Baby Cereal: Parents’ Guide to Introduce Cereal to Infants

Being a new parent, your biggest concern is to give your newborn the right nutrition and healthy foods. At first, it may feel overwhelming to choose the most nutritious diet for your baby but, trust us, you can handle it with ease.

In this article, we share some basics about introducing baby cereal to an infant. Let’s begin.

Choosing First Baby Cereal

Before you start feeding your baby solid foods, you need to choose what to give them from a wide range of cereal options available in the market. The best part is that rice cereal is easy to digest and does not trigger any allergic reaction. Even babies only on breast milk or formula can also tolerate rice cereal. Another good thing about rice cereal is that it is iron-fortified, so it’s good for babies to provide enough iron content when they turn six months old. 

Other Cereal Choices besides Rice

If you don’t want to go for rice cereal, you have other options too. Many experts suggest that iron-fortified single-grain cereal is good for babies. For instance, you can go for wheat, ragi, oatmeal, or barley cereals. Or you may consider multi-cereal with mixed fruit flavour. All these options are as healthy as rice cereal.

When to Begin Feeding Cereal to Your Baby?

Years ago, it was suggested that parents can feed cereals to four months babies if they show signs of readiness. However, medical advice has evolved. And, there is a change in the guideline to give babies a good nutritional start.

Now, it’s recommended to wait till your baby is six months old to introduce solids and cereals, especially if your baby is breastfed. So, there is no need to rush.

But it is not only about age when it comes to introducing cereal to infants. You need to look for some signs indicating that baby is ready for solid foods.

Some of these signs are:

• Your baby can sit properly in a chair with support
• The baby is eager to eat from a spoon
• The baby has got better head control
• There is no more tongue thrust
• Baby is interested in food that you eat

If your baby is not showing any of these signs, it is best to wait for some time before starting baby cereal. There is nothing to worry about. Babies are ready to eat when they feel like eating solids. Meanwhile, your baby will get sufficient nutrition they require from formula or breast milk. 

So, you need not be concerned that your infant is missing out on essential nutrients. If you are still worried, it is best to consult a paediatrician for better advice.

Conclusion:

When feeding your baby, know their food preferences from early on. A 6-month-old baby’s diet must include healthy foods like breast milk, plain yoghurt, beans, fish, eggs, fruits, and cereals. While there are many baby cereal brands in the market, it is best to go for the ones that offer fortified whole grain cereals. Also, discuss your baby’s diet with a doctor for a better diet plan.

Also, Visit here: Things to know about Introducing Solid Foods to your Baby