Corn porridge with milk is an ideal product for baby food, since the cereal does not contain gluten, and it is absolutely safe for babies under one year old. Also, this food is rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients, which are very important for a growing body. How to cook corn porridge for babies, every mother should know.
Child eats porridge from a spoon
The benefits of corn porridge
Correctly cooked cornmeal porridge should definitely be included in the baby's menu, since it:
- Contains fiber, which will stimulate proper bowel function by gently clearing away waste products (good for children who suffer from constipation);
- Due to the silicon content, it strengthens the teeth;
- Does not apply to allergenic products, as it does not contain gluten;
- Differs in high nutritional qualities;
- Provides a feeling of fullness for a long time;
- It goes well with fruits and dried fruits;
- Strengthens the immune system, protects the body from all kinds of infections;
- Has a calming effect and helps to improve the sleep process;
- Low in calories and great for overweight children;
- It contains easily digestible carbohydrates, which will fill the growing body with a sufficient amount of energy.
Corn porridge on a plate
Composition and nutritional value
100 grams of crushed corn kernels contains:
- Proteins - 6.72 g;
- Fat - 1.49 g;
- Carbohydrates - 79.91 g;
- Ash - 0.52 g;
- Water - 11.37 g;
- Dietary fiber (cellulose) - 3.9 g
The calorie content of 100 grams of corn grits is 328 kcal.
Corn porridge contains many vitamins (A, E, H, PP, K, C, B1, B2, B3, B6). In addition, by introducing cornmeal porridge into the child's diet, you can provide the growing body with essential minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus and iron.
How to choose the right cereal
Groats need to be bought crumbly, without lumps, impurities and debris. Its color should be pale yellow. It is important to look at the product packaging with the expiration date and pay attention not to the date of packaging, but to the date when the cereal was produced.
When buying corn grits for a baby who is not yet a year old, it is best to choose a fairly fine grind. Porridge for children from one year old may consist of larger particles.
Finely ground corn grits
How to store
You need to store cereals in a glass container with a well-screwed lid so that neither moisture nor insects get inside. Expiration date - 20 months from the date of production.
Note! Do not buy too much cereal, as it tends to absorb moisture and acquire a bitter taste.
Milk selection
When buying milk for a baby for making porridge, you need to make sure that it is suitable for his age. You can read about this on the packaging. Then you should pay attention to the composition of the product. It is best if it is whole milk that has not been chemically or thermally treated.
It is also important to study the shelf life and the method of heat treatment. It is preferable to buy pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk, since almost all vitamins and minerals are preserved in it.
At home, you need to open the package and evaluate the color of the milk: a good and fresh product will have a deep white or pale cream color.
Important! If the milk is too clear, this will indicate that it has been diluted with water or subjected to multiple separations.
Baby milk for making porridge
When to introduce into complementary foods
Baby corn porridge, cooked in special baby milk, can be introduced into complementary foods only when he is nine months old. If a child eats a mixture, then it is possible to introduce milk porridge into his diet, starting from 7-8 months.
Important! Corn porridge made with whole cow or goat milk should not be administered to children under one year old, as well as to babies who have intestinal problems.
How to cook properly
Corn grits do not boil well in milk. At the same time, it rather quickly absorbs all the water and begins to stick to the bottom of the pan. Therefore, first you need to boil it in water, wait until it boils down, and only then pour in the milk and cook until tender.
It is very simple to prepare corn porridge in milk for a child. Step by step recipe:
- Take 40 g (2 tablespoons) of corn grits, pour a glass of hot water.
- Bring to a boil and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for about 15-20 minutes.
- Then pour in half a glass of milk and leave to cook for another 10-15 minutes.
- Add 1/2 tsp. (2.5 g) butter, 1 teaspoon sugar and salt to taste.
- Remove the dish from the stove, let it brew for 5-10 minutes and offer the child warm.
Every mother can cook such a delicious dish.
The process of making corn porridge
Complementary feeding rates by months to a year
Most pediatricians advise adding corn porridge cooked in milk to the baby's diet according to the following scheme:
- First, cook a completely liquid porridge: 5 g of cereals for half a glass of water. On the first day, give the baby 1 teaspoon of such porridge;
- If the child reacted well to the new product, then the next day the portion can be increased to 2 teaspoons.
- Within 7-10 days, bring the volume to 150 ml, completely replacing one feeding.
- After a week, you can already cook a thicker porridge (the proportion is 10 g of cereal for half a glass of water). You need to enter such a gruel, starting from 20-30 ml at a time.
- Bring the portion to 150 ml within a week.
Also, when adding corn porridge in milk to complementary foods, it is very important for each mother to follow these rules:
- Porridge is given in the morning - so it will be easier to digest, and the mother will be able to observe the baby's reaction during the day;
- They feed the crumbs from a spoon, picking up a not very large amount of porridge into it;
- After the child has eaten the prescribed portion, he should be offered breast milk or an adapted formula.
How often to give
For babies who are poorly gaining weight, corn porridge with milk is given no more than 1 time per week. Children with weight gain within normal limits - 1-2 times a week.
Note! The introduction of corn porridge with milk into the baby's diet will help provide the baby with nutrients important for development and growth.
Feeding the baby with porridge from a spoon
Number
The total volume of eaten milk corn porridge at one time should be as follows:
- For babies 7-8 months - 160-170 ml;
- For 8-9 month old babies - 170-180 ml;
- If the baby is older than 9 months - no more than 200 ml.
What can be combined with
If the baby is not allergic to bananas, they can be put in porridge, kneaded beforehand to a puree state. You can also add a finely grated apple or pear. Dried fruits will be a good addition to the dish: raisins, dried apricots, prunes.
Porridge with berries
Possible problems with complementary feeding
Parents should be aware that, despite all its beneficial qualities, cornmeal porridge can be harmful to the baby's body:
- If it is used often, then the body will have an excess of phosphorus, and the amount of calcium will significantly decrease. This will negatively affect the formation of the skeletal system and can damage the child's tooth enamel;
- You do not need to feed the baby with corn porridge if he has problems with the digestive tract, since corn negatively affects the acidity of the stomach.
- Some toddlers may have food intolerances with fiber, which is abundant in corn kernels. In this case, vomiting, diarrhea, and digestive problems may appear.
Signs of allergies
Allergy to corn grits manifests itself something like this:
- There are rashes on the baby's body in the form of blisters and rashes (most often on the face, arms and abdomen);
- There is a feeling of a stuffy nose, itching in the nose, sneezing, runny nose;
- The mucous membranes of the mouth, lips swell;
- The skin on the face swells, red spots appear, which are very itchy;
- There are attacks of nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea;
- The child becomes restless and excitable, constantly crying.
Additional Information. With intolerance to corn grits, such symptoms may appear an hour after eating porridge. If at least one of the above symptoms appears, you need to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Corn porridge is an essential food for babies. It has useful qualities and a pleasant taste, and is also easily absorbed by the child's body.
