What is Baby Cereal?
Wheat and ground grains are the typical ingredients in baby cereal. Baby cereal is generally sold as a powder and is made up of different types of multigrain, ground oats, and other fruit or vegetable powders. Children are to consume this powder when combined with either water, milk, or breast milk. When the powder is combined with the liquids, it forms a silky, smooth paste that is easy for children to digest and absorb the most nutrients from.Are cereals healthy for babies?
Baby cereals are a very safe and healthy way to maximise the nutritional value of a baby's diet. Baby cereals are usually introduced when babies are ready to move on to solid foods. It is an excellent transitional food to solid food and is ideal for baby weaning. Majority of the best baby cereal are iron fortified and contain various vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fibres that promote the healthiest development of the growing baby.Types of Baby Cereals
Baby cereals are typically made from refined grains and are available in powder form. However, the base ingredients and flavours of baby cereals vary frequently. Here are some of the healthiest and most well-liked:- Ragi-based: Most Indian organic baby cereal brands have ragi as their base ingredient. This is a great option to go for when buying organic baby cereal. Ragi/ Finger Millet has multiple benefits and is rich in fibre, calcium, vitamins etc and is great for boosting immunity.
- Wheat-based: Baby cereals that are wheat-based are very rich in iron and protein. The purchase of iron-rich cereals is a great way to ensure that your baby's diet contains enough iron.
- Oat-based: Oatmeal is packed with vitamins and minerals that aid in the best overall development of the baby. These baby cereals are easy to prepare and relatively easy for the little ones to digest.
- Rice-based: Because rice contains starch, rice-based baby cereals are excellent for helping babies gain weight. It is excellent for treating anti-colic and other digestive problems in infants.
Top Rated Baby Cereals in India
1. Best for Iron-rich: Nestle Cerelac 5 Grains & Vegetables Baby Cereal
This baby cereal has been fortified with a number of vital nutrients for infants. It provides the baby with plenty of iron. It also contains vitamins A, C, and D, all of which support the healthy development of your child. This cereal has gone through 47 quality checks so that you can be assured of the highest quality ingredients going into your baby's tummy. With the flavours and nourishment from the wheat-rice combination, your little one gets nothing but the best with this iron fortified baby cereal.
Ingredients: Wheat flour, milk solids, sucrose, soybean oil, rice flour, corn crunchies, spinach crunchies, carrot crunchies, green pea crunchies, tomato crunchies, minerals, and vitamins.
Item Form: Powder
Dimensions: 48 x 157 x 196 Millimetres ; 300 g
Suitable For: 10-24 months
Pros: No preservatives or added flavours, good texture
Cons: No concerns
Ratings: 4.5/5
2. Best in Flavour: Slurrp Farm Baby Cereal
This baby cereal is made with millet, a naturally occurring grain that is also known as ragi. Ragi contains high levels of calcium and proteins, which help with a baby's development. 13 vitamins and minerals that are important for growth have been added to this quick and simple-to-prepare cereal. In addition to having a high nutritional value, the cereal also has real strawberries and a delicious strawberry flavour. The flavour of this best baby cereal will definitely be loved by your little ones.
Ingredients: Ragi, jowar, rice, oat flour, vitamins, minerals, beetroot, date powder, natural fruit blend, milk solids, and milk powder.
Item Form: Powder
Dimensions: 15 x 3 x 15 cm; 200 Grams
Suitable For: 6 months and above
Pros: No refined sugar or preservatives added, high-calcium formula
Cons: May have a sticky texture
Ratings: 4.2/5
3. Best for Multiple flavours: Early Foods Organic Porridge Mixes & Dry Dates Powder
This Early Foods product is a mix of six different flavours of porridge mixes for little ones. Each flavour comes in a different packet and contains multiple nourishing and nutrient-rich ingredients. The box includes a variety of flavours, such as bajra and pumpkin seeds, whole wheat almonds and dates, millet fruits and seeds, dates powder, and sprouted organic ragi with almonds and dates. The organic and natural cereals are ayurvedic-inspired and are not only delicious but also beneficial for healthy development and the transition of babies to solid foods.
Ingredients: Sprouted ragi, almonds, dates, makhana, cardamom, instant wheat, bajra, pumpkin seeds, organic ragi, foxtail millet, green lentils, white rice, and lotus.
Item Form: Powder
Dimensions: 12 x 3.5 x 12 cm; 300 Grams
Suitable For: 8 months and above
Pros: Great packaging, easy to cook, delicious flavours
Cons: May have grainy texture after cooking
Ratings: 4/5
4. Best for Easy Digestion: Nestle Nestum Baby Cereal
Nestle's Baby Cereals are known widely for being not only flavorful but also nutritionally dense. This rice-based cereal will make for a fuss-free and hassle-free meal every time. Rice contains starches that make digesting the newly introduced solid food easy. In addition to being easy to digest, baby cereal includes a number of other nutrients that support a baby's immune system, such as vitamins A, C, selenium, and zinc. This high-quality cereal will keep your baby full and provide you with a stress-free feeding experience.
