8 Benefits Of Rooibos Tea For Babies And Their Moms (PLUS When To Introduce Rooibos Tea)

Rooibos Tea (also known as Red Bush Tea) is well-known for its benefits for adults but is this the same for your baby and breastfeeding moms? The answer is yes and there are many reasons why Rooibos tea is great at this stage.

When Should You Start Giving A Baby Rooibos Tea?

Experts say that you should introduce organic Rooibos tea when your baby begins eating solids (roughly at 4 months, depending on your child). Once the baby starts on solids, small amounts of water and Rooibos tea can be included. However, it should be noted that Rooibos tea is not a feed/formula replacement. You should also ensure that the Rooibos tea is organic which ensures that no pesticides or insecticides were used in production.

The 8 Benefits Of Rooibos Tea

1. Rooibos Aids Digestion And Reduces Colic In Babies

Generations of mothers all over South Africa have used Rooibos to soothe babies with stomach issues. These mothers would not only feed Rooibos to their babies but they would also drink Rooibos themselves as a good source of hydration as well as a refreshing taste.

This has been a go-to for mothers all over South Africa to aid their children with reducing colic and helping their digestion. Drinking Rooibos is also a great source of nutrients for the mothers who are breastfeeding which can help them as well as their baby being well nourished. There is more research being done on the benefits of Rooibos for your babies. However, history has given us a good indicator that Rooibos can help your baby with their digestion.

2. Rooibos Builds Strong, Healthy Bones For Babies

There is indicative evidence that Osteoclast activity (the cells that break down bone) is inhibited when drinking fermented Rooibos tea, which helps your baby maintain good bone strength.

Due to Rooibos being filled with minerals and nutrients your baby will get a good foundation for healthy bones and good digestion. Not only does Rooibos help with building stronger healthier bones, but it also has benefits of hair growth. Rooibos contains minerals such as zinc, calcium, copper and potassium which are essential for hair growth, which can help strengthen your hair follicles and promote healthier hair growth for a mommy and their baby.

3. Rooibos Is Caffeine-free, Giving The Benefits Without The Stimulant

Rooibos does not have any caffeine which is a stimulant that can keep you and your baby up. Normal tea has got caffeine thus making Rooibos tea a great alternative. This also means that Rooibos is great for you and your baby before going to bed as it will help the parent relax after the day and should calm your baby and thus will fall asleep easier.

Rooibos contains manganese and calcium which are two key ingredients to having a good night’s rest. Calcium is what our brains use as fuel to produce a sleeping hormone called melatonin. That is why Rooibos is a great drink for moms and their  little ones for getting a good night’s rest.

Additionally, researchers have found that having a manganese deficiency can lead to insomnia. Manganese helps calm down your nervous system which will help your baby and for you to have deeper sleep.

4. Rooibos Is Rich In Minerals And More

Rooibos is rich in minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, copper, manganese, zinc and alpha hydroxy acid.

Iron is a mineral for aiding your body’s growth and development. It is used to make hemoglobin which is a protein that red blood cells use to carry oxygen from the lung to all parts of your body, the more you have the better it is.

Then there is calcium which is a mineral that your body needs to be able to build as well as maintain strong bones.

Potassium is another mineral that your body relies heavily on for your body to work properly. Potassium is a type of electrolyte that is used to help your nerves function in order for your muscles to contract.

Zinc is an incredible mineral that helps your body’s immune system fight off invading bacteria or viruses. Zinc is also used for your body to create proteins.

If a mom and her baby have been drinking Rooibos tea and start noticing  good changes in their skin that would be due to the alpha hydroxy acid found in Rooibos that helps remove the top layers of dead skin cells. It can even promote firmness in your skin by thickening the deeper layers of your skin.

5. Rich In Antioxidants

Rooibos is filled with good antioxidants and the most prevalent of them all would be quercetin and aspalathin. Ingesting antioxidants are great for the life of a mommy and the life of her baby.

If you have had a history of type two diabetes, Rooibos could be the drink of choice. Due to Rooibos having aspalathin which helps to balance blood sugar levels and to reduce insulin resistance.

Drinking Rooibos regularly can help protect your body as well as your baby’s body from oxidative damage. Rooibos is a fynbos that just keeps on giving to make you and your child healthier.

6. Rooibos Replaces Electrolytes Lost During Play And Exercise

It is time for you and your baby to become a super performer with Rooibos. Rooibos has been listed in the top 50 for the best superfoods of all time. Due to Rooibos being filled with essential minerals as well as antioxidants it is no surprise that Rooibos has been seen to be helping in sport performance.

South African professors have found, that Rooibos can be used to enhance exercise performance. Rooibos has been linked to aiding and communicating to your body’s cells for oxidative stress which includes inflammatory responses, muscular damage and fatigue.

Therefore, Rooibos helps to replenish lost electrolytes that are burned during playtime and exercise. Rooibos also has potassium which is an electrolyte that can help you perform better when exercising.

7. Rooibos Helps Manage Stress Due To Lowering The Cortisol Hormone

Researchers found that Rooibos lowers the production of cortisol which is the body’s main stress hormone.

Rooibos helps mothers and babies manage their stress, fills them with antioxidants and helps them get a better night’s rest.

Since Rooibos is able to lower your babies cortisol levels as well as help with allergies it should result in a less irritable happier baby. This can help a lot around bedtime and throughout the day.

8. Rooibos Can Reduce And Help Prevent Allergies In Babies

Regularly giving your baby Rooibos has been researched to help reduce and prevent allergies from occurring. This can help during spring but could be a worthwhile option for the entire year to be able to prevent allergies from occurring such as hay fever and possibly skin allergies.

When giving your baby Rooibos tea it can even save you some money and time by reducing the costs of treating allergic rhinitis. This is all due to the incredible antioxidants found in Rooibos which is classed as a bioflavonoid such as quercetin and rutin. These antioxidants have been proven to relieve itchy eyes and a runny nose.

Quercetin has been proven to block the release of histamines from mast cells which will help reduce the symptoms of allergies that mom and baby could be experiencing. All of these allergies can be affecting your baby and preventing them from getting a good night’s rest which is essential when growing up.

External Benefits Of Rooibos Tea

Soothes sunburns – Rooibos tea has anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe sunburns. Simply brew a strong cup of rooibos tea, let it cool, and apply it to the affected area with a cotton ball or cloth.

Reduces acne – Rooibos tea contains alpha hydroxy acid, which can help reduce acne and improve skin texture. Apply cooled rooibos tea to your face with a cotton ball or use it as a toner after cleansing.

Relieves eczema and psoriasis – Rooibos tea’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help relieve symptoms of eczema and psoriasis. Brew a strong cup of rooibos tea, let it cool, and apply it to the affected area with a cotton ball or cloth.

Soothes razor burn – Rooibos tea’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help soothe razor burn. Brew a strong cup of rooibos tea, let it cool, and apply it to the affected area with a cotton ball or cloth.

Soothes siaper rash – Rooibos tea’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help soothe nappy rash. Brew a strong cup of rooibos tea, let it cool, and apply it to the affected area with a cotton ball or cloth. Alternatively add some rooibos tea to baby’s bath.

Reduces puffiness and dark circles – Rooibos tea contains antioxidants that can help reduce puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. Brew a strong cup of rooibos tea, let it cool, and apply it to the under-eye area with a cotton ball or cloth.

Promotes hair growth – Rooibos tea contains minerals and antioxidants that can help promote hair growth and improve hair health. Brew a strong cup of rooibos tea, let it cool, and use it as a hair rinse after shampooing.