No cornflakes please for your infants! Here's why....
Created by Huda Shaikh Updated on Jun 29, 2017
What I should feed my child? How much should I feed my child?What foods would be nutritious enough? These are all very important questions that most mothers ask. Cornflakes with milkhas long been propagated as a healthy breakfast option, but honestly speaking, is it worth the hype?
Let’s do a reality check because here are 3 simple reasons why cornflakes are not made for your child’s digestive system:
-
Your baby cannot digest cereal efficiently:Let’s get this straight— in order to digest a grain like corn our body needs an enzyme named amylase which is responsible for splitting starch.But guess what! Your little one is incapable of producing amylase in large quantities as it takes about 1-2 years for it to come into play. There might be some salivary amylase production during the first 6 months, but pancreatic amylase, which is required for digesting a grain, is not produced until molar teeth appear.
Most importantly the undigested grain can pose a huge threat to the intestinal lining, leading to an imbalance of gut bacteria which in turn leads to food allergies, mood issues and so on.
2. Loss of important nutrients:Basically, by feeding them a grain like corn, you are simply giving your tiny tot undigested meals and keeping him/her away from nutrient dense foods. Giving your child something that his/her body cannot utilise makes no sense absolutely;the body can become devoid of nutrients that are essential for growth.
3. It is high in sugar and preservatives:Cornflakes are loaded with sugar, malt flavouring and high fructose corn syrup, which your small child does not require. Too much of sugar in any form can cause discomfort, diarrhea and might fill up your baby quickly without imparting adequate nutrition. The system of your child is not developed enough to get rid of these ingredients, and hence it’s best to keep your child away from them.
So what should you feed your child instead?
It is best to feed your baby foods like dal pani,rice water, pureed fruits, mashed bananas, mashed potatoes, vegetable soups,milkshakes,fruit smoothies, apple porridge, vegetable porridge or carrot/banana kheer.
Was this blog useful? What do you feed your child instead of cornflakes? Let us know in the comments below!
This content has been checked & validated by Doctors and Experts of the parentune Expert panel. Our panel consists of Neonatologist, Gynecologist, Peadiatrician, Nutritionist, Child Counselor, Education & Learning Expert, Physiotherapist, Learning disability Expert and Developmental Pead.
| Aug 04, 2019
1 year baby ko corn flakes kyo nehi dena chahiye
| Jul 10, 2017
Hi... Thanks for the information. Can u tell me the duration or gap between 2 solid meal for my 7 month kid...
| Jul 07, 2017
my baby is 8 months....... he cries when he passes stools. he strains and goes potty. very worried. what to feed him. I give him veg or fruit puree, cerelac and milk
| Jun 30, 2017
0379
| Jun 29, 2017
plz share the recipe of wheat flour ganji...
| Jun 10, 2017
Hi I give wheat flour ganji 4 my 9month son...
| Jun 04, 2017
I give my 8months baby sago. is it good?
| May 30, 2017
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| May 11, 2017
what more food i can prepare for my baby
| May 09, 2017
which type of food is best for my 6 month's boy?
| May 08, 2017
My 3month old baby is lactose allergic. she is on soya milk purely. Plz suggest options for her after she become of 4 month.
| Apr 26, 2017
what should be introduced first to a 5+baby if bf is not sufficient?
| Apr 14, 2017
I feed my 10 month baby daliya, dal ka pani with chapati,moong ki khichdi, suji ki kheer, sabudana kheer n khichdi, curd, apple, orange n banana fruits without mash he easily feed fruits.
| Apr 04, 2017
i feedbmy 11 mnths kid with ragi sheera ,,, dal rice ,,, curd ,,, fruit juices
| Mar 31, 2017
Apple puree, moong khichdi, daliya, orange juice, melon juice, cows milk. she is 11 months old
| Mar 30, 2017
Hi can i use pills or powder to increase breastmilk
| Mar 30, 2017
Hi can I give oats porridge to my 9 months old baby ?
| Mar 30, 2017
Hi Phynhun,Your most welcome :)
| Mar 30, 2017
Hi Kavita,Your most welcome :)
| Mar 30, 2017
Hi Aru,I am a nutritionist myself. Its ok to give dal pani and rice water than giving cereals which are loaded with preservatives. Your child needs to become accustomed to the taste of particular foods hence instead of giving rice water/dal initially you can start with the water. Also you can give fruit puree/vegetable puree,mashed potato and so on. And mostly importantly you would be surely breast feeding your baby along with the food you give. The calorie intake needs to increase as your child is growing but early on you cannot force your little one to eat purees. Start slowly and steadily ,lets not be too strict on our little ones :)
| Mar 30, 2017
Hi Ruchita,Welcome :)
| Mar 30, 2017
Hi Aiswarya,Thank you :)
| Mar 30, 2017
Hi Manisha,That is great. If your child has adjusted to it well then you can continue giving the same. Just make sure you introduce one food at a time to check for allergies :) Happy parenting!
| Mar 30, 2017
Hi Supriya,your most welcome dear :)
| Mar 30, 2017
Hi Rachna,Your most welcome :)
| Mar 30, 2017
Hi Tanvi,I am glad you found it useful.
| Mar 30, 2017
Thanks
| Mar 30, 2017
thanks for sharing this....
| Mar 30, 2017
dal ka Pani and rice water are not suggested these days by nutritionist as they are empty calories instead purees ate always better
| Mar 30, 2017
Thanks
| Mar 30, 2017
very informative...
| Mar 30, 2017
Thank for the information ...By the way i usally give apple pure, carrot puree,dal k pani in which i include beans n papita ,mashed banana ,papita,vegetable soup...
| Mar 30, 2017
thanks dear
| Mar 30, 2017
thanx for sharing
| Mar 30, 2017
yes it is useful
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