Chili pepper

Chili pepper can be offered when your baby is ready for solids, around 6 months. You may still prefer to wait until your baby has tried a range of other foods. Chili is added to dishes, so a baby may be unsure which foods are naturally spicy. Chili can cause a harmless rash where it touches skin. It can also bring on or aggravate diaper rash and stomach upset.

Where it comes from

There are over 50,000 pepper varieties. All are native to the Americas. They were bred for different climates, so their tastes differ. Heat varies a lot too. Some cultures measure it in Scoville units. Anaheim, banana peppers and poblanos are milder. Bird's eye, ghost pepper and piri piri are much hotter.

Nutrition

Depending on the variety, chili gives vitamin C, which supports immunity and iron absorption. Antioxidants and fiber come with it, plus vitamins A, B6 and E. Even dried chili powder carries some vitamin A and C.

Adjusting the heat

Babies can enjoy big flavors, chili included. Offer small tastes at first and set the heat to suit your child. The aim is to avoid a bad experience from too much heat. To cut the heat, remove the seeds and veins. Taste the food yourself before serving it to your baby. If it is too hot, adjust the seasoning to soften it.

Balancing the heat

Serve it with a creamy food such as mashed avocado, plain yogurt, or breast milk, formula or cow's milk. Foods and drinks that are acidic or water-based make the burn worse.

Chili powder and hot sauce

Powders such as cayenne, paprika and chili blends can be given in small amounts from about 6 months. It is better to wait with regular use until your baby knows the unspiced food. Hot sauce depends on the kind and on your baby's tolerance. Pick a very small amount of a mild one and drip it at the edge of the plate rather than over the food.

Preventing rash

A rash can appear around the mouth. Ask your baby's doctor whether to put a thin coat of barrier cream or a pure petroleum jelly ointment on the face and bottom.

Older children

After 18 months, if your child is ready, a small whole cooked pepper with the stem removed can be tried. Show how to bite first. Serve it with dairy or with another fatty food.

No, finely chopped chili is not a common choking hazard. Its heat can make a baby cough and drool more, which can increase gagging. Serve your baby's portion with avocado, plain yogurt or age-appropriate milk. Stay within arm's reach at meals.

No, it is not a common allergen. Chili allergy is rare but has been reported. Contact reactions to hot peppers, such as a brief rash, eye irritation, trouble breathing and digestive upset, are often mistaken for allergy. They come from capsaicin irritating sensitive people and are usually not a true allergy.

An allergy to latex or to certain pollens can go along with chili allergy or oral allergy syndrome. That usually means a brief itchy, tingly or stinging feeling in the mouth, and a dangerous reaction is unlikely. Cooking, canning or peeling may reduce the reaction.

Give a small amount for the first servings and watch. If your child likes the taste, you can raise the amount over time.