Coconut Butter...may be a dumb question...

jennyvirginia

One of the mommies in my Stroller Strides class mentioned giving her baby (roughly the same age as W) cocnut butter and that it was a good source of the good fats. I found some Organic Raw Coconut Butter in individual packs at Whole Foods and thought it would be great travelling food for W, but now I am wondering...is it okay for a baby to have coconut. It's basically just coconut flesh. Anyone know if this is ok?

ETA: It can be kneeded so that it is soft, so choking is not an issue.

fabbate13

Your post makes it sound as though you'll be giving her a stick of coconut butter to munch on....

Birdies08

I would try using it in cooking rather than just giving it to her. Coconut oil can replace many other cooking oils.

The only issue I can see is that it is a potential allergen, but I think that would only matter if LO is high risk. 

Ace1599

Birdies08:

I would try using it in cooking rather than just giving it to her. Coconut oil can replace many other cooking oils.

The only issue I can see is that it is a potential allergen, but I think that would only matter if LO is high risk. 

This. My experience is that it is meant to be used as a butter/oil substitute, not as a snack. Other than the potential allergy risk, I see no issue with it.  Coconut was not something we were told to avoid long term either. (Like PB, strawberries, eggs etc)

jennyvirginia

Oh, lady in my  class gave it to her kid in cubes, but I was thinking to put w/ fruit or specifically w/ bananas which also travel well. It is in a single serve package and looks as though it is meant to be eaten just as is...it's not just the butter I think, but the actual coconut meat. It says "whole coconut flesh, not just oil!"

ETA: the ingredients list just says 100% Organic Raw Coconut

 

Excitedtostart

I would try it out yourself first, coconut itself can be stringy or flaky, so it might be a choking hazard. The oil can be given straight, but I would watch for lose poops. I think coconut is low on the allergen scale. 

jennyvirginia

Excitedtostart:

I would try it out yourself first, coconut itself can be stringy or flaky, so it might be a choking hazard. The oil can be given straight, but I would watch for lose poops. I think coconut is low on the allergen scale. 

Thanks! I just tried it and it was delicious! I really mushy texture like peanut butter (def. not a choking hazard) and would probably taste great as a PB replacement on a sandwhich or something.

Birdies08

Excitedtostart:

I would try it out yourself first, coconut itself can be stringy or flaky, so it might be a choking hazard. The oil can be given straight, but I would watch for lose poops. I think coconut is low on the allergen scale. 

I will add that my allergen comment has no medical basis and comes solely from knowing people who are allergic.

Whole coconut flesh sounds yummy! I might want to check that out for me. 

Ace1599

That sounds pretty good! What I have is in a jar like PB, but it is the oil and it looks like hair wax. Yumm right?! LOL.

JenniferJaneC

I tend to believe that coconut anything is awesome.  I have substituted various coconut products for my haircare/skincare routine and love it.  I've never looked for coconut butter before but now I'm intrigued.

libidiny

Coconut butter is a great food for babies! It's an easily digested (and very healthy) fat that is high in lauric acid, which is one of the main fatty acids found in breastmilk. I mix it in with my baby's fruit usually, and she loves it (she's 6 months old). Coconut can be a potential allergen, like other people said, but it is rare. I eat it straight out of the jar with a spoon!