolate

 

When can I feed my child chocolate

Every mother finds herself one day in front of an irresistible sight, which is to see her little one eating chocolate very voraciously with his face smeared with it, his eyes sparkling and begging to ask for more from her. 

 

Who doesn't like chocolate Everyone adores it, Young and old alike, it opens the appetite with its delicious aroma, it has a delicious taste that may drive some to become so addicted to it that they cannot stand living a single day without it.

 

An urgent question that may occur to every mother is: when can I give chocolate to my child 

 

In fact, there is no official recommendation on when it is possible to give chocolate to a child, everyone sings on his night in this regard.

 

What does chocolate consist of

Before we delve into the answer to the question about when to give chocolate to a small child, it is imperative to take a look at what it contains. In general, it can be said that it includes the following:

 

Cocoa.

Metals.

Antioxidants.

 

What are the possible health risks of chocolate

1. Sensitivity

There is not enough evidence to suggest that chocolate can cause allergies in children, and perhaps the trend at the moment is that chocolate may contain elements that are known to cause allergic reactions, such as peanuts, yogurt, soy, berries, gluten and others, so parents are asked to read the labels for allergy protection before giving chocolate to a child.

If the child has the following symptoms and signs after eating chocolate, you should immediately consult a doctor:

 Difficulty breathing.

The appearance of skin eruptions.

Constant sneezing.

Redness and lacrimation of the eyes.

Vomiting and diarrhea.

Swelling of the throat and tongue.

Some mothers may consider delaying giving chocolate to a child to prevent food allergies, but the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics say that it is no longer necessary to resort to this option, because scientific reviews have revealed that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods has no effect on the Prevention of food allergies.

 

2. The danger of caffeine

Different types of chocolate contain varying amounts of the stimulant caffeine, and the darker the chocolate, the more caffeine it contains. There is not much information about how caffeine affects the developing child's brain, but there are concerns about its side effects due to stimulation of the nervous system, such as increased heartbeat, high blood pressure, anxiety, bleeding, insomnia. There is some evidence to suggest that caffeine can interfere with a child's sleep, keeping him awake and unable to sleep, so parents are advised to avoid giving chocolate in the four hours before going to bed.

 

3. The danger of sugar

Chocolate has a deliciously sweet taste, and since the taste buds for sweet taste in children are more mature than others, it is not surprising that children adore chocolate. Chocolate is rich in refined added sugar, so excessive consumption of it would expose the child to tooth decay, and possibly to an increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.

Proteins.

Sugars.

Fats.

Fiber (except white chocolate).

Caffeine.

If we take a peek at the ingredients in chocolate, we can say that they are necessary for the child's growth and body building, however, the mother may have some concerns, wondering about the most appropriate time to give chocolate to him, in order to avoid unforeseen health risks.

4. Choking hazard

The mother should keep in mind that chocolate may contain hard ingredients such as nuts and soy, which can pose a danger to the life of a small child, exposing him to suffocation.

5. Risk of gastroesophageal reflux

If the child has reflux of gastric secretions, chocolate may make the situation worse because it encourages the rise of stomach acids and foods towards the esophagus.

Some tips related to giving a child chocolate

Ma'am, if you want to give chocolate to your little one, we suggest you some tips:

 

The American Pediatric Association recommends that children should not be given chocolate before the age of two.

You should avoid giving the child chocolate 4 hours before bedtime, because it contains caffeine, which creates disturbances at the level of sleep. Keep in mind how much caffeine the child will get in each serving, even chocolate pudding cups and chocolate milk have small amounts of caffeine in them.

If a child complains of digestive problems, then giving chocolate is forbidden.

If you choose to give chocolate to your child, be careful not to give it in pieces because it may get stuck in his throat and cause him to choke. The best and safest way is to give chocolate milk, it is a liquid that the child drinks easily and contains a minimal amount of caffeine.

Be very careful to monitor your child closely when he eats chocolate for the first time to look for any emergency allergic reactions that may occur.

Chocolate should be given to the child in moderation and within a balanced and varied diet, not allowing it, in any way, to replace other healthy alternatives full of nutrients that the child needs to grow.

When shopping for chocolates to share with your little one, choose those with low amounts of added sugar.

There is no harm in offering chocolate to the child from time to time, eating small portions of it is nutritious and useful for his growth and body building. But beware then beware of obeying him in case he asks for more from her, as this may open the door to the occurrence of unnecessary health risks. As for the timing of starting to give chocolate to a child, opinions are conflicting on this topic, there are those who recommend it when the child has reached at least his first year, and there are those who prefer to wait until the child celebrates his second birthday. Whichever date is chosen, our advice to you, ma'am, is not to allow chocolate to be a major competitor that makes the child averse to healthy foods. It is advisable to consult a pediatrician for guidance on when chocolate can be given to a child.