Ingredients: Rice flour, apple juice concentrate, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, sugar
Item Form: Powder
Dimensions: 13.5 x 5 x 18.5 cm; 300 Grams
Suitable For: 6-12 months
Pros: Smooth texture, no lumps, high quality.
Cons: No concerns
Ratings: 4.2/5
5. Best for Easy to Cook: Happa Organic Baby Sprouted Porridge Mix
Made from 100% organic sprouted ragi, this baby cereal has no room to disappoint. The sprouted ragi has high nutritional value and gives the benefits of fibre, calcium, potassium, etc. The nutritious mixture also includes banana and mango, which contribute to the baby cereal's natural sweetness and flavour improvement. Lastly, organic baby cereal is extremely easy to prepare. Preparing a single bowl takes less than five minutes and involves minimal effort.
Ingredients: Organic ragi, banana powder, mango powder,
Item Form: Powder
Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 10 cm; 190 Grams
Suitable For: 6 months and above
Pros: Traditional recipe, non-GMO, gluten-free
Cons: No concerns
Ratings: 4.1/5
6. Best for Boosting Immunity: Pristine 1st Bites Baby Cereal
Made with organic ingredients, your baby will get nothing short of the best nutrition with this baby cereal. The pre-cooked vegetarian formula has various nutritional ingredients that will greatly benefit the baby's growth and development. The ragi-based formula contains essential vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, and amino acids that all contribute to your child's maximum growth potential and strengthen immunity. This is a fantastic first solid food to begin weaning with. And finally, because the powder is packaged in a tin can, it is both safe and environmentally friendly.
Ingredients: Organic ragi, milk solids, minerals, vitamins, soybean oil, alpha-amylase, salt
Item Form: Powder
Dimensions: 12.5 x 5 x 18 cm; 400 Grams
Suitable For: 6 months - 2 years
Pros: Easy digestion, smooth texture, and no preservatives.
Cons: Not very flavourful
Ratings: 4.2/5
7. Best for Weight Gain: Early Foods Organic Sattu Maavu Porridge Mix
This baby cereal mix is full of filling, nutritious multigrain. Organic baby cereal makes for a perfect baby meal at any time of the day. The organic ragi is rich in calcium and helps aid in healthy and strong bone development. The other millets in the mix are high in vitamin B, which makes them excellent for supporting a child's developing nervous system. In addition to these benefits, baby cereal is packed with multigrain, which helps babies gain weight. Finally, watermelon seeds are a good source of fat and will help kids gain weight.
Ingredients: Organic ragi, kodo millet, foxtail millet, bajra, white rice, dates, almonds, lotus and watermelon seeds, cardamom.
Item Form: Powder
Dimensions: 18.5 x 13.4 x 3.7 cm; 200 Grams
Pros: Vegan, Dairy free, ayurveda- inspired
Cons: Have to stir frequently to avoid lumps
Ratings: 4.1/5
8. Best in High fibre: Nestle Cerelac Wheat Rice Mixed Veg Cereal
This is yet another outstanding Nestle product. Due to their high iron content, Nestle Baby Cereals are a fantastic option for infants. In just two servings, it provides almost a quarter of the baby's daily needs for essential iron. This organic baby cereal is incredibly high in fibre because it contains both the health benefits of rice and wheat. This supports the healthy and balanced gut development of your child. Additionally, the product includes a significant amount of beneficial nutrients like zinc, and vitamins A, C, and D, all of which support your child's development and immunity.
Ingredients: Wheat flour, milk solids, sugar, rice flour, soybean oil, corn flour, glucose syrup, carrot puree, minerals, tomato puree starch, vitamins, and enzymes.
Item Form: Powder
Dimensions: 4.8 x 15.7 x 19.6 cm; 300 Grams
Suitable For: 18-24 months
Pros: High quality, healthy and easy to cook
Cons: Packaging not up to the mark
Ratings: 4.5/5
9. Best for Multigrain: The Great Banyan Multigrain Sathu Maavu
This Sathu Maavu is composed of important ingredients like whole wheat, ragi, pearl millet, etc. that combine to create a delicious, nutrient-dense meal for your child. This versatile mix can be used to make porridge, a healthy drink, sweets, and also for making roti. The natural grains and pulses in the mix are packed with fibre, carbohydrates, proteins, etc. The organic health mix has no added sugar or preservatives, making it a safe choice for your entire family.
