Egg yolks are a beneficial source of nutrients for infants, containing vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. They are recommended as a preventive measure for various diseases but can have contraindications.

Egg yolk should not be introduced before seven months, and the initial dosage should not be exceeded.

General Brief Characteristics of the Product for Infant Complementary Feeding

Eggs are a rich source of many useful substances that are essential for both adults and children. They contain a vast amount of lecithin and most types of amino acids. Yolks are a treasure trove of vitamins such as groups A, B3, B12, E, and D. They also contain potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, sulfur, phosphorus, selenium, biolin, lutein, cysteine, and choline.

It is crucial to provide infants with components that are beneficial for their heart, vision, and improving the operation of vital organs and systems. Without these components, normal growth of teeth and bone tissue is impossible.

When it comes to deciding whether to feed your baby chicken or quail eggs, both are equally beneficial. However, quail eggs are less caloric and have almost no contraindications. Quail yolks contain elements that are not present in chicken yolks, while the amount of cholesterol in them is lower.

It’s important to note that the risk of developing allergic reactions from chicken yolks is several times higher. On the other hand, many allergic children don’t experience any side effects from consuming quail eggs.

When is Egg Yolk Recommended?

Aside from the fact that egg yolk is a beneficial product, doctors recommend including it in the nutrition of babies as a preventive measure for the following diseases, and predisposition to them:

• Infectious diagnoses in the stage of exacerbation – it is proven that the disease runs easier.
• Calcium deficiency – as a consequence, slow development of bone tissue, stunted growth.
• Poor absorption of fat-soluble vitamins by the body.
• Delay in the development of speech.
• Weak psycho-emotional state of the infant.
• Violation of metabolic processes in the body.
• Hyperactivity.
• Blood cell disorders, anemia.
• Precancerous condition.
• Benign neoplasms – slows down the process of transition of healthy cells to atypical cells.
• Violation of cardiovascular activity.

Contraindications

Like all products, egg yolk has contraindications for use as a complementary food. Refrain from feeding your baby with egg yolk if the baby has problems such as:

• Overweight or a tendency to obesity – the yolk is high in calories and saturated fat.
• Raw form is difficult to digest, which can provoke infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Predisposition to allergies – yolk is a strong irritant.
• Pathologies of the biliary tract, liver disease.

What Place in the Process of Introducing Complementary Foods is Taken?

Egg yolk as an additive in the diet is introduced not earlier than seven months of age. Pediatricians explain that such a period is necessary because the product is caloric, difficult to digest, and egg is not the first place in the fodder scheme – you should begin by adding fruit, then vegetable purees, and only then the yolk.

The whole yolk should not be given at once. Start with a small piece – literally a crumb is enough. Wait for 2-3 days and observe whether there are signs of allergies. If everything is normal, gradually accustom the baby to a new dish.

Pay Attention! If the first complementary food did not cause side effects, this does not mean that you can uncontrollably give the product to the infant.

It is recommended by the famous pediatrician, Dr. Komarovsky, to adhere to the initial dosage for 3-4 months before increasing it to a quarter, then to half a chicken or one quail. The frequency of complementary food should not exceed three times a week, and the optimal break between feedings should be two to three days.

When it comes to introducing eggs into a child’s diet, there is some debate among pediatricians. While some experts support using eggs as a complementary food for infants, others advise caution and recommend waiting until the child is older. To ensure that complementary feeding is done correctly and does not harm the baby’s body, it is essential to understand when and how to start.

Rules for choosing a quality safe product for self-cooking

So that the product from useful did not go to the category of dangerous, it is important not only to give it correctly to infants, but also to choose correctly. When buying eggs, pay attention to the following criteria:

• freshness of the product – if the eggs are packed, read the terms. When you are going to cook them, lower them into cold water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom of the container. Those on the surface should not be given to children or adults;
• the producer – buy eggs from producers you know and trust;
• do not buy promotional products – they are very likely to have problems with the timing;

Freshness of the product is determined by its appearance – if the shell is matte, buy the product, if it is shiny – pass it by;
hold the egg in your hand, trying to understand the weight – a fresh egg will be heavy;
shake a raw egg near your ear – if it is old, you will hear a characteristic crack;
if the egg has a crack, do not give it to your child;
do not risk buying eggs from private individuals – they may be contaminated with salmonella.

Methods of preparation of the product, recommended by pediatricians

Small children pediatricians prohibit giving raw eggs, including the yolk. Heat treatment will minimize the risk of infection with a dangerous disease – salmonellosis. In addition, raw eggs are worse digested by the child’s body, can cause constipation, stomach problems.

Ways of cooking the yolk

Available options for heat treatment:

• Boiling – the traditional way – it is recommended by most pediatricians;
• steaming;
• mixing with other products – the egg is boiled beforehand.

Steamed

Pediatricians do not recommend giving children up to 8 months of age eggs cooked in any other way than boiling. Closer to a year, you can introduce steam omelets into the baby’s diet.

Step-by-step instructions for cooking a steamed yolk:

• Take a silicone mold;
• pour in the yolk, stir;
• pour water into the steamer to one third of the container;
• place a rack;
• put the mold on it;
• cook on low heat for 10 minutes.

