If you buy through our links we may receive a commission at no expense to you. Please see our Ethics page.
Sour cream is a dairy-based food enriched in vitamin A, calcium, and other essential nutrients and makes an excellent addition to boiled vegetables, mashed potatoes, soup and salad dressings.
Plus, the nutrients in sour cream can help improve eye, brain, and bone health! But, can babies have sour cream?
You should not give sour cream to babies who are under six months, because sour cream is an animal-based food product and a baby’s digestive system may not be developed enough to digest the complex nutrients in sour cream.
In this post, I’ll explain why sour cream is not suitable for babies under 6 months and recommend some substitutes. I’ll also talk about when babies can have sour cream, and its nutritional benefits.
Is Sour Cream Bad For Babies?
Sour cream is you shouldn’t give your little one any sour cream until they are at least six months old.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cow’s milk should not be given to babies as a drink until they turn at least one. It can put your baby at risk of intestinal bleeding because cow’s milk has way too many nutrients that your baby’s kidney can’t handle.
Since sour cream is made of cow’s milk, and dairy product are an allergen, caution is advised and similar precautions to milk are worth observing auch as not given as a drink or meal in itself or in replacement of breast or formula milk but instead putting small quantities into cooked hot meals.
Therefore there is no harm in mixing a very small bit of sour cream with your baby’s food form 6 months old.
For example, add a tablespoon of pasteurized sour cream to your baby’s vegetable puree, soup, or mashed potato meal, but make sure to use pasteurized sour cream, as the process destroys pathogens.
Also Read: Can babies eat heavy whipping cream?
When Can Your Baby Have Sour Cream?
Unfortunately we cannot give you an exact date but despite the CDC’s warning that cow’s milk should not be given to babies under 1 year, you can still add some sour cream to your baby’s meal even when they are six months old. But ensure that you buy good quality pasteurized sour cream from the store.
When introducing sour cream to your baby for the first time, consult your pediatrician and get their advice. Consider the following important points and discuss them with your pediatrician before you feed your baby any sour cream.
- What are the food allergies your baby has exhibited so far?
- Does your baby follow the weight charts according to normal ranges?
- Has your baby shown interest in dairy products?
- Your ability to source pasteurized sour cream from the store.
What Are The Nutritional Values And Benefits Of Sour Cream For Babies?
Healthline states two tablespoons of sour cream (30g) has the following nutritional values:
- Calories: 59
- Total fat: 5.8 grams
- Saturated fat: 3 grams
- Carbs: 1.3 grams
- Protein: 0.7 grams
- Calcium: 3% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Phosphorus: 3% of the DV
- Vitamin A: 4% of the DV
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 4% of the DV
- Vitamin B12: 3% of the DV
Sour cream is enriched in vitamins A and B, fat, calcium and calories. The fatty acids, carbs and calories provide the necessary energy for the baby’s body, while vitamins offer protection. Calcium ensures the growth of the baby’s bones.
Great Substitutes For Sour Cream For Babies
Plain yogurt is the best substitute for sour cream.
In fact, if you are not willing to give your baby sour cream when the baby is too young, plain yogurt can be added to your little one’s meal without worrying about any issues.
Also Read: Infant poop smells like yogurt
If the baby is 2 to 3 years old, you can use cottage cheese or homemade sour cream for the baby’s meal. But keep in mind that homemade sour cream is not suitable for babies under 2 years old as it is not pasteurized and is not free of harmful bacteria.
How Should I Give Sour Cream To My Baby?
Sour cream is a garnish, so it should only be added to the main meal when feeding your little one.
The most common foods you can add sour cream to are boiled vegetables, mashed potato, and soup.
If your baby is 2 to 3 years old, there is no harm in adding two tablespoons to the meal.
Conclusion
Sour cream has a lot of health benefits and it has high nutritional value. However, sour cream is not recommended for babies under six months. The best age to give sour cream to your baby not in cooked food is when they are over 2 years old.
But, with the consultation of your pediatrician, you can start giving sour cream to the baby from 6 months in hot meals. Make sure to buy a good brand of sour cream from the store.
FAQs
How To Make Homemade Sour Cream?
Combine one cup of cream with one teaspoon of distilled white vinegar or lemon juice in a mason jar, and whisk until mixed well. After about 10 minutes, stir in a quarter cup of whole milk. Give it a good stir and leave the jar at room temperature for at least 24 hours after covering it with cheesecloth and securing it with a rubber band.
How Often Should I Give Sour Cream To My Baby?
Since sour cream is a dairy-based product, it should not be given to babies regularly. Often babies exhibit allergies and other complexities with dairy products. Therefore, you shouldn’t feed your baby sour cream more than once a week.
How To Choose An Excellent Sour Cream From The Market?
Nowadays, most consumer products in the market are produced with preservatives. When you choose sour cream for your baby, carefully read the label, and select the one without preservation agents and other chemicals.
The maximum shelf life of the product should be only 5 to 7 days. Look for at least 15% fat content, thicker and enriched with nutrients. And remember to buy only pasteurized sour cream for babies.
