10 best cereals for the first feeding

Recall that there are no strict recommendations on where to start complementary foods. You can and should introduce a variety of products, focusing on the degree of readiness of the baby for complementary foods. You can read more about the rules for the introduction of complementary foods here. However, in Our Country it is customary to start complementary foods with vegetables or cereals, especially if the child is not gaining weight very well. We will talk about the best baby cereals for the first feeding in this article.

“Porridge is a source of slow carbohydrates, they are digested and absorbed gradually, gradually increasing blood sugar levels, providing the child with a feeling of satiety and energy for a long time,” says Anna Levadnaya, pediatrician, candidate of medical sciences, author of a blog about pediatrics and not only on Instagram. – In addition, porridge is one of the main sources of B vitamins, they are needed for the development of the nervous system, the growth of skin, nails and hair. Also, cereals contain rutin, iron, vitamins A, E, folic acid and other useful substances.

There are gluten-free cereals – these are rice, buckwheat and corn. They rarely cause allergies, so they are recommended at the very beginning of the introduction of complementary foods. Gluten cereals are oatmeal, wheat, semolina, pearl barley, barley and others. If the child is healthy, he does not have gluten intolerance, then these cereals are also recommended to be introduced into the baby’s diet. Up to a year – oatmeal and wheat are usually introduced.

Also, children’s cereals are divided into dairy and non-dairy. Dairy-free is recommended at the beginning of the introduction of complementary foods, as well as for children with an allergy to cow’s milk protein and for children who are breastfed. Dairy is on an adapted milk mixture or on cow’s or goat’s milk.

– If the child is not allergic to cow’s milk protein, milk porridge can be introduced into the diet for up to a year. Nevertheless, if the baby eats dairy-free porridge well, then it is better for children under one year old to give preference to dairy-free porridge with breast milk or a mixture, Anna Levadnaya notes. – Whole milk is not recommended to be introduced into the diet for up to a year due to the high load on the gastrointestinal tract.

Also, at the very beginning of complementary foods, it is better to give preference to monocomponent cereals. They are easier to digest, less risk of developing allergies. Porridges, consisting of several cereals, as well as with the addition of vegetables and fruits to the composition, are best introduced into the baby’s diet a little later. The same applies to sugar and salt – they are not recommended as part of cereals for the first complementary foods.

– That is, the very first porridge should be gluten-free – buckwheat, rice, corn, dairy-free, monocomponent, without sugar and without fruit and vegetable additives, – says our expert.

Top 10 rating according to KP

1. Dairy-free porridge Nutrilon buckwheat

This is perhaps one of the best options for starting complementary foods in terms of price and quality. There is nothing superfluous in the composition – only buckwheat flour.

There is no salt, sugar and its substitutes, artificial additives, dyes and preservatives, including the vitamin-mineral complex, the presence of which increases the risk of possible allergic reactions. Also in the line of dairy-free cereals of this brand, rice, corn and oatmeal with a similar pure composition are suitable for the first feeding. Recall that complementary foods are recommended to start from 5,5 – 6 months. The manufacturer indicates the marking “from 4 months”.

Main characteristics

2. Semper Dairy Free Rice Porridge

Another well established brand. There are no additional components in the porridge, only buckwheat flour, so it is ideal for starting complementary foods.

The manufacturer put the age marking “from 4 months”. But let us recall that, according to the recommendations of pediatricians, the first complementary foods are introduced from 5,5-6 months – as a rule, it is at this time that the child shows all signs of readiness to start complementary foods. You can also recommend dairy-free buckwheat porridge of this brand with a similar pure composition. The disadvantages of this option include a rather high cost.

Main characteristics

3. Fleur Alpine Dairy-Free Buckwheat Porridge

Fleur Alpine Organic cereals do not contain milk protein, lactose, sugar, salt and other additives, which makes it possible to use it for the first feeding in children with milk protein intolerance, lactase deficiency and food allergies. Also, for the first feeding, we can recommend rice and oatmeal dairy-free cereals of this brand, in addition to rice and oatmeal, they contain only vitamin B1. It is worth noting that cereals of this brand are one of the most expensive presented in children’s stores.

