When and How to Start Feeding Cerelac to Your Baby?

Ideal age to start feeding Cerelac to your baby

Most paediatricians and experts believe babies can start having Cerelac when they turn 6 months old. This is because babies should be exclusively breastfed until they are 6 months of age. In some cases, breastfeeding may not be possible for new mothers, due to which formula feed can be given to newborns.

However, these days, people believe that feeding Cerelac to a baby can be done once the baby crosses 4 months. Since Cerelac is a soft food, it is widely regarded as “easy to digest” for the baby’s still developing digestive system. If you plan to start Cerelac for your baby after 4 months, you should get your paediatrician's approval for the same.

Once your baby has crossed 4 months of age, you can watch for the following symptoms to understand if he/she is ready for Cerelac:

• Your baby continues to feel hungry despite you feeding him/her frequently (once every 2 hours).

• Your baby can sit properly with the help of a support.

• Your baby’s head doesn’t wobble and remains firm.

• His/her appetite is improving tremendously along with his/her physical development.

If you notice these signals, talk to your doctor about the same, and start feeding Cerelac to your baby, even at 4 months of age, after getting the go-ahead from the doctor.

Things to Keep in Mind

Some tips you should keep in mind when feeding Cerelac to your baby are:

• Keep the Cerelac as plain as possible. Don’t include additives, especially sugar, in your baby’s Cerelac. Your baby cannot digest sugar until he/she is 1 year old.

• Ensure you don’t add any nuts or powders to your baby’s Cerelac, as it can hamper his/her digestive system.

• Dilute the Cerelac meal as much as possible when feeding Cerelac to your baby. This makes the food easy on the baby’s stomach.

• After a couple of spoons of eating Cerelac, watch if your baby shows any symptoms or allergies (like throwing up, skin rashes, or any signs of illness). If yes, stop feeding him/her Cerelac immediately and consult your doctor.

• Check if your baby’s posture is right before feeding him/her Cerelac. Your baby should be in a sitting position for him/her to be able to swallow and digest Cerelac well. Don’t feed Cerelac to your baby in any other posture.

• Even after introducing Cerelac to your baby’s food, continue breastfeeding or giving him/her formula feed as much as possible. This is because breastmilk and formula milk are more comfortable to digest for the baby than Cerelac.

How to introduce Cerelac to your baby’s diet?

When feeding Cerelac to your baby, always remember to start with the plain rice variety. Instead of store-bought Cerelac, you can make it at home using simple ingredients such as rice and milk. This is healthier and safer for your baby.

A simple way to make Rice Cerelac for your baby at home is:

• Take about 100g of rice. After washing it well, soak it overnight or for about 5 hours. Drain the water after 5 hours, and allow it to dry completely under sunlight.

• Once the rice is completely dried, dry-roast it in a pan. Stir well in the pan until all the moisture is evaporated. You will notice the rice spluttering when it is done.

• Transfer the contents from the pan to a plate and allow it to cool down completely. After the rice has cooled completely, grind it in a blender till it becomes a coarse, powdery consistency.

• You can store this rice powder in an airtight box to increase its shelf life.

When it’s time to feed Cerelac to your baby, you can make a simple Cerelac recipe this way –

• In a pan, boil some breastmilk or formula milk. When the milk is boiling, add a spoonful of rice powder to it.

• Keep stirring immediately and ensure there are no lumps.

• Switch off the flame when the Cerelac turns into a nice paste-like consistency. Feed this to your baby, and observe his/her symptoms.

As your baby grows beyond 6 months old, you can slowly replace rice with other cereals, fruits, nuts, etc., after consulting your doctor.