Many parents often wonder, “Is Cerelac good for babies?” as they seek nutritious options to complement their baby’s diet during the weaning process. With the uproar caused by the Maggi noodles controversy still fresh in our minds, it’s no wonder that people have become more cautious about purchasing packaged foods. The Maggi incident, being a favorite snack among kids, raised concerns about the safety of common food items. And let’s not forget the infamous Johnson’s controversy that shook the nation, revealing the lack of regulations surrounding products meant for infants and children.
In such a landscape, it’s only natural for parents to take a closer look at store-bought baby food mixes. While these mixes offer convenience, the availability of homemade instant mixes makes the choice even more enticing. Why rely on store-bought or branded mixes like Cerelac when you have the option of preparing wholesome and nutritious instant mixes at home? Let’s delve into the question on every parent’s mind: “Is Cerelac Good for Babies?” By exploring the following compelling reasons, we can gain a better understanding of why homemade instant mixes are often preferred over commercial options like Cerelac when it comes to nourishing our little ones.
Is Cerelac Good for Babies? 6 Reasons To Consider Homemade Instant Mixes Over Commercial Cerelac
1. Storage Conditions
The manufacturing and storage conditions of branded baby foods such as Cerelac, produced in factories and stored in large warehouses, raise concerns regarding their suitability for babies. We should make sure that there is no potential problems like rodent infestation in these facilities. This leads to the question: Is Cerelac good for babies ?
2. Preservatives
When considering baby food with preservatives, parents often raise the question, “Is Cerelac good for babies?”
Brands use preservatives to maintain its freshness and prevent spoilage. It’s important to note that while preservatives may extend the shelf life of the product, they can also raise concerns about their impact on infant health. So it’s important to opt for preservative free foods for the well being of your little ones.
3. Added Flavors
Uncertainty arises when branded mixes claim to contain real fruit, as they may actually contain artificial additives. With vague classifications like sugars or flavors, the chemicals in such products become questionable. Considering these concerns, Is Cerelac good for babies?
4. Freshness
Homemade instant mixes need to be consumed within a short while, ensuring that maximum freshness and nutrition is retained. The more such a product lies on the shelf, the lower its nutritive value will be, and higher the number of chemicals. Considering these concerns, is Cerelac good for babies?. Is it safe in terms of freshness, nutrition, and chemical content?
5. Synthetic Taste
Babies who get used to a synthetic taste courtesy of extra additives in food tend to grow up preferring packaged food over fresh, which can lead to a lifetime of bad eating habits. So this is not ending in short term and it has life long impact. And yes, it’s time to question yourself, Is Cerelac Good for Babies?
6. Cost
You have to remember that major brands often charge a price for branding, marketing and advertisement, all of which are paid for by the consumers. With homemade mixes, you only pay for what you get!
Our generation is witnessing a significant rise in lifestyle diseases, predominantly attributed to unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles. Disturbingly, the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study reveals that unhealthy eating patterns often persist from infancy to adolescence, resulting in a decline in dietary quality over the years. Additionally, the HabEat project highlights the pivotal role of parental involvement in fostering healthy eating habits during the critical first three years of a child’s life, setting the foundation for lifelong tastes and eating behaviors.
Considering the crucial developmental stage your child is in, ask yourself: Would you prefer them to become accustomed to the taste of synthetic, chemical-laden packaged food or relish the simple freshness and nutrition of homemade alternatives? As moms, the next time you reach for that box of branded baby food from the supermarket shelf, take a moment to reflect on the insights shared in this post. Embrace the gratifying choice of feeding your child a homemade baby food mix and find contentment in knowing you’re making the right decision for their well-being.
If you’re really busy and can’t find the time to make your own instant mixes, don’t worry!! You can easily order them online from the My Little Moppet Store. For more information on how this works, go here.
gauri says
Dear Doctor,
I give 1 or 2 feeds of Gerber baby food to my baby, alongwith milk and other fruit/homemade cereal. Wanted to know if gerber baby food can be given daily?
Hema says
Hi Gauri,
Any food that doesn’t have added preservatives, additives and enhancers into them can be fed to your child or family. So please do check and make the decision accordingly.
Mercy says
Hi Doc, i have 6 mons old baby and ready for solid food. Is cerelac is safe for her? i heard that cerelac is a junkfood. How ture it is?
Dr Hemapriya says
The reason that we are sharing homemade cerelac/mixes option is so we can avoid commercial ones. Try home made ones or you can pick from a reliable organic store.
Bhagya says
Hello Doctor,
I am a working woman. My baby is 6 months old. I’m giving her breast milk. Now I have to go office. She is eating little food like idly, kichdi but not enough to her in day time she wants breast milk also. She don’t like other milk. solids are not enough to my baby in day time at which time I am in office. What can I do please help me.
Dr Hemapriya says
Hi Bhagya you can search for the post on storing breastmilk and giving for your child. It has usful information on how to store breatsmilk and feed your little one when your away. You can also check the foodchart of 6 month old for more ideas on feeding your baby.
Bhagya says
Hello Doctor,
I am a working woman. My baby is 6 months old. I’m feeding her breast milk. Now I have to go office. She is eating little food like idly, kichdi but not enough to her in day time she wants breast milk also. She don’t like other milk. solids are not enough to my baby in day time at which time I am in office. What can I do please help me.
Dr Hemapriya says
Hi Bhagya, you can start storing breastmilk after expressing and it can be stored for upto a week in the refridgerator and given to your baby.
Mehnaaz says
Hi hema i have 23 months old baby boy he can’t eat the food properly and not drinking the milk that’s why he become thin can u plz suggest me somthing or tell me a diet chart.
Shweta says
Hi hema
My little girl now 18 months old ….she is doing gr8 .
I always used to give her homemade no outside food product till now ….nd ur recipes were gr8?
I am still nursing her bt want to quit …..plz help to quit nursing becoz of this she doesn’t sleep well in the night nd same happen with me ….whole night trouble for me even in day time
Dr Hemapriya says
Hi Shewta,
You can try making her sleep with her grandparents or dad alone for few days. Slowly tapering off how long and how often you breast-feed each day.Keep in mind that children tend to be more attached to the first and last feedings of the day, when the need for comfort is greater. These feedings might be the last ones your child drops. As a result, it might be easier to drop a midday breast-feeding session first. If you’re weaning a child age 1 or older, consider not offering this feeding and seeing if he or she requests it. After a lunch of solid food, your child might become interested in an activity and naturally give up this session. Once you’ve successfully dropped one feeding, you can start working on dropping another.
You might also choose to wean your baby from breast milk during the day but continue breast-feeding at night. Remember, it’s up to you and your child.
manu says
Hi Hema ji
My little sweet baby is of 9 months old now….. she doesn’t take milk from 2 weeks..Can you please tell how can I handle this situation???
Thanx
Dr Hemapriya says
Hi manu,
Do you mean Breastmilk ?