Egg Nog for Babies – When can you give your baby egg nog?

‘Tis the Season to Egg Nog. Is it safe to give your baby egg nog this holiday season?

While egg nog may seem like a super drink to offer to older babies and toddlers – it is creamy and frothy – serving little ones egg nog is not a good idea,

What is Egg Nog?

Egg Nog is considered an “old world” drink and a seasonal tradition. Egg nog most often was served in Colonial America and it was rum, not eggs, that was an essential ingredient. Egg Nog is a blend of eggs, milk, sometimes whipping cream, rum, nutmeg and cinnamon. Egg nog has long been served during the cold Winter and Holiday seasons.

So is Egg Nog an appropriate drink to serve your baby or toddler, with or without rum? Egg Nog is not good for babies or toddlers, even without the addition of rum!

When can Babies or Toddlers have Egg Nog?

As real traditional homemade egg nog is made with raw eggs, it is never advisable to serve egg nog to babies, toddlers or pregnant women.

While the vast majority of commercial egg nogs are pasteurized (some do not even use eggs!), it is still recommended that egg nog not be served to your baby nor should egg nog be served to toddlers under 2 years of age. If you are pregnant, please consult your obstetrician about the safety of drinking pasteurized egg nog.

What is Egg Nog Made From?

The main ingredient in Egg Nog is yet another reason why egg nog should not be served to babies; egg nog is made from the whole of the egg and most brands contain corn syrups. Whole eggs, and not just the yolks, are used to make traditional homemade egg nog.

As you may already know, egg whites tend to be highly allergenic and most pediatricians will tell you not to serve your baby whole eggs until after the age of 12 months. The addition of corn syrups and other “filler” ingredients makes most commercial egg nog a poor choice.

We are including some egg nog recipes for our Parents to enjoy. Happy Holidays.

Easy Egg Nog Recipe (attributed to So You’re Ready to Cook by Mary Duffie)

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 1/3 cups low-fat milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 dash ground nutmeg

Directions:

Step 1: Blend together eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla and nutmeg. Serve chilled.

Old Fashioned Egg Nog – Grammy’s favorite

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 3/4 cup brandy (not for kids)
• 1/3 cup dark rum (not for kids)

Directions:

Step 1: Chill everything before starting, for best results. Beat eggs until frothy, then beat in sugar, vanilla and nutmeg.

Step 2: Slowly stir in brandy, rum, cream and milk.

Step 3: Chill again, and serve eggnog cold.