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Why Serve Cucumbers to Babies & How to Serve Them Safely
January 2023
Author:
Hyemyung Kim, RD, CDN, CNSC, CLC
Coauthors:
Stefanie Kain, B.S. M.Ed
Erinn Jacobi, M.S. OTR/L
Johane Filemon, MS, RDN, CLT
About Kids Eat in Color
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Author:
Hyemyung Kim, RD, CDN, CNSC, CLC
Coauthors:
Stefanie Kain, B.S. M.Ed
Erinn Jacobi, M.S. OTR/L
Johane Filemon, MS, RDN, CLT
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Inside: Ready to introduce cucumbers to your baby? Learn why cucumbers are good for babies, the best way to cut them for baby-led weaning and how to puree them for spoon feeding.
Cucumbers are part of the Cucurbitaceae family, also known as the gourd family, which includes squash, pumpkin and zucchini. Cucumbers, like all fruits and vegetables, contain many nutrients and offer many benefits for babies.
Keep reading to learn all about introducing cucumbers to babies who are starting to eat solid foods. Learn the best way to cut cucumbers for baby-led weaning, how to puree them for spoon-feeding and more.
Cucumbers are an excellent source of vitamin K, which is an essential nutrient for blood clotting as well as bone development.
Furthermore, they contain fair amounts of magnesium, manganese and phosphorus, which help to make strong bones and are involved in various processes in the body including making energy and regulating muscle and nerve function.
Cucumbers do contain cucurbitacins which causes its bitterness. High concentrations of cucurbitacins in vegetables are considered to cause gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.
There is no need to avoid offering cucumbers to babies because of its cucurbitacin content. Cutting off the stem and peeling the skin help to minimize the amount of cucurbitacins and remove the bitter taste.
Where to find cucumbers
Cucumbers can be found in the produce section at the supermarket. You can also find them at the local farmer’s market when they are in season.
Are cucumbers a choking hazard?
Yes, cucumbers are considered a choking hazard for babies because they are firm and typically hard in consistency.
The best cucumbers for babies
To minimize choking risk, choose cucumbers that are softer or juicier, like English cucumbers.
You can also peel the skin of cucumbers to make the vegetable less firm and softer in consistency, or steam them for 2 min until soft and puree.
To prevent choking on cucumbers
Despite removing the skin of cucumbers, they are still slippery, so it is important to always watch your baby while they are eating and serving food at a table with minimal distractions.
Always make sure your baby is calm, not distracted and seated in a high chair with a footrest or other safe chair when eating.
What is the difference between gagging and choking?
It’s normal for a baby to gag when learning to eat solid foods. It is the body’s natural protective response to prevent choking.
Gagging can look like:
Gurgling
Coughing
Spitting
Audible gagging noises
The baby’s tongue can also thrust forward to remove the food piece from their mouth.This is normal. When this occurs, remain neutral as your child works through their protective gag to continue eating the orange.
Choking, however, is when the child’s airway is blocked. Choking can be life-threatening and requires immediate intervention.
Learn the best way to cut cucumber for babies, and learn how to puree cucumbers for spoon-feeding.
How to puree cucumber for babies
Wash cucumber thoroughly and peel the skin off. Scoop out the insides with the seeds.
Chop cucumber into small pieces.
Steam the cucumber pieces for roughly two minutes or until they are easily pierceable with a fork.
Transfer them to a blender or food mill to process into a puree consistency.
Serve the baby on a spoon or allow self-feeding by offering your baby a preloaded spoon.
Spoon feeding tip: Once the baby is tolerating the cucumber puree, consider pureeing it with other ingredients like avocado, yogurt or peas to boost the nutritional composition. Bonus if you sprinkle hemp or chia seeds on top before serving!
Wash cucumber thoroughly and then consider peeling the skin off if it is too thick or hard. For babies who are starting out in solids, it may be better to peel the skin off.
Scoop out any large or firm seeds.
Cut the cucumber lengthwise into spears and offer them to your baby to suck and chew.
Once your baby develops a pincer grasp, consider leaving the skin on (for added nutrition) and cutting the cucumber lengthwise into thin wide slices.
Around this age range, cucumbers can be cut into very thin rounds and cut in half again before being offered.
Are cucumbers considered an allergen?
No, a food allergy to cucumbers is rare, but they contain proteins that are very similar to those found in ragweed.
They can trigger symptoms like itchiness, swelling of the mouth, face, lip, tongue or throat. This cross-reactivity is called oral allergy syndrome (OAS).
Symptoms of OAS usually appear immediately and tend to be mild overall.
If symptoms of OAS are experienced, consider limiting fresh cucumbers in the diet, especially during allergy season as OAS tends to worsen during its associated pollen season.
Baking or cooking the food will break down the proteins responsible for OAS. Consider steaming cucumbers before blending and mixing into other foods like yogurt or avocado to still include them in the diet.
