Is it safe for my baby to eat watermelon?

Watermelon is a tasty and healthy fruit. If you take some precautions and keep an eye on your child, you can include watermelon in his diet.

Introducing solid foods to your baby's diet

Wait until your child is 4-6 months old before adding solid foods to his diet.

When introducing solid foods to your child, it is important to make sure that he can sit up on his own. It is also important that they have good head and neck control before giving them solid food.

Solid foods should be introduced one at a time. This allows your little one to explore their own flavors and textures on their own. This will also help determine if your child is allergic to certain foods. Because of its soft texture, watermelon is a great fruit to introduce as one of your baby's first foods.

How to serve watermelon to a baby

If you're taking the weaning approach, you can serve watermelon as a snack. If you do this, be sure to cut the watermelon into pieces small enough for your child to comfortably hold and eat. Pureed watermelon is also an option.

While watermelon rinds may be safe for older children, it's best to remove any rinds from pieces you serve to a child. This will eliminate the potential choking hazard.

Although serving watermelon as juice can be tempting in hot weather, you should not give juice to children until they are one year old.

Health benefits of watermelon

Vitamins. Watermelon contains flavonoids, vitamin C, carotenoids and citrulline. It does not contain cholesterol and fat. This fruit also contains dietary fiber, minerals including magnesium and potassium, and B vitamins. Watermelon is also rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that may help prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and macular disorders later in life.

Hydration. Eating water-rich foods can help prevent dehydration, especially if you're having a hard time getting your child to drink water. Watermelon is 92% water, so it's a great way to provide your baby with extra hydration.

Safety Concerns

Choking. Despite their small size, watermelon seeds pose a significant risk to babies. For this reason, it is important to remove all seeds from a watermelon before giving it to a child.

Familiarize yourself with emergency measures for choking, such as back blows and chest thrusts.

Food poisoning. Because children under the age of 5 are more susceptible to foodborne illness, it's important to make sure you prepare and store watermelon safely. Be sure to wash your hands and fruits thoroughly. Be sure to refrigerate any leftover watermelon immediately. This will prevent the spread of bacteria. Once you cut it, you can safely store watermelon in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to 8 months.
Allergies. Due to its high acidity, watermelon can irritate baby's skin. Allergic reactions can include a rash where the watermelon comes in contact with the skin, or hives, also known as hives.

If your child is showing signs of an allergic reaction to watermelon, it's always best to speak with a doctor right away to help manage the allergy.