How Many Shrimps Should a Child Eat at a Time?

Shrimp is a delicious ingredient that not only tastes good but is also rich in nutritional value, especially small-sized shrimp, which is loved by everyone. While adults can usually consume more shrimp without issue, children's physical resistance is limited, and some parents worry that eating too much shrimp may have negative effects on their children's bodies. So, how many shrimps should a child eat at a time? Let's take a look below.

1. How many shrimps should a child eat at a time?

Children can be given three to four shrimps a day, which can help with calcium supplementation as shrimps are rich in protein. Protein is the basic substance of life, and its flesh is soft and easy to digest. Eating foods that are high in nutrition and easy to digest and absorb is essential for a child's growth, as they require a large amount of protein. Additionally, shrimps are rich in magnesium, an essential trace element for a child's physical development. A lack of magnesium can lead to emotional instability, excitability, and mood swings. Severe cases can manifest as hyperreflexia, convulsions, and other symptoms. Shrimps also contain high levels of calcium, and it is important for babies to start supplementing calcium from the fourth month onward. Shrimp shells are a natural source of calcium, and doctors often recommend using them as a dietary supplement for easy absorption.

2. What should parents be aware of when feeding their children shrimps?

a. Cooking Techniques: Although ten-month-old babies can eat shrimps, their chewing ability is still relatively weak. It is not recommended to give them whole shrimps. Instead, remove the shrimp intestines and prepare them as shrimp paste or puree for babies to consume. Babies are also very sensitive to food flavors, so it is important to remove any fishy odor when preparing shrimps.

b. Allergic Reactions: Although shrimps are rich in protein, the protein in shrimps belongs to marine protein, which can easily cause gastrointestinal allergies in babies with delicate stomachs, leading to severe cases of systemic allergies and even shock. Therefore, parents should be vigilant and observe for any signs of allergies when introducing shrimps to their babies for the first time.

c. Avoidance of Vitamin C: Shrimp contains pentavalent arsenic, which is harmless to humans. However, when combined with vitamin C, it can be converted into toxic trivalent arsenic, commonly known as arsenic, which can cause severe coma and endanger a baby's life. Therefore, it is important to avoid giving babies shrimps along with foods or fruits high in vitamin C, such as apples, grapes, hawthorn, persimmons, onions, green and red peppers, and other vegetables and fruits.

d. Avoidance of Fruits Containing Tannic Acid: Sometimes, babies may have a habit of eating fruits or fruit purees as part of their meals. It is important to be aware that some fruits contain large amounts of tannic acid, which can combine with shrimp protein and lead to mild poisoning in babies, manifesting as symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea. Therefore, parents should avoid giving babies shrimps along with fruits such as apples, grapes, bananas, strawberries, and cherries.