Peeling the food may also be helpful, as the proteins responsible for OAS are often concentrated in the skin.
How can you tell if a baby is having an allergic reaction to cucumbers?
Common allergen symptoms include:
Hives
Itching
Swelling of the lip or tongue
Rashes
If you notice signs of wheezing, throat tightness, difficulty swallowing or trouble breathing, call your pediatrician immediately.
How to help your baby learn to like cucumbers
If your baby has a hard time with cucumbers, there are things you can do to prevent picky eating and help them learn to like cucumbers.
These ideas also can help improve their eating skills and support their overall development.
Playtime on the floor
Allowing infants to lay down on the floor, roll around,and push up while on their bellies will help them develop motor skills needed to eat.
The more they practice these skills, the easier it will be to hold themselves up at the table, reach for food and bring food to their mouths.
As babies explore safe, open spaces on the floor, offer toys to reach for, grasp and bring to their mouths.
Use simple, clear language that describes action:
“Roll, roll, roll.”
“”Puuuuush.”
“Reeeeach.”
“Get the toy.”
“How does it taste?”
Modeling
Having your baby join you at the table while you eat is a great way to lay the foundation for eating. You can expose them to foods common in your home and build positive associations with food.
If your baby shows interest in what you are eating, offer them a small sample.
Use simple, clear language:
“I’m eating cucumbers today.”
“Cucumber on my salad.”
“Crunchy cucumber.”
“The cucumber is sweet.”
Baby food play activity: Cucumber Ribbons
Food play activities can help babies and children get more comfortable with new foods.
For one activity, consider using a peeler to peel long thin ribbons of cucumber. Place these cucumber ribbons on your baby’s high chair tray.
Allow them to explore, bring the cucumber to their mouth, pass it back and forth, and push it around.
Cichero, J. A. (2016). Introducing solid foods using baby-led weaning vs. Spoon-feeding: A focus on oral development, nutrient intake and quality of research to bring balance to the debate. Nutrition Bulletin, 41(1), 72–77. https://doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12191
Kaushik U, Aeri V, Mir SR. Cucurbitacins – An insight into medicinal leads from nature. Pharmacogn Rev. 2015 Jan-Jun;9(17):12-8. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.156314. PMID: 26009687; PMCID: PMC4441156.
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Hyemyung Kim has been a registered and certified dietitian and nutrition support clinician for 10 years. She initially started her career as an inpatient dietitian with the adult population but fell into the role as a neonatal and pediatric dietitian after a co-worker needed to go on maternity leave. This led to her falling in love with this population and working with parents. She continued to progress her career working in the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units as the nutrition support dietitian and in the nutrition clinic as the outpatient dietitian. During this time, she also obtained her certification as a certified lactation counselor to promote breastfeeding and provide education and support for mothers.
It was while working as a clinical dietitian that Hyemyung got to meet and talk to parents about their struggles with picky eating, finding her passion for teaching and educating parents on tips to help their children to eat. She is passionate about working with parents on this common but tough issue and finds it rewarding when she hears about progress. Now as a new mom to a 1 year old boy, she is also dealing with selective eating and can empathize how parents feel when they are experiencing this. In her role as the dietitian and weaning specialist, Hyemyung strives to approach each parent with empathy, understanding and compassion as she educates and provides support.
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Inside: Ready to introduce cucumbers to your baby? Learn why cucumbers are good for babies, the best way to cut them for baby-led weaning and how to puree them for spoon feeding.
Cucumbers are part of the Cucurbitaceae family, also known as the gourd family, which includes squash, pumpkin and zucchini. Cucumbers, like all fruits and vegetables, contain many nutrients and offer many benefits for babies.
Keep reading to learn all about introducing cucumbers to babies who are starting to eat solid foods. Learn the best way to cut cucumbers for baby-led weaning, how to puree them for spoon-feeding and more.
Article contents:
Benefits of cucumbers for babies
Where to find cucumbers
Are cucumbers a choking hazard?
Gagging vs. choking
How to puree cucumber for babies
How to cut cucumber for baby-led weaning
Are cucumbers an allergen?
How to tell if a baby is having an allergic reaction
How to help your baby learn to like cucumbers
Benefits of cucumbers for babies
Cucumbers are an excellent source of vitamin K, which is an essential nutrient for blood clotting as well as bone development.
Furthermore, they contain fair amounts of magnesium, manganese and phosphorus, which help to make strong bones and are involved in various processes in the body including making energy and regulating muscle and nerve function.
Cucumbers do contain cucurbitacins which causes its bitterness. High concentrations of cucurbitacins in vegetables are considered to cause gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.
There is no need to avoid offering cucumbers to babies because of its cucurbitacin content. Cutting off the stem and peeling the skin help to minimize the amount of cucurbitacins and remove the bitter taste.
Where to find cucumbers
Cucumbers can be found in the produce section at the supermarket. You can also find them at the local farmer’s market when they are in season.
