How to make cereal for babies
Homemade cereal for babies contain nutrients in their natural form (including highly absorbable forms of iron). Store-bought baby cereals are made from milled grains, a process that removes nutrients that are later added back in.These processed cereals frequently sit on store shelves for months and if not prepared carefully may resemble a paste or glue. The homemade cereal for babies described will fill your house with wonderful aromas absent from store-bought instant cereals.You will be happy when your children continue to ask for them into their toddler years.
BABY FOOD CEREAL BASICS
The younger the baby, the longer the grains should be soaked and cooked so that they are fully digestible. Between six months and one year, use a hand food mill. For babies over one year, grains may be mashed with a potato masher, suribachi, or served soft.
Cereal for babies may be sweetened with tiny amounts of organic rice malt or rice syrup.When your baby has teeth (usually after nine months), cereal can be mashed using a potato masher or suribachi ( Japanese hand food grinder). Here’s a quick overview of how to introduce cereal to your baby. Start with brown rice cereal. Once brown rice cereal is tolerated for one to two weeks, the second and later cereals can be introduced two weeks apart. If your baby or toddler is under the weather, the basic cereals in this website will soothe his tummy and comfort him.
Once Baby has tried all the grains and tolerates them, you can start using mixed grain combinations at about seven months or later.Wheat is highly allergenic and is not recommended until one year. Preparations for mixed grains are the same as first cereals. I have found millet/rice, oats/rice, and oats/barley to be yummy combinations.
Six easy steps for cooking grains
Follow these instructions to cook each of the grains described in this website’s recipes.
Wash grain in a bowl, replacing water until it becomes clear.
Soak grain (overnight for babies six to ten months, 3 to 4 hours for babies older than ten months) in a sturdy, deep pot, preferably stainless steel, as it will help retain nutrients.
For babies six to nine months, use 6–8 cups of water for every cup of grain.
For babies nine to twelve months, use 4 cups of water for every cup of grain.
For babies twelve months and older use 2 to 3 cups of water for every cup of grain.
Discard and replace water after soaking and add a one-inch square piece of kombu* to the water. For babies older than one year, add a few grains of sea salt.
Boil the grain on high until a raging boil; skim top of water and let simmer. Total cooking time will vary with grain used (see recipes for cooking times).When cooking is complete, remove grain from heat, let it cool for 10 minutes, and discard kombu.
Strain the grain and save liquid for Baby to drink or to add to cereal to give it a smoother consistency when reheating after refrigeration.
Mill grain in food mill to remove bran and other indigestible fibers from the cereal.
Store cereal in glass mason jars in the refrigerator for up to three days.
*Kombu is a seaweed commonly used in Asian cooking and is readily available prepackaged at health and grocery stores. It comes in dried sheets and its purpose is to increase digestibility and add minerals to the grain. Do not purchase loose seaweed as it is processed with more chemicals.
First cereal for babies
Brown rice cereal (begin six months plus)
- 6–8 cups filtered or spring water
- 1/3 cup organic sweet short-grain brown rice
- 2/3 cup organic short-grain brown rice
Cook for 1 1/2 hours after boiling.
Second cereal for babies
Millet cereal
- 6 cups filtered water
- 1 cup millet (or 3/4 cup millet and 1/4 cup sweet brown rice)
Cook for 1 hour after boiling. Millet sometimes contains tiny stones, so the grains should be carefully checked and stones removed before washing. Cooking time is shorter, taking only about 1 hour. Millet absorbs water quickly and needs more water than rice.
Third cereal for babies
Millet and rice cereal
- 6–8 cups filtered or spring water
- 1/4 cup organic millet
- 1/4 cup organic sweet short-grain brown rice
- 1/2 cup organic short-grain brown rice
Cook for 1 1/2 hours after boiling.
Fourth cereal for babies
Oatmeal cereal
- 6–8 cups filtered water
- 1 cup rolled oats
Cook for 1 1/2 hours after boiling.
Fifth cereal for babies
Barley cereal
A very sweet and delicious cereal!
- 6–8 cups filtered water
- 1 cup barley
Cook for 1 1/2 hours after boiling.
Other cereal for babies
Kamut flakes
Kamut is packed with protein.
- 6–8 cups filtered water
- 1 cup kamut
Cook for 1 1/2 hours after boiling.
Quinoa cereal (ten months plus)
- 1 cup quinoa
- 4 cups of water
Cook for 30 minutes after boiling.
How to make cereal for babies
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