Main characteristics

4. Hipp Dairy Free Grain Corn Porridge

A well-known and well-established manufacturer in the baby food market. There are two gluten-free ingredients in this cereal. Of the supplements – only vitamin B1, which minimizes the risk of possible allergic reactions.

The composition without additives, except for vitamin B1, is also in dairy-free rice porridge of this brand. Buckwheat is enriched with a rather impressive vitamin complex, which in itself is not bad, but the risk of possible allergic reactions increases.

Main characteristics

5. Heinz Dairy Free Low Allergy Corn Porridge

The porridge has a good composition, no salt, sugar and other sweeteners, palm oil. It is enriched with vitamins and minerals, which is not bad in itself, but it is worth remembering that this is an additional risk of allergic reactions.

The porridge has an inexpensive price, it is widely represented in many stores, so it is always easy to find. Also among dairy-free cereals for the first feeding of this brand, buckwheat, rice, and oatmeal can be recommended. Of the comments – the age marking of the manufacturer “from 4 months”. Recall that complementary foods are recommended to be introduced from 5,5-6 months.

Main characteristics

6. FrutoNyanya Instant dairy-free rice porridge

Popular and inexpensive brand. Not all products of this brand are distinguished by an impeccable composition for the first complementary foods, but this rice porridge (as well as dairy-free buckwheat porridge of this darkness) can be recommended for the start of complementary foods.

In the composition, in addition to rice flour, there is a vitamin-mineral complex, which in itself is not bad, but the risk of a possible development of allergic reactions increases. Does not contain salt, sugar or other sweeteners. The marking “from 4 months” is a little confusing. Recall that it is recommended to introduce complementary foods to a child starting from 5,5 – 6 months.

Main characteristics

7. Baby Sitter Dairy Free Oatmeal

Oatmeal is recommended to be introduced among the first cereals of complementary foods. The composition of this porridge is not bad. No salt and sugar. The presence of vitamin supplements in the composition can increase the risk of a possible allergy. Pretty high price.

Main characteristics

8. Heinz Dairy-Free First Prebiotic Oatmeal

Another option for oatmeal to start complementary foods, unlike the previous one, is a nice inexpensive price. Contains no salt and sugar. But there are prebiotic and vitamin supplements, which, as we have already noted, can increase the risk of possible allergies.

Main characteristics

9. Fleur Alpine Dairy-free porridge Three cereals

Multi-component porridge, which includes gluten-free cereals, does not contain any additional components. You can safely introduce the baby into the diet when he tried each component of the porridge separately.

Main characteristics

10. Hipp Dairy-free multi-grain porridge

The composition of this porridge, like many other products of this brand, is very good. These are three cereals, including whole-grain varieties of oatmeal and wheat. After introducing these cereals into complementary foods in a multicomponent form, such a multi-cereal composition can be offered to the baby. Of the vitamins in supplements, only B1, which minimizes possible allergic reactions.

Main characteristics

How to choose porridge for the first feeding

Here is what Anna Levadnaya advises to pay attention to when choosing porridge for the first complementary foods in the store.

Age limit. There is always a marking on the package, from what age this porridge can be introduced. It depends on the type of cereals, the degree of grinding, the presence of fruits in it and other components.

Be sure to check the expiration date of the porridge.

Check the tightness of the package.

Pay attention to the additional ingredients in the composition. Ideally, they shouldn’t be. First of all, this applies to salt and sugar. Remember that sugar is hidden under such names as glucose, sucrose, fructose, maltodextrin. These are all sweeteners that should also be avoided. As for the presence of vitamins and complexes of pre- or probiotics in the composition, this is not bad in itself, but it should be borne in mind that a child may develop an allergy to these components.

As for the producers of cereals, it is not at all necessary to give preference to imported products. Now many cereals are produced in Our Country, but according to European technologies.