When is it safe to introduce rooibos tea to babies?
Rooibos tea is famous for its immense health benefits. But, are these nutritional elements safe for babies?
Can you substitute breast milk with rooibos tea?
When it comes to babies, mothers want the best. They want to be sure that whatever the child is ingesting is safe and beneficial.
It is essential to understand the nutritional needs of infants. It helps you to make the right nutritional choices.
So, should an infant take rooibos tea? And, from what age should one start drinking rooibos tea?
Well, let’s find out.
Should babies drink rooibos tea?
When babies are at the age of five months and above, they need proper nutrition for growth. Inadequate diet will lead to stunted growth.
If you take babies off breast milk too early and substitute it with rooibos tea, their growth is impaired. The tea does not have the proper nutrition in breast milk that facilitates the baby’s growth.
Mothers are advised to exclusively breastfeed their children for six months. After that, they can start introducing other soft foods gradually.
Although rooibos tea is healthy, it lacks nutrients like proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. These nutrients are essential in meeting the growing demands of a baby. For instance, calcium is vital in the growth and strengthening of bones.
The tea, therefore, cannot be used as an alternative to breast milk.
Rooibos tea for children comes with a warning that it should not be used as an alternative to breast milk.
Is rooibos tea safe for use by children?
Yes, it is.
There is no doubt that the tea is safe for use by babies, even newborns. If you want to introduce rooibos tea to your child, you should do so in small quantities. It would be best if you also introduced them as you also give them milk feeds.
After that, you can increase the quantity of the tea gradually. Also, it would be best to give your child natural rooibos tea without any flavor. Do not put sugar, honey, or any other sweetener.
After six months, you can start using fruit juice as a sweetener. However, you can let your baby get used to natural tea without any flavor. That is what they will get used to even when they grow up.
Are there any benefits of taking rooibos tea for babies?
Rooibos tea is a great beverage, and it is caffeine-free. As such, you do not have to worry about the drink keeping your child alert for long. The beverage has a refreshing feeling for the baby.
This is a herbal tea, and it has low levels of tannin. It contains several antioxidants that have a lot of health benefits for the child.
For instance, the tea helps to reduce digestive issues in children. Thus, your child will not have stomach problems which cause difficulties in feeding. If the baby does not feed well, it may have stunted growth.
As rooibos tea is caffeine-free, it does not keep your baby alert for long even at night. Thus, your child will enjoy healthier sleep. The tea also relieves teething gums to make teething less troublesome.
You can also use it to deal with asthma problems, allergies, and other conditions. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties. The properties help to deal with other lifestyle diseases such as diabetes.
Mixing rooibos tea and breast milk is helpful for the baby’s proper feeding. Breast milk contains calcium that is essential in the strengthening of the bones. If the baby does not feed well, it may become obese later as it tries to compensate for the malnutrition.
Additionally, the tea is a healthier option to use on young and old children than water.
Also, it is healthier to use the tea for children than buying sweetened juice.
Three to four cups of rooibos tea per day are enough for teens. Younger children should not have more than a cup of tea.
Should you take the tea when you are pregnant?
Green and black tea contains caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that stimulates the brain. It also increases heart rate and blood pressure.
Increased blood pressure is risky for you during pregnancy. Additionally, caffeine gets to the unborn child through the placenta. An adult can metabolize the caffeine in their body. But, the unborn child is still maturing and cannot metabolize the caffeine.
Additionally, caffeine is a diuretic that causes you to urinate a lot. This leads to dehydration which is risky for you and the unborn child.
On the other hand, Rooibos tea is a caffeine-free herbal tea. Thus, it is safe to use as it does not affect your blood pressure, heart rate, and so on.
Consuming it during pregnancy enables you to have a more relaxed sleep. It also boosts your immunity that prevents diseases that may pose risks to you and the unborn child.
Plus, it aids your digestive system. Also, the anti-inflammatory properties guarantee your overall health.
The tea also contains calming effects. They reduce the stress levels for you and the child. Thus, you are less likely to have stress-related complications during pregnancy.
If you are pregnant, you should consult your doctor before drinking the tea. Thus, you will get instructions on the quantity and frequency of taking the tea.
Final thoughts
Rooibos tea is safe for use by young kids, including a newborn. It comes with antioxidants and other properties that are beneficial to the babies.
Even though it has several health benefits, the tea is not an alternative to breast milk. Breast milk contains nutrients such as calcium, proteins, and carbohydrates.
Therefore, using rooibos tea alone may cause malnutrition and stunted growth in kids. Additionally, the tea is safe for pregnant mothers since it is caffeine-free.
