Teething, walking, and speech development are fundamental stages in a child’s growth. Mothers should closely monitor developments related to their baby’s teeth, bones, and senses. Teething typically begins around six months of age and requires important nutritional elements to happen at the right time. Walking usually develops around the child’s first birthday, and signs of readiness for speech appear after the baby is about six months old. All these stages are closely linked to the child’s nutrition alongside breastfeeding.
Doctors recommend introducing solid foods after four months, but there are three specific additions that can be introduced after six months to support bone, teeth, and speech development. In a special interview with Nadormagazine, clinical nutrition consultant Dr. Maysa Abu Rabie highlighted three foods you can add to yogurt to help your baby with teething, speech, and walking development, including walnuts and egg yolk. Here’s how to add them to yogurt and their benefits:
Benefits of Yogurt for Infant Health
Yogurt (also known as “robe”) is a nutrient-rich food high in calcium, which plays a vital role in the growth and strengthening of a baby’s bones and teeth. It’s also a rich source of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium and transport it to the bones and teeth.
Because yogurt is rich in calcium, it also strengthens the baby’s immune system and protects against diseases, especially during teething. It helps prevent digestive disorders and reduces diarrhea, which can sometimes accompany teething. You can add some specific foods to yogurt to further enhance key developmental milestones such as teething, walking, and speech development, but it is important to avoid mistakes such as adding salt or sugar. Some mothers add sugar to yogurt to improve taste and encourage babies to eat it, but this should be avoided.
Three Foods to Add to Yogurt to Enhance Infant Growth and Skills:
1. Egg Yolk
Egg yolk is important for teething and can be introduced after six months. It must be fully cooked (hard-boiled) to avoid the risk of Salmonella infection—a bacteria that causes food poisoning but is killed by high heat. Make sure the yolk is fully cooked by checking its texture and color.
Mash the hard-boiled yolk thoroughly, and mix it with a little water if needed, then add it to the yogurt. Egg yolk contains choline, an important nutrient that supports brain development and speech ability. You can offer the mashed yolk with yogurt, alone, or mixed with cereals like Cerelac or whole grains with milk starting from six months, to give your baby the benefits of this nutrient. Egg yolk also contains beneficial cholesterol that supports brain growth and intelligence, and in adults, it helps reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Ground Walnuts
Walnuts are a type of nut rich in healthy fatty acids beneficial for the heart and brain. You can add finely ground (not roasted) walnuts to plain yogurt without additives or artificial colors for your baby after six months.
Walnuts are essential for brain growth and memory enhancement. When introducing walnuts, they must be ground to a flour-like consistency to prevent choking, as babies are not yet used to chewing and swallowing solid nuts. Walnuts are rich in folic acid and omega-3 fatty acids, two key nutrients for brain and nerve development, thus greatly supporting children’s cognitive, mental, and intellectual growth. Adults also consume walnuts for brain health. Walnuts can be added to puddings or yogurt for easy consumption.
3. Ground Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are a nutritional powerhouse for health and growth. They can be consumed ground for children or whole for adults, and sesame oil can be used both internally and externally. For babies, sesame oil massage helps improve mood and reduce crying and tantrums.
Add finely ground, unroasted sesame seeds to plain, preferably homemade, yogurt. Avoid myths that yogurt should not be mixed with other ingredients to prevent babies from rejecting it. Ground sesame seeds can be sprinkled over other dishes prepared for your baby.
Sesame is high in phosphorus and calcium, ensuring your baby gets a daily dose of these essential minerals for strong bones and teeth. It also supports brain centers responsible for cognitive abilities and enhances coordination between the brain and nerves, stimulating early speech and language development.
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