Quimbombo
Vegetal
Sugerencia de edades
6 meses
Alto contenido de hierro
No
Alérgeno común
No
When can babies have okra?
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Okra may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age.
Okra comes from Africa, where the plant has long been used to flavor and thicken soups and stews. While the entire okra plant is edible, it is commonly cultivated for its seed pods, which typically toughen with age. That is why okra is typically harvested shortly after the flowers drop and seed pods emerge, to ensure tenderness and a mild, grassy flavor.
Is okra healthy for babies?
Yes. Okra is rich in fiber, fluid, and various micronutrients like folate, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and vitamins B6, C, and K. These nutrients work together to support baby’s developing gut microbiome, hydration, neurodevelopment, electrolyte balance, immune function, taste perception, metabolic processes, iron absorption, blood clotting, and more.
Is okra a common allergen?
No. Okra is not a common food allergen, though there have been reports of skin irritation from farm workers handling okra leaves and pods. There has also been a case report of okra causing FPIES (an allergic reaction causing delayed vomiting) in a toddler.
As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small quantity during the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the amount over future meals.
Is okra a choking hazard for babies?
Yes. Okra can be round, firm, and challenging to chew, qualities that increase the risk of choking. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve okra in an age-appropriate way as described in the How to Serve section. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals.
Learn the signs of choking and gagging and more about choking first aid in our free guides, Infant Rescue and Toddler Rescue.
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¿Cuánta comida debo servirle al/a bebé?
Al comienzo, ofrece una pequeña cantidad y confía en que tu bebé sabe cómo mostrar interés si quiere más haciendo ruidos, gestos, o gritando o extendiendo la mano. Ten en cuenta que la mayoría de los bebés entre 6 y 9 meses de edad no consumen muchos alimentos sólidos al principio. Para los bebés de entre 10 y 12 meses de edad, enfócate en ofrecer el equivalente a una comida equilibrada para adultos, pero con porciones más pequeñas. Pon atención a las señales que te da el/la niño/a: cuando el/la bebé te muestre que desea “más”, ofrécele más comida. Cuando el/la bebé muestre señales de “ya terminé”, para de ofrecerle comida.
¿Cómo puedo calmar mis nervios al comenzar la alimentación complementaria?
Empápate del tema y practica las maniobras de rescate. Los padres y cuidadores que ven los videos de ahogamiento y rescate infantil en nuestro Pase completo de primeros alimentos a menudo comparten que se sienten mucho más seguros.
How do you serve okra to babies?
Cada bebé se desarrolla a su propio ritmo, y las sugerencias que ofrecemos sobre cómo cortar o preparar determinados alimentos son generalizaciones para una amplia audiencia.
6 months old +:
Offer cooked, chopped okra mixed into scoopable foods like porridge, stew, or a thick soup for baby to eat with their hands or on a pre-loaded spoon. Okra seeds pose a low risk of choking, so there’s no need to remove them from baby’s portion before serving. The okra should be soft enough that it mashes readily when pressed between your thumb and pointer finger.
If you’d like to offer okra on its own, you can serve a whole large cooked pod, stem removed, for baby to munch on. The okra should be soft enough that it mashes easily when pressed between your thumb and pointer finger. Note that the act of biting into the pod may cause lots of okra seeds to scatter in baby’s mouth. While these seeds present a low choking risk, they may create a confusing sensation in the mouth and be difficult for baby to manage or spit out. As an alternative, you can remove the stem from the whole cooked pod, then gently squeeze the pod until all the seeds have been removed. This will likely cause the pod to break apart and unroll, creating a soft flat section of okra that you can offer for baby to munch on.
9 months old +:
When you see signs of a developing pincer grasp (where the tips of the thumb and pointer finger meet), you can move down in size and offer bite-sized rings or half-moon shapes of soft, cooked okra (stem removed) for baby to practice picking up. The okra should be soft enough that it mashes readily when pressed between your thumb and pointer finger. Cooked okra can get slick and slippery. If baby struggles to pick up the slippery pieces of food, you can roll them in a food like breadcrumbs to help add grip. Alternatively, continue to chop the cooked okra and stir into scoopable foods like porridge, stew, or a thick soup. It's okay to offer okra with the seeds, which present a low risk of choking, although you can remove them if you prefer.
18 months old +:
Serve cooked okra as desired, either chopped, in bite-sized pieces, or in longer sections for biting and tearing practice. At this age, you can serve cooked okra that has been stewed until very soft, or you can serve pan fried or stir fried dishes, where the okra remains a bit more firm. Because okra can be fibrous, the pod can be challenging to break down before the molars come in (typically around 18 months of age) so expect a toddler to spit out pieces as they practice biting and chewing.
¡Lo sentimos, esta página aún no está disponible en español! Estamos trabajando tan rápido como podemos para traducir todo nuestro contenido, gracias por tu paciencia y apoyo.
Nuestro equipo
Escrito por
Dr. Rachel Ruiz
Pediatra general y gastroenteróloga pediátrica
Dr. Sakina Bajowala
Pediatra general y alergóloga/inmunóloga
Kim Grenawitzke
Terapeuta ocupacional pediátrica(o), especialista en alimentación y deglución, y consultora de lactancia certificada por la junta internacional
Venus Kalami
Nutricionista y dietista pediátrico(a) registrada
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