Can Blueberries Cause Diarrhoea In Toddlers ?

Where the child reaches the toddler phase, parents are seen to be often confused about what to give and what not to. Some parents like to allot the same food made for adults in the house to the toddler and that is quite natural and risk-free. But there will be some food items that your child might be allergic to or intolerant towards.

As their digestive system is still under the development process it is no harm to introduce new food items often. This way you would be able to know what the toddler loves and hates. Besides that, the normal new food introduction process is the regular way to find the allergic and intolerant responses of the toddler’s digestive system. But as per the nutritionist’s guidance, the toddlers should have a slightly different diet based on their nutritional necessities.

Correct nutrition

When choosing food items and meals for the daily consumption of a toddler the parent needs to keep in mind how picky they are in terms of taste. So whatever you give them needs to be tasty and also fulfill the nutritional requirements of the toddler. Juicy and tasty fruits are regularly included by parents in their toddler’s diet.

Except for the unconventional fruits like apple, guava, and oranges- parents also tend to provide types of berries in their children’s diet. Among all berries, the blueberry is being preferred by most parents recently for its exceptional nutrient capacity.

A few parents do complain about their toddler getting diarrhoea or constipation in the days of having blueberries and this becomes the reason for the question- can blueberries cause diarrhoea in toddlers. But it is not always right to directly blame the blueberries without any medical or pediatric analysis.

1. A kid carrying a bowl of blueberries.

The astonishing benefits from blueberries

Blueberries have an immense range of benefits for the human body. The huge pile of nutrients will keep the toddler active and healthy. They will help the proper bone development of the child and also become a catalyst in the cognitive improvements of the toddler with escalating age. The most vital benefits of blueberries can be listed as follows:

• Blueberries are helpful in improving cardiovascular health. These berries have antioxidants, polyphenol, and fiber which all together work as a nutrient package to take care of cardiovascular health.
• They are rich in potassium and zinc that help in maintaining the correct blood pressure.
• The vitamin content of various types such as K, B6, and C keeps the arteries healthy by regulating blood circulation. This keeps the toddler active.
• Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and other nutrients help in improving the growth of the toddler’s bones. Bone development is induced by a process called osteocalcin that helps in bone development.
• The rich antioxidant property of the blueberries if consumed in a systematic manner helps fight and prevent cancer. The antioxidant property also keeps the free radicals in check and thus doesn’t make your skin cells get fragile with age.
• These blueberries have such a wide range of vital nutrients in keeping the body healthy. These nutrients also help towards the cognitive development of the toddlers making them more intelligent. The nervous system is also protected by the nourishing nutrients present.

Early age blueberry introduction

Some kinds of berries have some allergic properties but blueberries don’t fall in that category. But just by knowing about the superfood properties of blueberries parents should not try to include them in the toddler’s diet as soon as possible. It is very important to know about the age and time at which you should give your toddlers a blueberry meal.

Pediatricians and nutritionists strictly advise considering blueberries only after the child has reached one year of age. Many children still stick to semi-solid and liquid food even after a few months of reaching one year of age. Blueberry is meant to be tried in the diet only when the toddler is having different types of solid food with confidence and is very comfortable chewing and then gulping it.

Many parents try to introduce blueberry because of the benefits at a much early age. If the doctor allows it and the child is in need of a power food like blueberry due to some reason then it should never be introduced in solid form. Even if the child shows more maturity than the actual age, there is absolutely no need to introduce blueberries in solid form.

If the doctor allows you can try by making a proper puree out of the berries. Serve in as minimum spoons as possible and try to read the child’s expressions too. Blueberries should be given to these children below one year of age at a very moderate rate otherwise it will lead to malabsorption of other types of food the child would consume.

A toddler having blueberries with other food components.

Cause of Diarrhoea

If your toddler got constipation or diarrhoea after the introduction of blueberries into the diet then asking a question like this is common-can blueberries cause diarrhoea in toddlers?. Blueberries are known in the world of nutrition as a non-allergic berry. If you are introducing the blueberry puree to the toddler at an early age between six to eight months of age then there remains a chance of allergy.

If your child is experiencing symptoms like diarrhoea, constipation, rashes in the body, swollen lips and eyes then it is likely that the blueberry is the responsible food behind your child falling sick.

In another scenario, if the child is around or more than one year of age and still got diarrhoea the day after consumption of blueberries then the quantity might have been excess than recommended. Not only in children but if adults consume more than allowed then the blueberries can cause diarrhoea or constipation in them as well.

Then you can be more affirmative with the answer to the question-can blueberries cause diarrhea in toddlers. If the child has some skin disease like eczema then also pediatricians suggest totally avoiding giving blueberries. Although it is very rare, if the toddler is showing signs of diarrhea even after following all the rules then there is a slight chance that the toddler might be allergic to blueberry which the parents can do a clinical test for.

A meal preparation using blueberries.

Proper identification is important

Experts always suggest buying blueberries more cautiously when taking toddlers back home. Buying organic after checking the freshness would be the best choice. When it comes to fruits and berries, the more naturally grown the better. You can find a sticker on the package mentioning it if the blueberries are organic.

But many wouldn’t know the features of an ideal blueberry. If you notice the blueberry to be firm in composure and dark blue in color then it should be fresh. The other check that you apply is to see if the blueberry is in a round-like shape and can roll in your palm. If these criteria match then you have found a fresh lot of blueberries which would be safe for the toddler.

A doctor examining a child for a stomach ache.

Right storage option

When it comes to the process of storage first you need to properly wash all the blueberries in room temperature water. Use a Tupperware or a similar container to store these berries and check if the cooling temperature of the refrigerator is between zero to three degrees or not. You can use air-tight zip bags as well.

Now you might have got the answers to can blueberries to cause diarrhoea in toddlers. But if you are not getting fresh ones anywhere and you are buying the frozen ones then always check the expiry date before buying. In some places, if you might even find blueberry packages with no dates and proper labels, do not even think about buying them for your baby toddler and look for something better.

Conclusion

As you have already read, blueberries are exceptional in terms of properties when compared to any other fruits and veggies. This is the reason why most parents love to include them not only in their own diet but their toddler’s diet too. But the probability that the child will get diarrhoea or constipation from blueberries is extremely low. So you should not fear trying to give blueberries to your toddler for receiving the immense benefits of the berry.