Synopsis. Steamed egg, cooked on steam, preserves a greater number of useful substances, vitamins and microelements.

Boiled eggs are the most reliable way. Recommendations for preparation:

• wash the dry shells with soapy water – the more thoroughly you do this, the less risk of contracting salmonellosis;
• do not put the egg in boiling water – the shell will burst during the cooking process. Do not put and too cold egg in the water – take it out of the refrigerator and let it sit for 30-40 minutes. Add a spoonful of table salt to the water – so the shell will be easier to clean;
• Cooking time of a chicken egg – at least 10 minutes, quail egg – 3-4 minutes. Cook them on medium heat.

Mix with other products

Year-old children can diversify the diet by mixing the yolk with chicken breast. Boil the meat. Take 30 grams and beat with a blender to the state of puree. Add a little milk and an egg yolk. Mix everything together and lightly salt it. Cook in a steamer or oven in a silicone mold.

In addition to chicken, the yolk is mixed with other products:

• milk;
• cottage cheese;
• pureed vegetables;
• porridge.

A good solution is to knead the yolk with a fork and mix it with milk formula or mother’s milk – if the baby is breastfed.
Scheme of introduction

The standard scheme of introduction of meat complementary food, developed by WHO doctors, is as follows:

• Start complementary feeding from 8 months. The first dose – a small piece. Egg yolk is boiled hard-boiled. Mix with milk or formula to the state of a liquid puree. The recommended meal time is the morning hours. Then the child is observed;
• if the first two to three days of negative manifestations are not detected, gradually the norm is raised to one-fourth of a teaspoon. This dose is kept for a month;
• By a year the frequency of feedings is brought to 3 times a week. The norm – half a yolk;
• after 12 months gradually introduce protein – at one meal the child should not eat more than half an egg;
• by the age of three can be given a whole egg.

Read more: The first tropical complementary food: familiarize the infant with a banana

Can you put the product in the nibbler

Putting the yolk in the nibbler is not a good idea. Yolk infants are given mixing with other products – milk or formula. As a result, a thick mass is obtained, which will easily clog the mesh of the device. In addition, if the baby has already erupted the first teeth, he can bite the silicone mesh. In this case, there is a risk that the child will choke on a piece of yolk if it, for example, sticks to the palate.
Nibbler
When it is possible (safe) to give it to your baby in solid form

As a rule, solid foods are introduced to babies from the age of one, when the child has front teeth and can chew. Since egg is a relatively soft product, break the yolk with a fork into small pieces and try giving it to your baby in its natural form when you notice that he is reaching for something to chew.

If this process doesn’t pique your baby’s interest, put the idea on hold for a few months.

Do the tasting gradually. Choose a time when your baby is in a good mood. Offer him a piece of yolk and watch his reaction. Take into account that due to the dryness of the product, there must be sufficient salivation, otherwise the baby may choke.
Further introduction of the product into the baby’s diet

As your baby grows, make his diet more varied. Mix up the foods available, while observing how your baby’s body reacts.

What foods can be combined with which foods

As the introduction of egg products into the child’s diet, you can gradually combine them with other useful complementary foods. For example, make egg-vegetable purees, add to porridge, whisk with boiled meat to the state of cream.

How to prepare interesting dishes that will appeal to kids, read below.

Simple recipes for cooking

Starting from a year, the child’s diet changes. With the appearance of teeth, he now has the opportunity to chew. Solid foods are added to the food. Now it is not at all necessary to rub the yolk to the state of mush. Your baby will surely appreciate the new recipes.

Omelet with cauliflower

For one meal:

• Chicken yolk or two quail yolks;
• 50 grams of cauliflower florets;
• 50 grams of milk;
• 20 grams of soft cottage cheese.

Steam the cabbage. Place in a small mold. Mix all the ingredients and beat with a blender. Pour the resulting mass over the cabbage. Sprinkle cheese on top. Cook on steam or in the microwave.
Omelette with cabbage
Zucchini with rice and yolk

Required:

• 50 g zucchini;
• 40 g rice;
• egg yolk;
• a teaspoon of sour cream or thick yogurt.

Boil the rice and egg, remove the egg white. Grate the yolk, mix with rice, dress with sour cream.

Peel the zucchini from the skin, cut the seeds. Stuff the mixture into the resulting holes. Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
Zucchini with rice and egg yolk
Mashed potatoes with yolk

Ingredients:

• 1 potato;
• 1 egg;
• milk – 50 g;
• soft cheese – 20 g.

Bake the potatoes. Mash, mix with warm milk. Shape the mixture into a flatbread, make a depression in the middle. Pour the yolk into it. Salt a little. Bake in the oven until the yolk becomes firm.

As practice shows, the introduction of yolk in complementary foods is tolerated by most infants without any side effects. The main rule is not to violate the frequency and quantity of the product.

According to parents, babies willingly try a new product that supplies the body with the necessary nutrients. It should be borne in mind that in the presence of contraindications to their use of complementary foods should be abandoned. For those babies whose nutrition is strictly controlled by medical indicators, parents introduce yolk complementary food with special caution.