When the baby's age approaches six months, he may be ready to increase his diet which so far has only been formula milk or exclusive breastfeeding. Adding cereals to a baby's diet is a common, if not important, step in introducing a variety of foods. At the supermarket, there is a special shelf for baby food and you can find a wide variety of cereals for babies. Knowing which cereal to choose and why can leave you confused. With a few tips, you will have sufficient knowledge to decide what cereal is best for your baby.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Determining Baby's Needs and Readiness
Step 1. Talk to your doctor
There are various opinions about what beginner foods should be given to babies and when, and some of these foods have a stronger scientific basis than others. You and your pediatrician are most familiar with your unique little baby and should work together to plan his transition to solids.
- Most pediatric organizations today say babies should be exclusively breastfed, or if needed, breastfed with added formula for the first six months. This has more to do with the baby's nutritional needs than his readiness to eat solid foods. Ask your doctor for advice about the right time to start a food switch for your baby.
- Many experts think that waiting until the baby is six months old before starting solid foods can reduce the risk of developing allergies and even eczema in babies.
- Regardless of when you start solids, your pediatrician will almost certainly advise you to continue breastfeeding until your baby is at least twelve months old.
- When consulting with your doctor, consider the following steps in this section when deciding if your baby is ready to start eating solid foods such as baby cereal.
Step 2. Notice if the baby's ability to control his head improves
Before he can safely start eating solids, your baby must be able to hold his head up while being fed. This is a very important safety standard to prevent the baby from choking.
In almost all cases, exclusive breastfeeding (accompanied by formula if necessary) for more than six months is not a problem. This is the best option if the baby has not been able to control his head well enough to be able to feed safely. Be patient, put safety first
Step 3. Make sure the baby can sit up straight
It doesn't matter if he can't sit up straight unaided. You can use a chair that is designed to support the baby so that he can sit up straight. The most important factor is that the baby can maintain an upright position where he is seated.
- If your baby is slumped in his chair, his head and body droop to one side or he can't maintain an upright sitting position, he is at higher risk of choking on solid food.
- Use your best judgment and try to keep the baby as upright as possible during feedings.
Step 4. Notice the loss of the tongue pushing reflex
Before your baby is ready for solids, you may notice that his tongue has a natural ability to automatically push food out of his mouth instead of swallowing it.
If your baby does this when you introduce cereal, wait a few days before trying to give him more cereal
Step 5. Watch the baby's weight gain
If your baby has reached about twice his birth weight (and at least 5.8 kg) by the time he is almost six months old, that's a sign that he is ready to start eating solid foods.
However, as always, consult your pediatrician first
Part 2 of 3: Choosing Cereals
Step 1. Start with something simple
Adding cereals to your baby's diet can be a trial and error process, not just in the feeding process (prepare for a big mess!) but in determining how your baby will react to certain new foods. Starting with cereals made from one type of grain before moving on to cereals made from a variety of grains allows you to better monitor your baby's reactions so that they can identify potential allergens.
- Rice cereal is usually the first choice. Besides being a tradition, rice was chosen because it is considered to have a low allergenic potential, easy to digest, and easy to mix and eat.
- However, there is no medical evidence that rice should be the first choice of cereal. In fact, many choose oats, which are also easy to digest and generally have a low allergenic potential.
- There is some controversy as to whether the gluten content in wheat-based cereals, such as barley, promotes the development of wheat allergies and/or celiac disease or not, or reduces the possibility. Recent research has found that introducing wheat before the baby is six months old can reduce the baby's risk of developing a wheat allergy. Discuss with the pediatrician, especially if the baby is not even six months old.
Step 2. Introduce one type of grain at a time
Once you've decided on the first type of grain you want to introduce your baby to, feed him only that type of grain for two to three days before moving on to the next type of grain. Or, you can add a second type of grain into the first, and so on.
Watch carefully for signs of allergies when you introduce a new grain. Rashes, hives, digestive problems such as vomiting or diarrhea, and breathing problems can all be signs of a food allergy. Call your pediatrician right away if you suspect your baby has a food allergy, or take him to the ER if his symptoms look serious (or if your baby is having trouble breathing)
Step 3. Look for iron fortification if your baby needs it
While the topic is still a matter of debate, most experts seem to agree that infants over six months, especially those who are exclusively breastfed, benefit from iron supplements. Young children who are iron deficient show developmental delays, and limited iron content in breast milk (even though formula is fortified with iron).