Ingredients: Whole wheat, finger millet (ragi), pearl millet, jowar, green gram, white and red rice, brown channa, groundnut, barley, cashew, almond, dry ginger and cardamom
Item Form: Powder
Dimensions: 17.8 x 12.3 x 4.9 cm; 400 Grams
Suitable For: 1 year and above
Pros: Locally sourced ingredients, vegan and natural
Cons: No concerns
Ratings: 4.1/5
10. Best for Bone Development: Assam BHIM Baby Cereal with Milk
Rice, bananas, and milk are the three main components of this baby cereal. Rice is a fantastic source of carbohydrates and aids in digestion. Bhim banana, an Assamese delicacy, has a number of advantages. It not only stimulates bone growth and is a good source of proteins, but it also supports brain growth and function. As a final source of protein, milk is a wonderful choice that will undoubtedly help your child develop strong, healthy bones. This best all-natural baby cereal also has various other vitamins and minerals that all contribute to the highest overall development of your little one.
Ingredients: Rice flour, Bhim banana powder, milk solids, sugar, sunflower oil, vitamins, and minerals.
Item Form: Powder
Dimensions: 22 x 16.3 x 5.5 cm; 300 Grams
Suitable For: 6 months and above
Pros: Flavourful , iron-rich, contains antioxidants
Cons: Flavour may be too sweet
Ratings: 4.2/5
11. Best for Organic: Fils Organic Baby Food Cereal With Ragi Multimillet
Three different millet varieties—foxtail millet, little millet, and pearl millet—are uniquely combined in this vegetarian baby cereal. These contain a variety of naturally occurring antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, etc. Your child will get the most nutrients and fibre from the mixture because it contains both ragi and multimillet. These vitamins and minerals aid in your child's optimal and healthy development.
Ingredients: Milk solids, wheat, rice, sugar, malt extract, soy lecithin, carrot, bean, and cabbage solids, and whey protein concentrates
Item Form: Powder
Dimensions: 15.5 x 4.5 x 19 cm; 350 grams
Suitable For: 10-36 months
Pros: Non-GMO, eco-friendly and easy to prepare
Cons: No concerns
Ratings: 4.2/5
How To Choose The Right Cereal For Your Little One?
Since there are so many options and flavours available, choosing one particular cereal can get tricky. Here are some factors to look for when buying baby cereal:- Iron-rich: Breast milk alone cannot give babies the amount of iron they need in the first few months. This is why purchasing an iron-rich supplemental breakfast cereal is a great way for people to get iron into their systems. Purchasing a baby cereal rich in iron is strongly advised because iron is great for the nervous system's functionality and brain development.
- High-fibre: Fibre is an essential component of a baby's diet. Fibre relieves constipation, promotes better digestion, and eases bowel movements. Fibre is a great ingredient for every gastrointestinal issue your little one may face.
- Flavourful: It's crucial to choose a baby cereal that has flavour because it will help your children eat dinner without fuss or complaint.
- Smooth Texture: When choosing a baby cereal, make sure it has a smooth texture when combined with liquids. Purchasing a cereal with the proper smooth and creamy texture is recommended because baby cereals occasionally become lumpy and don't mix well.
- Recommended Age: There are specific cereals for each stage of a baby's feeding cycle. Buy your child's recommended age-appropriate baby cereals that are also easy to digest.
Benefits of Baby Cereal
Since baby cereals are so nutrient-rich, they can have very positive effects on the baby. Here are some of the benefits of baby food cereal:- Iron-rich: The majority of cereals are fortified with iron and aid in supplying babies' daily needs.
- Excellent source of vitamins and minerals: Baby cereals are loaded with nutrients that are excellent for growth, including vitamins A - E, calcium, zinc, and others.
- Helps bone development: Baby cereals are calcium-rich. Giving your child foods high in calcium is a great way to get this mineral into their systems. Healthy, robust bones and teeth are produced as a result of this mineral.
- Aids nervous system development: This benefit also comes from the mineral called calcium. Calcium helps the nervous system, muscular system, and heart to function properly.
- Improves digestion: Baby cereals contain fibres and grains such as oats and wheat, which act as natural laxatives and help the baby's digestive system.
- Boosts immunity: Baby cereals are rich in vitamins like B6, B2, B9, and others that are essential for maintaining immunity and optimal immune function. Additionally, the probiotics in these cereals aid in the growth of beneficial bacteria, maintaining a strong and healthy immune system.
- Excellent for weight gain: Baby cereals contain high levels of calories and fibre, which all contribute to the healthy and necessary fat amount for babies, assisting in their weight gain.
Given the many advantages of baby cereals, it makes sense to start your baby's first few months with the best ingredients and nutrients. All of the products above are great for your baby's growth and development and for starting solid foods. We hope our list helped you find some of the best organic baby cereal for your baby.
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