Christmas season is here. And so are all the sweet decadent treats that we all love to have as we celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. But can we share these treats to our baby?

Sugar, in general provides energy to the body. But they lack other necessary nutrients like proteins, fat, vitamins and minerals that are very important for the growing bodies of our babies. Sugar, in excess, can also lead to an increased risk of obesity, dental caries, high blood pressure and diabetes when grown to adults. Furthermore, babies have innate preference for sweetness. So, it is important to give our babies enough time to be familiar with other taste and let their taste buds get familiar with the taste of healthy foods like vegetables, fruits and others that do not contain added sugar.

It is considered safe to add sugar to baby’s food after 12 months or when the baby turns 1 year old. But it is recommended to wait until the child reaches 24 months (2 years old) to help ensure proper and optimum nutrition for the first 1000 days of life.

For parents who have babies under the age of 2, you may still offer your babies some desserts for the holiday season that are sweetened by fruits. There are available recipes that use apple syrup (without the added sugar). May we all have a healthy and nutritious holiday season! // HRH-N Lyneth Anne A. Amahit, RND