Cinnamon
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- low
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
Fine powder or sticks · pick a safe product
Note
FDA found high lead in some ground cinnamon brands; check the FDA recall list and use cinnamon sparingly.
When can babies eat cinnamon?
Cinnamon can be offered when your baby is ready for solids, around 6 months. Cinnamon can sometimes cause a harmless rash on skin it touches, such as around the mouth.
Cinnamon is made from the bark of a tropical evergreen tree, and its leaves yield oil. Like any plant it has varieties with different scent, taste and feel. Ceylon cinnamon, native to Sri Lanka, is more delicate and sweeter than cassia. Cassia covers the sharper varieties, harvested from trees growing wild across China, Indonesia, Vietnam and elsewhere (also called Korintje and Saigon cinnamon).
Safety
Cinnamon is generally regarded as safe in the amounts used in cooking. Research on safety is limited, so do not give babies cinnamon supplements or essential oils as home remedies.
Nutrition
Cinnamon is not eaten in large amounts. It holds small amounts of various vitamins and minerals. It also has helpful plant compounds such as cinnamaldehyde and various polyphenols. Research suggests it may have anti-inflammatory, germ-fighting and antioxidant effects.
How do you prepare cinnamon for babies?
Lead recall
The source reports that certain ground cinnamon products in the US were recalled for high lead levels. Buy cinnamon from trusted, regulated brands. Follow recall notices.
Lead warning
Some ground cinnamon products were recalled for high lead. Check the brand and batch information.
Cinnamon sticks
A whole stick can go into the pot to flavor a dish while cooking. Remove it before serving.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
6 months
6 months · How to add to foodmash
Cut: Ground
Sprinkle finely ground cinnamon over well-cooked fruit or vegetables. Stir it into warm cereal or coconut rice, or add it to marinades and sauces. You can also cook with a whole stick. Always take the stick out before serving.
9 months
9 months · How to add to shared dishesmash
Add a pinch of fine cinnamon to family dishes such as apple oatmeal, cooked pear or vegetable stew. Use a little, as with any new spice, and watch the skin. A harmless rash can appear around the mouth.
12 months
12 months · How to use in recipesmash
Cut: Ground
Finely ground cinnamon can go into any recipe you like, from curried vegetables and spicy jerk sauces to meat dishes and vegetarian pho. A whole stick works in cooking too. Take it out before serving.
Is cinnamon a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: low
Fine powder and whole sticks carry a low risk. Cook with sticks and remove them before serving.
No, whole sticks and finely ground cinnamon carry a low risk when prepared for the child's age. In theory any food can cause choking. Stay within arm's reach at meals.
Is cinnamon a common allergen?
No, cinnamon allergy is uncommon. People with asthma may be sensitive if they breathe it in. More common is a harmless, temporary rash when cinnamon touches skin. That rash is usually an irritation rather than an allergy.
Start with a small amount for the first servings. If there is no reaction, raise it slowly.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about cinnamon
Is cinnamon safe for babies?
In cooking amounts it is generally safe. Do not give supplements or essential oils.
Can cinnamon cause a rash around the mouth?
Sometimes. It is a harmless contact irritation and usually not an allergy.
What is the difference between Ceylon and cassia cinnamon?
Ceylon is more delicate and sweeter. Cassia is a group of more pungent cinnamons.
Sources for this page
- Dünya Sağlık Örgütü. (2023). Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Lead in Food, Foodwares, and Dietary Supplements.
- Grant-Alfieri A, Schaechter J, Lipshultz SE. (2013). Ingesting and Aspirating Dry Cinnamon by Children and Adolescents: The “Cinnamon Challenge”. Pediatrics. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-3418
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com