Are cucumbers a choking hazard?
Yes, cucumbers are considered a choking hazard for babies because they are firm and typically hard in consistency.
The best cucumbers for babies
To minimize choking risk, choose cucumbers that are softer or juicier, like English cucumbers.
You can also peel the skin of cucumbers to make the vegetable less firm and softer in consistency, or steam them for 2 min until soft and puree.
To prevent choking on cucumbers
Despite removing the skin of cucumbers, they are still slippery, so it is important to always watch your baby while they are eating and serving food at a table with minimal distractions.
Always make sure your baby is calm, not distracted and seated in a high chair with a footrest or other safe chair when eating.
What is the difference between gagging and choking?
It’s normal for a baby to gag when learning to eat solid foods. It is the body’s natural protective response to prevent choking.
Gagging can look like:
The baby’s tongue can also thrust forward to remove the food piece from their mouth.This is normal. When this occurs, remain neutral as your child works through their protective gag to continue eating the orange.
Choking, however, is when the child’s airway is blocked. Choking can be life-threatening and requires immediate intervention.
Choking can look like:
Related: Top Choking Hazards for Babies + Choking Prevention Tips
How to safely serve cucumbers to babies
Learn the best way to cut cucumber for babies, and learn how to puree cucumbers for spoon-feeding.
How to puree cucumber for babies
Spoon feeding tip: Once the baby is tolerating the cucumber puree, consider pureeing it with other ingredients like avocado, yogurt or peas to boost the nutritional composition. Bonus if you sprinkle hemp or chia seeds on top before serving!
Related: Best Baby Utensils + How to Introduce Them
How to cut cucumber for baby-led weaning
Are cucumbers considered an allergen?
No, a food allergy to cucumbers is rare, but they contain proteins that are very similar to those found in ragweed.
They can trigger symptoms like itchiness, swelling of the mouth, face, lip, tongue or throat. This cross-reactivity is called oral allergy syndrome (OAS).
Symptoms of OAS usually appear immediately and tend to be mild overall.
Related: When to Introduce Food Allergens to Infants
Reduce symptoms of OAS
If symptoms of OAS are experienced, consider limiting fresh cucumbers in the diet, especially during allergy season as OAS tends to worsen during its associated pollen season.
Baking or cooking the food will break down the proteins responsible for OAS. Consider steaming cucumbers before blending and mixing into other foods like yogurt or avocado to still include them in the diet.
Peeling the food may also be helpful, as the proteins responsible for OAS are often concentrated in the skin.
How can you tell if a baby is having an allergic reaction to cucumbers?
Common allergen symptoms include:
If you notice signs of wheezing, throat tightness, difficulty swallowing or trouble breathing, call your pediatrician immediately.
How to help your baby learn to like cucumbers
If your baby has a hard time with cucumbers, there are things you can do to prevent picky eating and help them learn to like cucumbers.
These ideas also can help improve their eating skills and support their overall development.
Playtime on the floor
Allowing infants to lay down on the floor, roll around,and push up while on their bellies will help them develop motor skills needed to eat.
The more they practice these skills, the easier it will be to hold themselves up at the table, reach for food and bring food to their mouths.
As babies explore safe, open spaces on the floor, offer toys to reach for, grasp and bring to their mouths.
Use simple, clear language that describes action:
Modeling
Having your baby join you at the table while you eat is a great way to lay the foundation for eating. You can expose them to foods common in your home and build positive associations with food.
If your baby shows interest in what you are eating, offer them a small sample.
Use simple, clear language:
Baby food play activity: Cucumber Ribbons
Food play activities can help babies and children get more comfortable with new foods.
For one activity, consider using a peeler to peel long thin ribbons of cucumber. Place these cucumber ribbons on your baby’s high chair tray.
Allow them to explore, bring the cucumber to their mouth, pass it back and forth, and push it around.
Related: Food Play Every Day: 102 Activities for Kids Ages 1-10
References
Lally, J. R., & Mangione, P. L. (2017). Caring Relationships: The Heart of Early Brain Development. Young Children, 72(2). https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2017/caring-relationships-heart-early-brain-development
Cichero, J. A. (2016). Introducing solid foods using baby-led weaning vs. Spoon-feeding: A focus on oral development, nutrient intake and quality of research to bring balance to the debate. Nutrition Bulletin, 41(1), 72–77. https://doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12191
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Oral Allergy Syndrome. Retrieved October 3, 2022. https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/oral-allergy-syndrome-(oas)
Kaushik U, Aeri V, Mir SR. Cucurbitacins – An insight into medicinal leads from nature. Pharmacogn Rev. 2015 Jan-Jun;9(17):12-8. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.156314. PMID: 26009687; PMCID: PMC4441156.
Foodiosty. Retrieved November 7, 2022. https://foodiosity.com/why-is-cucumber-bitter/