Brazil nut

Wait until baby turns one, then start Brazil nuts with tiny portions. They hold a very high level of selenium. Selenium is an essential nutrient but can be toxic when taken too often or in large amounts. Do not serve between 6 and 11 months. A single nut goes beyond the daily limit for that age.

Origin

Brazil nuts grow in the rainforests of South America. The trees are very tall and rise above other plants. The fruit is not picked from branches. It is taken from its pod once it has fallen to the ground.

Nutrition

Beyond selenium it gives vitamin E, a strong antioxidant, fiber for digestion, magnesium for heart and muscles, and a little iron and protein. In the US selenium must be added to every infant formula. Meat, dairy, grains and seafood also contain selenium. Keep the portion to one nut or 1 teaspoon of butter, and serve it only now and then.

At 12 months, stir the butter into yogurt, warm porridge or baked goods. Keep the daily amount to 1 teaspoon or less. Or dust on a pinch of fine nut powder. For the first try, thin 1/8 teaspoon of butter with liquid. If all is well, raise the amount at later meals.

After 24 months, keep serving finely ground nut and smooth butter in small amounts. If a child has mature chewing skills and manages softer nuts such as walnut or pecan comfortably, whole Brazil nuts may be the next step. Even so, whole nuts count as a choking risk until age four and beyond. A Brazil nut is firm and hard to bite, so starting with other nuts is wiser.

The nut and its butter can go rancid. Store them cold. Chilled or frozen, they keep for up to a year.

Whole nuts, nut pieces and clumps of nut butter are choking risks for babies and young children. Serve finely ground or as smooth butter spread thinly, as the age cards describe.

Brazil nut belongs to the tree nut family. Per the source, it is an uncommon allergen worldwide, but the United Kingdom and Australia see it more often. About 0.5 to 1.2 percent of people are allergic to tree nuts. The allergy usually lasts for life. Only about 9 percent of children with tree nut allergy outgrow it. Though rare, reactions can be severe.

Allergy to one nut raises the risk of allergy to others. Even so, removing every nut is not required. With a Brazil nut allergy, an allergist decides whether other nuts are safe.

For most babies, allergy testing before nuts is not needed. If there is severe eczema, a past allergic reaction or a suspected nut allergy, ask your pediatrician or an allergist before serving at home.