Many mothers of infants are interested in which to choose - dairy or dairy-free cereals for the first feeding. We will tell you about the benefits of the latter for the child’s body, and also check out the ratings of dairy-free cereal manufacturers.
Porridge is one of the most important dishes in the diet of children under one year old. The beneficial microelements and vitamins contained in it will allow the baby to gain weight normally and be healthy. Today we will talk about why dairy-free cereals are best suited for baby feeding, and how to prepare them correctly. Which types are best for first feeding?
Varieties of dairy-free porridges
Before cooking, it is important to decide on dairy-free porridge for children from 4 months. A detailed analysis of possible variants of common cereals would not hurt.
Buckwheat
Milk porridge for a child - goat milk for a baby
Buckwheat porridge cooked in water is beneficial and contains large amounts of iron.
Attention! Adding milk to buckwheat destroys the valuable properties of the cereal.
The beneficial effect is provided by incoming amino acids and vegetable proteins. Contraindicated in children who suffer from central nervous system disorders.
Rice
The usefulness of the dish depends on the rice processing technology and variety. Purified white polished rice is characterized by its uselessness for the body. Unpolished brown rice is a rich primary source of dietary fiber, micro- and macronutrients, and protein.
Brown rice
Interesting. The cereal contains 8 amino acids and carbohydrates, the consumption of which leads to muscle building.
The binding properties of rice determine the gradual introduction of complementary foods in small portions.
Corn grits
Usefulness for baby food provides a balanced content of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, which normalize the functioning of the digestive system.
Glutamic acid in the chemical composition of corn increases brain activity in a baby. Maize dietary fiber prevents fermentation processes in the intestines and reduces flatulence.
Millet
The saturation of cereals with fiber, protein, and valuable components (iodine, chromium, iron, magnesium) is responsible for improving the functioning of the digestive tract and accelerating hematopoiesis. Millet is introduced into the diet of a child suffering from anemia; it removes traces of antibiotics from the body. With antibacterial treatment, millet porridge is the best breakfast.
Oatmeal
Contains protein and fat, magnesium, iodine, iron, potassium, stimulates intestinal function thanks to insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber has a beneficial effect on the immune system and regulates glucose. Natural antioxidants in the composition protect the body from the harmful effects of the environment. Used with buckwheat for liver diseases. Disadvantages include gluten content.
Pearl barley
A healthy baby porridge that has been undeservedly forgotten. Barley food is rich in iron and protein. Barley, like oatmeal, contains valuable fiber.
Barley grits
The cereal is characterized by the content of 18 amino acids, vitamins A, B, K, choline, E, among minerals:
- potassium selenium;
- phosphorus and copper;
- magnesium and manganese;
- calcium and zinc;
- sodium iron.
Barley product improves the digestive process, protects against constipation, improves immunity, and has nutritional value.
Semolina
When people talk about semolina, they remember their childhood. For many years there has been a myth about semolina as the healthiest porridge. It contains carbohydrates in large quantities and helps out in times of famine and during periods of food shortage. It relieves hunger for a long time, is inexpensive, and is suitable for feeding both infants and old people.
Baby's first feeding
Porridge is the preferred product for first feeding. Complex carbohydrates, the main components of cereals, have a very high energy potential, dietary fiber stimulates the maturation and functioning of the intestines, and a sufficient supply of vitamins and minerals is important for the normal development of the baby. In addition to the high nutritional value, the semi-liquid consistency and delicate taste of cereal dishes ensure their closeness to mother's milk. Most babies enjoy eating porridge, which facilitates the gradual transition from exclusive breastfeeding to a common diet. How to cook porridge for a baby? And what is better - to cook it at home or use ready-made industrially produced specialized dishes? At this age stage, it is optimal to introduce complementary feeding products manufactured in factories. Leading experts in the field of baby nutrition work on their recipe, so the finished product takes into account the main features of the baby’s development and is able to satisfy the body’s nutritional needs. Modern controlled production determines the high quality of products while maximizing the beneficial properties of the ingredients. Of course, it is impossible to achieve a similar result at home.
How to make dairy-free porridge at home
Complementary feeding at 4 months
Most mothers do not trust factory production and prepare food at home. Cereals prepared independently for first feeding are not always safe.
Sometimes a baby may experience distress and an allergic reaction when breastfeeding. To prepare porridge for the first feeding, observe the following nuances:
- Grinding of cereal into flour before cooking is required. It is more convenient to do this using a coffee grinder. Grinding of cereals is carried out immediately before cooking.
- Porridge is prepared only with water. The first complementary food is dairy-free. Later, the ready-made breakfast is diluted with formula milk, and for the baby - with mother’s breast milk.
- The prepared cereal has a viscosity similar to full-fat kefir. The approximate dose is 5-7 g per 100 ml of water.
- The cooking time for the cereal takes 5 minutes, then the porridge needs to be cooled to +35...+37 °.
- Cook rice porridge for about 7 minutes. Be sure to grind the cereal in a blender until it becomes flour.
- A week after introducing complementary foods, add a little butter to the breakfast recipe.
When to introduce dairy-free porridge into complementary foods
6 months is a suitable period to introduce porridge during breastfeeding and normal weight gain. Artificial babies are recommended to receive porridge at 4 months.
Complementary feeding from 3 months
Insufficient weight and non-compliance with age standards are reasons for the first feeding. It is advisable to include porridge in the menu for frequent rotavirus infections that are accompanied by diarrhea. Infants need high-calorie cereals.
Important! If the baby is gaining weight normally, vegetable puree is first introduced as complementary food, and a month later - porridge.
The following signs indicate that the baby is ready to take porridge:
- teething;
- sitting confidently in a high chair;
- lack of milk during feeding;
- showing interest in adult food;
- the ability to lick liquid food from a spoon and swallow.
