Tamales

A soft tamal with age-suitable filling can be adapted and shared once your baby seems ready for solids, usually at 6 months. Wait until 24 months for fried tamales. To reduce the chance of foodborne illness, pick tamales that use pasteurized cheese.

The tamal is a dish native to Central America. It is made for everyday meals and for celebrations. The dough may be masa, fresh mashed corn or rice flour. The wrapper may be a corn husk, or a banana leaf as in Nicaraguan nacatamales. Sizes run from the small Guatemalan chuchito to the big zacahuil of Veracruz.

Nutrition

It depends on the contents. Carbohydrate gives energy, protein supports growth, and fat supports nervous system development. Fiber feeds the gut microbiome. Some tamales are made with lard or butter. Babies need a lot of fat for growth. Saturated fat's link to heart disease in adults has been debated, and studies report it has a place in a balanced diet.

Every baby develops at their own pace. These tips are general guidance.

At 6 months, unwrap a soft tamal, cut it in half lengthwise and pick out risky pieces. Your baby holds the half and eats. If it is very soft, let them scoop by hand or spoon. At 9 months, break the filling into bites. For spoon-style tamales, serve the filling on a pre-loaded spoon.

At 12 months, give bite-sized pieces with a spoon or fork. Larger unwrapped pieces give biting practice. Remove risky ingredients according to your child's skill.

From 24 months, you can give a whole soft tamal still in its husk and demonstrate how to unwrap it. If your child is ready, try fried tamales or fillings that carry risk, for example olives, dried fruit, cheese chunks, cubed meat, or chopped nuts. The decision rests on chewing skill and the ability to follow directions. Eat a tamal beside your child and show how teeth break it down.

Tamales can carry a choking risk. Fillings that are firm or chewy add to the danger: chopped nuts, cubes of meat, chunks of cheese or vegetables, dried fruit, olives, big seeds, and bits of bone. Tamales that are fried, or otherwise firm, turn hard and at times crisp. Prepare them to suit your child's age. Stay within arm's reach during meals and set up a safe eating space.

Tamales often carry cheese and other ingredients made from milk. They may also hold egg, fish, shellfish, peanut, tree nuts, sesame and wheat.

Before sharing a prepared food with many allergens, try each common allergen one by one and rule out allergy. That way you are sure your baby has already eaten the allergens inside. If a reaction happens, it is easier to narrow down the cause.

Start with a small amount for the first servings. If there is no reaction, increase it slowly.