Babies will turn orange if they are fed an abundance of orange foods, yes it is true!

One day while you are gazing lovingly upon the beautiful child you created you feel like something is amiss. Suddenly it dawns on you, your baby’s nose is orange and, as a matter of fact, so are her cheeks and oh my goodness, the palms of her hands are orange too! There’s no need to panic.

Your baby may be turning orange due to Carotenemia.

Carotenemia is a medical term for a condition that causes the skin to take on an orange tinge, which occurs due to increased blood carotene levels. In the vast majority of infant cases seen, this orange tinge is associated with the heavy consumption of foods rich in carotene. It is not uncommon for babies who are fed a lot of orange fruits and vegetables to have their palms, soles of the feet and even face take on a “sun kissed” hue. If you think about it, the foods that babies eat the most when they are starting solid foods are mostly the orange foods too.

It’s in the color

You can tell how much beta-carotene is in a fruit or veggie by looking at the color; the deeper the color of the orange veggie or fruit, the higher the amount of beta-carotene. Dark green vegetables such as kale, spinach, and broccoli are also high in beta-carotene.

Could it be jaundice?

Many parents fear that their baby’s orange color might be a symptom of jaundice.

Sickly babies are most at risk for jaundice; those who are becoming jaundiced will have a color that is more yellow than orange, and the whites of the baby’s eyes will also be yellow tinged. If you suspect your baby may have jaundice, please speak with your pediatrician as soon as possible.

Don’t about it!

Don’t be too alarmed that your baby will be doomed to have an orange nose and orange cheeks forever. Decreasing the amount of beta-carotene containing foods that your baby is eating will help to get his skin back to his usual color.