Is it possible for a small child to feed semolina porridge. Is there any benefit in semolina porridge, and when to give it to a child? Proven Benefits of Special Grains

  • Date of: 01.04.2019

A lot can be said about the usefulness of semolina in the baby’s diet. It is rich in vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and fiber, so it is administered as a quality to all children. But, at what age can you give your child semolina? In what form it will be useful, and in what harmful, how to cook it? We will answer these and many other questions in our publication.

Beneficial features

What is so useful semolina cough for a child? And the main advantages are its advantages, among which it can be noted:

  • It contains about 65% of starch, as well as protein, vitamins and many minerals, which contribute to the rapid development and growth of a little man.
  • During cooking in a pan, semolina does not lose useful qualities.
  • Like mashed potatoes, porridge can be cooked very quickly - the approximate time for the product to cook is 7-10 minutes.
  • Refers to energy-intensive food, as it contains only 0.2% fiber.

Despite the usefulness of the product, cooking porridge for a child of 3 months of age is still too early. But if mom can’t wait, and she wants to feed her child with this dish, then to do this, you need to be extremely careful and in small quantities.

The harm of semolina for the body of children

What is the danger of the product and why should not give semolina to a child up to a year? And the whole thing is in its chemical composition, containing the following substances:

  • Gluten, which can cause dysbiosis or other allergic reactions in the form of a rash on the skin (redness, rash, peeling), as well as digestive upset (stool disorder). That is why pediatricians recommend starting the first feeding with semolina with caution, observing during the day the reaction of the baby's body.
  • Fitin  - prevents the absorption of crumbs of such minerals as calcium, iron, and vitamin D into the body. But they play an important role in the development of the musculoskeletal system, and thereby serve as a prophylaxis against rickets.
  • Gliodin  - a substance due to which necrosis of the intestinal tissue occurs.

From what month can children have semolina porridge as a food?


You can start introducing semolina into the diet of a child without any fear at the age of 1.5-2 years, and even better from 3 years. For the first time in months, the product should be monocomponent, without the addition of oil, salt or other ingredients. If the crumbs have problems with bowel disease, then this dish must be postponed to a later date.

Particularly acute is the problem of introducing into the complementary foods baby porridge, the body of which is not yet ready to receive this food. Most pediatricians claim that giving semolina porridge at this age is possible, but in a very limited quantity, 1 teaspoon, and not more than 2 times a month. It can also be diluted with ready-made infant formulas to improve palatability.

Pediatricians and nutritionists recommend cooking cereals for children after meeting with corn, buckwheat and rice porridge, as well as vegetable purees that are gluten-free. And if for adults this component is not terrible, then for crumbs it is too dangerous, as it can disrupt the digestive tract.

Like other products, semolina on the baby’s menu after a year is more appropriate than starting complementary foods at 6 months of age. This is due to the peculiarity of the digestive tract of infants. And to be precise, the intestinal enzyme system, which is already formed closer to the year and is ready to digest heavier foods.

How to cook. Recipe for semolina

Each mistress can have her favorite recipe on how to cook semolina for the baby. It can be borrowed from grandmothers or found on the Internet. But not every mother knows how to cook a tasty and tasty dish without lumps, foam and not too liquid, which will appeal to children of any age.

You can quickly cook semolina for your little one in the following way:

  • Pour pure artesian water (250 ml) into the pan, children who are poorly gaining weight can be cooked in milk, in the same proportions.
  • Bring to a boil, then pour 3-4 teaspoons of cereal.
  • Boil semolina for 5-7 minutes (it all depends on the type of cereal) over low heat, stirring constantly with a spoon. Pay attention to its consistency - it should be without lumps and not too thick.
  • Remove from heat, let it cool and you can offer crumbs.

If the mother doubts when it is possible to give the baby semolina, or there are concerns about his health, it is better to consult with your doctor or undergo a checkup at a gastroenterologist.

Kids who are 1.5-3 years old and older can add a piece of butter, a pinch of salt and sugar to taste in their semolina. Children of one year old do not recommend these supplements.

Starting from the age of six months, and sometimes even earlier, mothers of babies begin to enter the diet (if the baby is not breast-fed, then you can try from four to five months). It can be vegetable or fruit puree and porridge. Porridge can be varied, modern manufacturers of baby food offer a fairly wide range of similar products, but let's dwell on semolina today. This porridge has been considered proven in terms of complementary foods for many generations and is most often used by mothers even today.

Why is semolina

Semolina, which was considered by our mothers and grandmothers to be an ideal option in relation to complementary foods for young children, is quite actively used to this day. This is explained not only by the liquid consistency of the finished product, which is suitable for the child, but also by the high content of useful components that are preserved with proper preparation of the porridge. In addition to starch, proteins and vitamins, it contains a lot of fiber and can not only provide the tiny organism with everything necessary for full development, but also normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Controversial issue

Currently, experts talk a lot not only about the benefits, but also about the dangers of this porridge. We can say that the opinions of the past generation and modern mothers are divided. Grandmothers say that it’s better than semolina, they haven’t come up with anything for infants, and modern ready-made feeding options can not be compared with her, and mothers, having studied the studies of specialists, argue that it is impossible to give her children up to a year old. Let's try to figure out who is right and who is not.

