5 Tips for Using Herbs & Spices in Your Baby's Food

Hi Mamamates, let’s talk about the addition of herbs and spices!

You might be thinking, is this even safe for little babies? Well, the answer is yes! Adding in these bursts of flavours is a wonderful way of enhancing taste and making mealtime an adventurous learning experience. Not only that but adding in herbs and spices can make weaning more exciting and enjoyable for you and your baby. But please do note that seasonings such as salt and sugar should not be used before 12 months.

However, we’ve done all the hard work for you and have brought you a list of herbs and spices that your baby can have from 6m+ 🎉  and our top 5 tips to introduce these to your baby. 💜 We know that mealtime and introducing solids can be extremely overwhelming, but stick with us, and we’ll help you through it!

Go for Aromatic Over 'Spice'

There's a big difference between spicy spices that risk irritating tiny tummies and aromatic spices that enhance flavour and taste. Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, turmeric, ginger, coriander, mint, dill and cumin are all easy to digest and are safe for infants to eat from 6 months. As for that cayenne? It's safe to give (but still, you may want to hold off until your baby's eating and digestion are more established).

Slow and Steady Always Wins

In this case, don't dive straight in, start by adding a small amount of a single aromatic spice to porridge, purees or roasted vegetables - 1/8 or 1/4 of a teaspoon should do it. We’d also recommend waiting 4-5 days before introducing a new spice, just in case you notice anything unusual or maybe just to see if your baby carves more.

Complementary, Not Overpowering

Using spices and herbs in baby food is about enhancing flavour - so the goal is to use spices that will complement the natural taste of vegetables, not overpower them. So if you’re looking for the perfect addition, why not try these combinations, carrots + cumin, peas + mint, sweet potato + cinnamon, and courgette + basil. Definitely our classic go-to combinations for many mealtimes.

If you’re on the lookout for introducing herbs and spices into your little one's mealtime, then look no further because we here at Mamamade have developed the most amazing new recipes that are carefully curated to help introduce your babies and toddlers to bigger, bolder and adventurous flavours. Click here to explore our new recipes 👩🏼‍🍳

Use Small Amounts, Prepared Properly

Fresh herbs are packed with essential vitamins and minerals and, simply put, help food taste amazing! But there is an art to adding them to your little one's foods, so puree or finely mince the fresh herb leaves. This step is really important for safety and choking reasons and large leaves could turn into a bit of a swallowing nightmare 😅 But most importantly, don't forget to thoroughly wash all herbs (and any products you use).

Focus on What Really Matters

Weaning isn't a race to the finish. Try and have fun with the process of learning and teaching. And remember - try not to get discouraged. It may take up to 20 tastes of something before your baby opens up to it or even starts liking it.

We’re always here if you need a helping hand with all things weaning, parenting or just mum life! If you’re feeling overwhelmed (which we all sometimes do) don't be afraid to ask for help 💜 Maybe give yourself a little break by getting an organic, nutrient-dense, allergen-free and nutritionist-approved Mamamade bundle which contains a wide range of spices and herbs - measured and mixed perfectly for your baby.

We’d love to know how you introduced herbs and spices into your little one's mealtime! So, comment below or send us a DM on Instagram to share your Mamamade mealtime journey. And if you’re on the hunt for some more content, check out these blogs “How To Introduce New Foods To Your Baby”, “Superfoods For Babies”, “Your Baby's Tingling Taste Buds & How To Help Them Start Tasting Foods” and “What Are The Benefits Of Using Organic Products?”