- Talk to your pediatrician about your baby's iron needs, especially if you're exclusively breastfeeding for six months. If your doctor recommends taking iron supplements, commercial baby cereal products are usually a very good choice because they are fortified with iron. Read nutrition labels to check if cereal contains iron.
- You have other options besides iron supplements, including introducing pureed meat into the baby's diet.
Step 4. Make your choice
Much of your decision is influenced by your preferences as a parent rather than scientific evidence. If the evidence is inconclusive, contradictory, or otherwise non-existent, you must trust your beliefs and instincts. Some of the decisions you will make include:
- Should you avoid genetically modified crops or not? There is no convincing evidence that genetically modified plants have a negative impact on health, but some parents don't give them to babies for a variety of reasons. Most baby cereals, as long as they don't contain corn products, will not contain any genetically modified ingredients. To be sure, you can choose products that are 100% organic, which according to United States Department of Agriculture regulations must not contain any genetically modified hazards.
- Should you limit rice cereal because of its arsenic content? Based on the way rice is grown, all forms of products containing rice tend to have higher arsenic content, and if consumed in excess can cause skin and vascular problems in children. In fact, one or two servings of rice cereal per day can reach the safe limit set by the United States Food and Drug Administration for children so parents should limit or not give it to babies.
- Should you choose whole or refined grains? While whole grains usually have better nutritional value, cereals made from refined grains tend to make it easier to absorb the iron added to the product. Cereals made from refined or whole grains can both be options for babies, but you may want to consider the latter, unless your baby is iron deficient. Discuss with the pediatrician.
- Should you skip cereals as a solid food first? There is no evidence to suggest that cereals should be the first food group introduced to infants. Many parents immediately choose fruit, vegetables, and meat that are ground, ground, or processed into a puree. Baby cereals are easy to prepare and provide a lot of nutrition, but babies can thrive without having cereal as a primary option if that's your preference.
Part 3 of 3: Preparing and Feeding Cereal to Babies
Step 1. Make your own baby cereal, if you like
Baby cereals sold in the market usually only have a few simple ingredients, in addition to additional nutrients. If you want to determine the nutritional content of your baby's diet yourself, it's not difficult to make your own baby cereal.
- Making rice, oats, or barley cereals is simply to grind the raw grains (it's more convenient to use a spice or coffee grinder), add water and cook for 10 minutes (15-20 minutes for barley), and mix it with breast milk or formula.
- Please note that homemade cereals are not fortified with other nutrients, so if your baby needs extra iron, for example, you will have to give it from other sources such as pureed meats.
Step 2. Prepare the cereal according to the directions on the package
If your baby is being introduced to solids for the first time, make sure the cereal is watery, not thick or more like soup than porridge.
- Use breast milk or formula mixed with water to thin the cereal, whether it's store-bought or homemade.
- Adjust the milk-to-cereal ratio to thicken the food once your baby gets used to it.
Step 3. Choose a time when the baby is not fussy or tired to give the first bite of cereal
Learn the baby's needs and apply the most suitable feeding schedule for the baby.
- Start with 1-2 teaspoons of cereal mixed with breast milk or formula.
- The morning is the best time for some babies because they are usually the most hungry. Some babies have difficulty changing their morning routine, and are better prepared if cereal is given at night or before bed.
- Limit giving cereals to one or two times per day the first time you introduce them. As your baby gets used to eating solid foods, the amount can be increased.
- Continue to give breast milk or formula as much as 710 ml per day.
Step 4. Be patient with your baby
Remember, solid food is a new experience. He may need a lot of practice before he can eat cereal. Don't be discouraged if your baby doesn't like solids right away. Wait a day or two and then try again.
Never force your baby to eat cereal. If he's not ready or won't wait, wait and try again
Tips
Talk to your doctor if you're not sure when it's time to start introducing solid foods to your baby
Warning
- Never make cereals the only source of nutrition for a growing child.
- Never add cereal to a baby's bottle as this is unnecessary and can be a choking hazard.
- Never give cereal to an infant under four months of age without the advice of a pediatrician.
