fennel baby tea

But, contrary to what you might think, the infusion of fennel ( Pimpinella anisum ) is very indicated to alleviate colic in children. In addition, it also helps to increase milk production in breastfeeding women.

In this article on Tea Benefits you will find out how to give the infusion to babies, what effects it has on the little ones’ bodies and also the necessary care that must be taken with this natural treatment.

Baby fennel tea: is it released?

The fennel tea can be offered to babies , but with some care. When used correctly, this infusion has digestive and relaxing properties, which helps to avoid the dreaded cramps.

However, it should be noted that up to six months of age, the child can only be fed with breast milk. Therefore, during this period, no drink or food should be offered to babies.

In fact, fennel tea is a great choice for natural treatments at this stage of life. And it can be offered mainly because of its positive effects and few contraindications.

However, only after six months of age . In addition, small amounts must be offered at a time and outside meal times.

According to information from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health, during the first six months of life the child’s immune system is not yet fully developed.

Because of this, she needs the nutrients and antibodies present in the milk produced by the mother’s body. These components act to prevent infections, diarrhea and other different types of diseases.

Also according to health agencies, introducing other liquids, including water, during this age group, makes the child not consume as much breast milk. Consequently, it ends up losing many important nutrients. (1.2)

Benefits of Infusion for Children

Due to its rich composition in phenolic compounds and phytochemicals that act on the digestive system, the herb has muscle – relaxing effects and improves digestion. Preventing the formation of gases and, consequently, colic.

Below you will find out what are the 8 main benefits of the herb for babies. Check out:

• Relaxing and soothing light
• Stimulates digestion
• It has antispasmodic properties
• Relieves cramps
• Prevents constipation and gas
• Prevents nausea and vomiting
• Antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral
• Rich in antioxidants.

Relaxing and soothing light

One of the main effects of fennel on the body is on the central nervous system. It acts as a mild tranquilizer and sedative, helping to alleviate irritation, restlessness and insomnia while also relaxing the muscles.

When offered to babies, especially at night, the infusion prepared with the seeds of the herb provides an improvement in the quality of sleep and makes the child wake up less during the night.

Thus, fennel tea can help with these problems, but it is important to always seek medical advice to rule out any health problems. (1)

Stimulates digestion

The main component of the fennel seed is the essential oil. In it, the main phytochemical compounds responsible for the benefits to the body are found, including the one to stimulate digestion.

During the first months of food introduction, it is common for the child to suffer from problems related to the digestive tract, mainly because he is not fully adapted to another type of food, other than breast milk.

In these cases, fennel tea can be offered shortly after meals and serves to stimulate the formation of gastric juice . Thus, the food ends up being digested more quickly and avoiding the discomfort caused by poor digestion.

In addition, the essential oil of fennel helps protect the stomach lining from damage. What is needed until the child can be fully adapted to receive other types of food. (two)

Prevents constipation and gas

As this tea promotes muscle relaxation and improves digestion, it can also prevent constipation and gas formation in children.

That’s because, these benefits help the intestinal transit , making the stool better able to transit through the intestine. In addition, the liquid can promote greater hydration to the body.

Thus, the tea prepared with the herb is indicated for children who suffer from bloating and discomfort caused by constipation and gas, without the need to use synthetic medicines that are invasive to the body. (two)

It has antispasmodic properties

Laboratory studies have also confirmed the antispasmodic effects of fennel. That is, it decreases muscle contraction, especially due to the relaxing effect.

For this reason, the infusion can also be effective against restless legs syndrome. This problem causes carriers to move a lot during a sleep phase and is quite common in children.

In addition, this effect is also linked to the reduction of seizures, which can have serious consequences for the health of babies. (two)

Relieve cramps

By combining the antispasmodic and stimulating effects of the gastric system, the fennel becomes a great ally against colic . This problem is usually accompanied by hours of crying and discomfort, and most often occurs in the first trimester of life.

The main cause of colic in babies, according to the Ministry of Health, is the immaturity of the gastric system. The problem, in the following months, can also be related to the change in diet and even the allergy to some foods.

In these situations, fennel tea helps by improving the digestion of food, causing it to be eliminated faster from the gastrointestinal tract, thus reducing discomfort.

In addition, the infusion also prevents the formation of gas and constipation, other factors that can cause painful cramps, especially in children under 2 years of age. (two)

Prevents nausea and vomiting

Children also often tend to suffer from vomiting. And this is another condition related to the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract, which does not recognize all the foods eaten.

Therefore, using fennel tea after meals can help prevent this natural body reaction. This is because the consumption of the infusion acts by removing food from the stomach, causing nausea to decrease.

It also helps prevent vomiting, which is the end result when the body is able to expel the substance that was causing the discomfort. (two)

Antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral

The infusion can inhibit the proliferation of more than 20 microorganisms that can cause serious illnesses, especially in babies who do not have a fully formed immune system.

In addition to protecting children against infections caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses, tea also works to improve these diseases, favoring the elimination of microorganisms. (2, 3)

Rich in Antioxidants

Finally, the essential oil extracted from the fennel seed is rich in antioxidant compounds . These substances work by preventing the action of free radicals that are responsible for wearing out the body’s cells.

This action is very important in the first years of life of babies, preventing damage to the body and helping to strengthen the immune system . In addition to preventing various diseases.(2)

How to prepare tea?

Did you see what are the main benefits of the baby shower and feel like offering yours? Know that you must also be careful when preparing the drink.

This is because the infusion offered to children must be weaker than that consumed by adults, due to the difference in metabolism and in the form of absorption of all the compounds in the herb.

The drink must also always be prepared in small quantities, as it loses its medicinal properties after 24 hours of preparation. That said, check out how to prepare this infusion.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of filtered water
• 1 teaspoon of fennel.

Method of preparation:

Bring the water to a boil until it comes to a boil. When it starts bubbling, turn off and add the fennel, leaving the mixture to steep for about 10 minutes. Then strain and wait for it to cool.

An important tip: always look for good quality herbs and keep them in a dry and ventilated place. For any microorganism, which is harmless to adults, can cause infections in babies.

How should fennel tea be offered to children?

Even though fennel tea is released to babies, some precautions need to be taken before offering it. The first is about the temperature, which should always be at room temperature.

Also, never sweeten the drink . Neither with sugar nor with honey. The first, according to the Ministry of Health, should not be offered until 2 years of age, as it is poorly nutritious and addictive.

Honey, according to the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, is completely banned during the first year of life, because of the risks of botulism if the product is not industrially sterilized.

It is necessary to pay attention to the times and quantities when offering the drink. Children’s stomachs are small. If she drinks too much tea, she can be full of something that is low in vitamins and fat. In the long run, this causes malnutrition and developmental problems.

Therefore, it is necessary that parents pay attention and offer the fennel tea only when the child is not hungry.

As for the amount, it should never exceed two tablespoons (of soup) at a time . This is enough for the baby’s body to be able to absorb the benefits of the infusion and not feel bloated. (4)