Is Sesame Oil Safe for a Baby?

Sesame oil is safe for some babies and offers health benefits when included in a well-balanced diet. This type of oil has many uses and is easy to incorporate into your baby's meal plans. Sesame oil is most commonly used in Asian cuisine and can be found where cooking oils are sold at your supermarket.

In most cases, sesame oil can be introduced when your baby is 6 months old. Some experts recommend waiting until your baby is 1 year old. Before this, his digestive system may not be ready to handle it. However, sesame oil may pass through breast milk, so prior to 6 months your baby can benefit from it if you incorporate it into your meal plans.

If your baby is at risk of food allergies or there is a sesame allergy in the family, don't give your baby sesame oil unless her doctor approves it. If there is no evidence of food allergies, serve your baby sesame oil with foods he has already tried, which better allows you to watch for symptoms, including hives, rashes, wheezing, swelling and trouble breathing. In addition, if your baby has asthma or eczema, her doctor may recommend holding off on offering her sesame oil, reports parenting advice website Baby Center. Your baby's doctor will help you determine if sesame oil is right for him.

Adding sesame oil to your baby's diet will increase his intake of nutrients that are beneficial for his health. Sesame oil contains vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that protects your baby's heart and reduces the risk of developing cancer, by counteracting the damage caused by free radicals. Vitamin K is also present in sesame oil and babies need adequate amounts for proper blood clotting. Some babies are deficient in vitamin K, particularly those that did not receive a vitamin K injection upon birth, reports Keep Kids Healthy, a pediatrician-monitored parenting website. Sesame oil also contains healthy unsaturated fats, which help your child grow and protect him from heart disease in the future.

Sesame oil is fairly versatile and is a good substitute for olive or canola oil when preparing food for your baby. Use it to saute vegetables such as squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, snow peas and carrots to a soft consistency that a baby can easily eat without choking, or mix it into meat or fish marinades. Sesame oil is typically used to prepare hummus, which is a baby-friendly dip that pairs well with soft bread or crackers.