When should you start feeding cerelac to your baby? This knocks on the mind of most moms who are just beginning to walk on the journey of motherhood.
WHO recommends breastfeeding the child for six months exclusively, but if the baby is undergrowing, doctors’ may advise starting cerelac at four months. WHO also recommends giving homemade purees to young babies from 6 months onwards.
After 6 months, you can try serving steamed and mashed fruits like apples, bananas, and cheekus. In summers, mashed rice and coconut water are usually fed as they are soothing. Other good food options could be homemade khichdi, dalia, suji kheer, halwa, etc.
“Yummy!! Delicious!! Nutrilicious!! What can I serve you more?”
Cerelac is undoubtedly the first choice for all doting mothers who want to give the best to their lolos. It has cereals, which are power-packed with all essential nutrients to provide proper growth and development to your baby.
Cerelac by itself is a complete meal with no chemicals or preservatives added to it. It takes care of the complete nutrition of your baby. However, the only component that raises the alarm is the high sugar level. Sugar intake leads to tooth decay and may also lead to obesity in toddlers.
Moreover, given the proven addictive nature of sugar, it may not be a good idea to introduce it early to your baby. Most moms avoid giving salt or sugar to babies till they turn one, which is good as your baby’s kidneys and internal organs are still developing.
However, it is not easy to continue this practice for long as babies start eating from their parents’ plates. In this post, you will get to know the pros and cons of feeding cerelac to your baby.
PROS & CONS OF CERELAC – THE COMPLETE GUIDE
PROS OF CERELAC
Cerelac is the first name that pops into our minds when it comes to baby food. It’s delicious flavors and ease of preparation have made it a popular choice. It is recommended by all pediatricians, including the American Paediatric Society, to be given only when your baby turns six months old. However, it is always advisable to consult your doctor before starting any solid food intake for your baby.
• It is very easy to prepare. You need a scoop of cerelac, add some warm water, and stir. Voila, dinner is served!
• It provides the baby with the combined benefits of cereals, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin D, protein, Zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Omega 3 and Omega 6. It has 18 essential nutrients, free of chemical preservatives, flavors, and colors.
• It is handy to carry in travels and outings.
• Easily available in most stores.
However, when it comes to homemade food, you would have to take care of extra iron supplements present in carrots, pomegranate, spinach, or other leafy vegetables. Cerelac combines milk and cereals that serve the growing baby’s best.
Cerelac can be fed to babies for two years. Most moms prefer using it until one year after switching to home-cooked food to provide variety and taste to their babies.
CONS OF CERELAC
Even though cerelac is packed with nutrition, but is also loaded with sugar, which raises concerns. The Wikipedia page lists obesity, tooth decay, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s among the health conditions that sugar bestows.
I just found caramel (water and sucrose) and maltodextrin in the cerelac box nearest to me. Imagine how much sugar you feed your little one with three-level scoops three times a day till 6-month-olds; you are siphoning chunks of sugar into your little one’s diet.
Babies depend on adults to make decisions – their early food habits will set the tone for their life. So it’s good to be extra careful and double-check your choices when it comes to babies.
CERELAC FOR WEIGHT GAIN
Of course, some moms prefer cerelac if their babies are underweight or picky eaters. Does a skinny baby mean that you are not feeding enough food to your baby?
Perhaps not! It may be because some babies have genetic blueprints which lead to leaner bodies. As long as your baby is gaining weight and is active, you don’t have to force in more cerelac.
FAQs
WHICH CERELAC IS BEST FOR A 6-MONTH-OLD BABY?
If your baby is six months or older, you can give them Stage 1 of Cerelac. The flavors available in Stage 1 Cerelac are Cerelac Rice, Cerelac Wheat and Cerelac Maize. You might be able to find other variants depending on where you live.
WHEN CAN I GIVE CERELAC TO MY BABY?
You can start giving your baby Cerelac as a part of a balanced diet when your little one turns six months old. Ensure you include appropriate servings of pureed fruits, vegetables, single grain porridges, and Cerelac.
IS CERELAC GOOD FOR THE BABY?
Cerelac is good for the baby in many ways, so it is preferred. However, cooking fresh homemade meals is always better. Cerelac comes in handy while traveling or to deal with unexpected circumstances.
WHICH CERELAC IS BEST FOR A BABY?
Nestle has introduced Ceregrow Organic Selection for 2 to 5-year-olds with organic grains, fruits, and milk. Such food made from organic sources are best for a baby.
HOW MANY TIMES CERELAC A DAY?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends giving 6-month-old solid food twice or thrice a day with formula or breastmilk.
CAN I GIVE CERELAC AT NIGHT?
Night-time is not the best time to feed cerelac when starting with solids. At times, if your baby cannot digest it, it might cause colic. So, give cerelac at bedtime only if your child is older
than nine months. For younger babies, try introducing solids when they are active during the day.
CAN WE GIVE CERELAC TO 5 MONTHS?
The following organizations have undertaken individual research and have concluded that babies should not be fed solids until they are six months old.
1. UNICEF
2. WHO
3. Health Canada
4. American Academy of Pediatrics
5. Australian National Health and Medical Research Council
6. American Academy of Family Pediatrics
Cereal at five months will do more harm than good to your baby, compromise her immune system and can result in health issues like obesity later.
CAN I MIX CERELAC WITH FORMULA MILK AND FEED IT WITH FEEDING BOTTLE?
Never. You should never attempt to feed your baby Cerelac in a feeding bottle as it may cause a choking hazard. Moreover, cerelac is an additional meal that should not cut down the amount of milk your baby needs.
You are substituting nutrient-rich milk with high concentrated calories, depriving her of essential nutrients. You should prepare cerelac strictly following the instructions on the package – i.e., using lukewarm water and the recommended amount of cereal.
THE CONCLUSION
If your baby is not a picky eater, you can focus on feeding freshly cooked meals to the baby. It would do your baby no harm if they had occasional cerelac meals. It is best to give your baby a chance to experience a wide array of flavors and textures with cerelac.