It is advisable to determine which cereals are best for your baby.
What can be combined with
Porridges for complementary feeding are combined with vegetables, berries, and fruits. Berries and fruits are added without heat treatment. Raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries are great for rice porridge. A super healthy food is obtained by adding an apple or pear to buckwheat.
Fruit and berry taste will help you understand whether the dish needs to be sweetened. When mixing the product with blackberries and other sour berries, you need to add a little sugar or its substitutes: honey, stevia, fructose if you are not allergic.
Fruit addition to oatmeal
Norms of dairy-free cereals in complementary foods by month
Which one can you give?
Porridge is introduced into the menu in stages:
- First, the baby tries one-ingredient buckwheat and rice (gluten-free cereals are easily digested). If you are predisposed to constipation, then buckwheat porridge is better. It is not advisable to add salt or sweeten the first complementary food. It is advisable to get the child accustomed to the natural taste.
- Then the baby is offered a third option - gluten-free corn porridge. Its digestibility is worse, its composition is poorer in phosphorus and calcium. The inclusion of corn grits porridge in children's diets is carried out from 9-10 months.
- Introduction to cereals that contain gluten is carried out no earlier than 8 months. If a child is prone to allergies, complementary feeding is postponed until 1 year.
- They offer barley from 1.5-2 years of age; barley is introduced into children's menus at 3 years of age due to the difficulty of digesting barley.
Advice. The introduction of a new porridge into the diet begins a certain time after familiarization with the previous one - after 7-10 days. During this period, a negative reaction will have time to manifest itself. When you get used to 2 different foods, you can try a mixture - corn-rice porridge.
Quantity
The first feeding is preferable in the morning: throughout the day you can monitor the baby’s reaction to the new food. In the absence of allergies and eating disorders, dairy-free complementary foods are given at night. Hearty food is responsible for a restful and long sleep. The baby is offered 1-2 tsp. porridge for the first time. Gradually the volume of porridge is increased.
Porridge feeding volume
| Age/months | Portion weight/g. |
| 6 | 50–100 |
| 7 | 100–150 |
| 8 | 150 |
| 9 | 180 |
| 10–12 | 200 |
Butter is added to food after 3 weeks, starting with 1 g and increasing to 5 g by 8 months.
The dangers of gluten
Gluten is a vegetable protein, popularly called gluten, and it is very important in baking, as it determines the quality of the dough. This protein is found in cereals such as wheat, rye, oats, barley and millet. Difficulties in digesting gluten are associated with the functional immaturity of the child’s gastrointestinal tract, in particular, the enzyme systems involved in the breakdown of this substance. Based on the results of numerous scientific studies, it has been found that consuming gluten-containing foods in the first 6 months of life can cause damage to the villi of the small intestinal mucosa and cause diseases in the future. Therefore, for babies up to 6 months of age, it is recommended to introduce cereal complementary foods only with products based on buckwheat, corn and rice cereals, that is, cereals that do not contain gluten. In addition, gluten is also a common cause of allergic reactions, so children at high risk of allergies should be given gluten-containing foods with caution, even at older ages.
Rating of ready-to-eat cereal manufacturers
The stores offer a wide range of products from domestic and foreign manufacturers. The parents’ task is to choose a cereal and brand according to the child’s preferences. The ranking of cereals for first complementary feeding includes:
- Baby. It has won the love of parents; it is produced on a dairy-free and dairy basis, with one or more grains, with additives, and also without them.
- Swaddle. The domestic company presents products with different tastes. Due to the inclusion of sugar in cereals, the product is not recommended for children with allergies.
- Baby. They have a reduced sucrose content. Medicinal porridges are produced that improve intestinal function. Infants over one year old are offered products with the addition of dried fruits and nuts.
Bebi baby porridge
- Hipp. The sought-after products are made with the addition of herbal ingredients that have a calming effect and are designed to relieve stress. For one-year-old children, cocoa, cookies, and fruit are added to porridge.
- Agush. You can choose from dairy and non-dairy, ready-made and dry products. A distinctive feature is a short storage period.
- Gerber. Good dairy-free cereals do not include salt or other harmful additives.
Herber products
- Nestlé. Produces adapted mixtures, fruit and vegetable purees. You can choose dairy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free options. Hypoallergenic, high-quality product takes into account the characteristic developmental features of the baby. A small drawback is the presence of lecithin, which provokes the appearance of a rash in a child with hypersensitivity.
- Fruto Nanny. Affordable price and quality. The product is easy to dilute and contains mineral and vitamin complexes. Choose liquid, ready-made, dry mixtures. For older children, multicomponent formulations are made.
- Fleur Alpine. Produces multi-ingredient cereals containing gluten-free grains.
- Heinz. Products are considered according to the age and health status of children. The range includes dairy-free and dairy formulations, with additives to diversify your diet. The food is characterized by low allergenicity, ease of breeding, and reasonable price. The series has a pleasant aroma and taste.
Heinz buckwheat porridge
If you choose ready-made cereals for infants, follow not the recommendations of friends and acquaintances, but personal experience. When taking into account the baby's taste preferences and health, food will provide beneficial pleasure.
Requirements for the first cereal feeding
Porridges vary in grain composition depending on the type of cereal that underlies them. A large number of cereals allows you to make the menu varied, and a combination of different cereals increases the nutritional and biological value of food. Typically, complementary feeding starts with a monocomponent dairy-free porridge, which contains only one type of cereal. In addition, such a product should not contain salt and sugar, as well as other additives. When choosing porridge to start complementary feeding, you need to remember the importance of excluding gluten from the diet of infants in the first six months of life.
