You may often wonder if ice cream should be introduced to children. Ice cream can be just as tempting for kids as it is for adults. Everyone loves ice cream and it’s hard to resist. However, given the ingredients that go into store-bought ice cream, parents are often wary of introducing them to their children.
Babies can eat ice cream after 12 months as it is a dairy product. Although it is made from whole milk and cream pasteurized to remove bacteria, children may still be sensitive to the milk proteins, minerals and other ingredients in it. According to the Australian Healthy Diet Guidelines, children should avoid non-essential foods and drinks, such as ice cream and other iced confections, as they are a poor source of nutrients.
However, you can introduce ice cream in moderation after consulting a pediatrician and give it to your baby from time to time. The first 12 months are critical for your baby as you introduce nutritious foods and develop a taste for healthy foods. Therefore, the first 12 months is still too early to feed the baby with ice cream.