At BOS, we are often asked whether it is safe to give rooibos tea to babies. The short answer to this question is yes, rooibos tea is perfectly safe to give to your baby to drink (once they are aged four months and older). However, there are more aspects to consider and discover around the topic of preparing rooibos tea for babies.

Read on as we explore some key reasons why it’s a good – no, great – idea to add rooibos tea to your baby’s diet. We also answer some frequently asked questions on the topic and give you a fail-proof recipe for preparing some delicious, nutritious rooibos tea for your little one to enjoy.

Why giving rooibos to your baby is a great idea

Rooibos tea (derived from the Aspalathus linearis shrub) is an antioxidant-packed superfood herbal tea that is naturally sweet and caffeine free. This makes it ideal as a healthy hydration alternative, especially for fussy little drinkers.

However, it is very important that you never replace any of your baby’s milk feeds with rooibos (or any other type of food, for that matter).

Once your baby is four months of age, you can start to introduce organic, unflavoured rooibos tea to your baby in small quantities in between feeds, particularly on hot days.

Do not add any milk or sugar to the rooibos tea you give your baby, as their sensitive digestive systems will not be able to tolerate it. For toddlers and older children, rooibos tea can also be given in the form of sugar-free ice tea and sugar- and preservative-free ice lollies made with natural fruit juice.

Rooibos tea for babies: Other beneficial uses

Naturally sweet, soothing and delicious, BOS Organic Rooibos Tea is sure to be loved by your little one. But did you know that there are many other beneficial uses for rooibos that your baby or toddler could benefit from? Here are a few of the benefits:

• Unsweetened, unflavoured rooibos tea without milk can help with soothing digestive issues – not only in babies and toddlers, but in people of all ages. It is a great hydrant drink, especially for breastfeeding mothers.
• Strong, unflavoured rooibos tea (plain, without anything added to it) in baby’s bathwater can also help soothe dry, irritated skin, and can be beneficial in treating skin conditions such as eczema.
• If your baby or toddler has a fever, you can give them an ice lolly made from natural, organic rooibos tea and fresh fruit juice. This will increase their liquid intake and also help cool down their body temperature.
• Rooibos contains allergy-fighting antioxidants like quercetin, which means it works as a natural antihistamine.
• The anti-inflammatory antioxidants in rooibos can assist with baby’s teething discomforts. Give rooibos tea to your baby as a cold or hot drink, or give baby an unsweetened rooibos ice lolly to soothe inflamed gums while he or she is teething.
• Rooibos tea contains both magnesium and calcium, both of which are natural sleeping aids. This means rooibos may help improve baby’s quality of sleep – ensuring a more restful night for mom too.

Rooibos tea recipe for babies

Brew rooibos tea for baby following the recipe below:

• Use one rooibos tea bag, or 1 ½ teaspoons loose rooibos tea per 250 ml boiling water.
• Boil water, pour over tea bag or rooibos leaves and allow to steep for 2-5 minutes.
• Allow the steeped rooibos tea to cool down sufficiently before giving it to baby in a bottle or sippy cup.

Important to Note:

• Don’t add any sugar or milk to the rooibos tea, as this could upset your baby’s tummy.
• Never substitute your baby’s milk feed with rooibos tea. Give plain, unsweetened organic rooibos tea to your baby as a hydrant drink in between feeds instead.

Some frequently asked questions around rooibos tea for babies and toddlers

Read on for the answers to some commonly asked questions about rooibos tea for babies.

1. How much rooibos tea can a baby drink?

Experts recommend that babies aged four months and older have about one cup (250 ml) of rooibos tea daily. Rooibos tea should be given in addition to milk feeds, never as a replacement.

2. Is it dangerous to give rooibos tea to babies?

It is perfectly safe to give black, unsweetened rooibos tea to your baby in moderation. It will help to soothe baby’s colic and stomach discomfort.

3. Can I apply rooibos tea topically, to my baby’s skin?

Yes, strong, black, unsweetened rooibos tea can help with skin ailments, such as eczema and soothing inflamed skin due to nappy rash irritations.

4. Is rooibos tea bad for babies’ teeth?

Natural, unsweetened organic rooibos contain lots of nutrients and minerals, including fluoride, manganese and calcium, all of which are required for strong teeth and bones by children who are growing.

5. Is rooibos tea safe to drink during pregnancy?

Caffeine-free, antioxidant-packed rooibos tea is perfectly safe to be enjoyed by pregnant women. This superfood herbal tea will not aggravate some of the biggest pregnancy discomforts, which include heartburn, nausea and insomnia.

Visit our online shop to find the perfect BOS Tea product for your baby

Visit our online shop to browse our BOS Organic Rooibos Tea, BOS Sugar-free Rooibos Ice Teas and BOS Fruit Ice made with real fruit juice and no added sugar or preservatives.