What is the harm of decoy

Studies conducted by specialists in child development and nutrition have proven that it is necessary to introduce decoy into the baby’s diet with great care. This is explained by the following reasons:

  1. Decoy for the baby is definitely very difficult for his digestion. Porridge is not digested quickly enough and often causes problems with the gastrointestinal tract, which are already quite enough in the crumbs.
  2. Due to the increased phosphorus content in semolina in the body, the amount of calcium is significantly reduced, which affects the development of the child.
  3. Semolina porridge contains a very large amount of starch, and if the baby grows and develops properly, then with its frequent use you can easily gain excess weight, which, in turn, can lead to various problems.
  4. An allergic reaction may occur due to the gluten present in the semolina vegetable protein. In severe cases, the child may need to take medications.
  5. Poor absorption of vitamin D, calcium and iron suggests that there is phytin in semolina porridge. An insufficient amount of the above vitamins causes the development of rickets and a decrease in immunity.

Benefits you can't argue with

Despite the negative aspects of this well-known product, the undeniable benefits are also present in the use of semolina:

  1. The composition of semolina includes numerous vitamins and minerals that help in the development of the baby's body. For example, potassium, magnesium, vitamins of group B, E, proteins.
  2. A big plus is that the decoy for babies is cooked very quickly. Vitamins and useful mineral elements do not have time to change their composition, are not destroyed and in the required state enter the body.
  3. If it does not meet the development parameters, then it can be fed with semolina to ensure a normal set of body weight.

A prerequisite for the preservation of all useful substances in a ready-to-eat product is its proper preparation. If you overcook the porridge, it will be too heavy for the crumbs, and if you digest it, the benefits will decrease significantly.

Follow the rules

If after comparing all the positive and negative factors, you still decide to cook such a dish as semolina, pay attention to the rules for its preparation. Follow them, and there will be no problems with cooking, but about the fact that semolina was once difficult to cook, you, after a short period of time, do not even remember.

It can be argued that only properly prepared porridge will bring benefits, which will be of a uniform mass, without lumps, without stickiness and necessarily with grains. Only in this case, the product will retain all its positive qualities and will not harm the small body.

  for babies

Advice on Grandmothers and mothers can be passed on from generation to generation, and mothers can cook it with their eyes closed, but those who have taken up this task for the first time are not always able to cope with it.

Five percent porridge. In order to cook such porridge, you will need: two teas. tablespoons of cereals, half a glass of water and milk, a pinch of sugar and salt. We are waiting for the water to boil, salt and pour the cereal, stir constantly. You need to know one secret to get liquid without lumps. To do this, combine the cereal with sugar, and only then introduce them into boiling water. After the cereal boils a little, add milk and cook for another ten minutes. The result is a liquid semolina porridge for a bottle.

Ten percent porridge. Combine in half a glass of water and milk, wait until the resulting mixture boils, then add one table. a spoonful of semolina with sugar (do not forget about the secret described above) and, stirring, cook porridge for fifteen minutes. When it has steamed enough, add another half a glass of warm milk and bring to a boil.

Every mom needs to know this.

So, we familiarized ourselves with the basic recipes of porridge, and now let's try to figure out when to give decoy to the baby. At what age should the baby be introduced to her and what if the baby does not tolerate milk? Children who are less than six months old need to boil a liquid, the so-called 5% semolina. And children older than six months can cook thicker semolina - 10%. If the baby for some reason does not tolerate cow's milk, do not leave it without decoy. Try to cook it on a special mixture designed specifically for such purposes.

Popular question

Semolina is a fairly unpretentious product, but the question of how to cook semolina for babies remains popular, because someone gets porridge with lumps, very thick or, conversely, liquid, often burns. The tips listed above will help young mothers learn how to cook perfect porridge.

After analyzing all the advantages and disadvantages of semolina porridge, we can conclude that everything is good in moderation. Do not abuse semolina and eat it every day, but in order to diversify the diet, you can add it to the menu. Eating porridge several times a week will be enough, there is also a recommendation to introduce the child to semolina only after a year.

But if decoy for an infant is infrequently prepared, then it will not harm a small body. The normalized quantity, frequency of consumption and proper preparation will help to extract all the beneficial properties from the cereal and eliminate the possible harm to the growing body.

It so happened that I, at a tender age, I did not understand the fairy tale about a magic pot with delicious porridge, which was eaten by the whole city. In kindergarten, people like me were seated at the farthest table. While the others ate for breakfast on both cheeks, then lunch, went for a walk, saw the third dream, ate again, I was poking around languidly in the morning semolina, drilling deep holes in the frozen mass. Refusing food was in no way a sabotage! Just the only porridge that I could swallow without tears was buckwheat. Who knows why? ..

Fortunately, most children do not suffer from "cachephobia" and absorb this product with appetite. And rightly so: porridge is an inexhaustible source of well-digestible carbohydrates, minerals, B vitamins, fiber needed by the body and vegetable proteins.

In the time of Ancient Russia, “porridge for health” was considered to be cereals from cereals of “egg, buckwheat, oatmeal and Sorochinsky millet”. Wise folk experience accurately determined what kind of porridge is suitable for which work, and strength could be calculated in advance by satiety with buckwheat or barley. Our ancestors believed that with a stubborn man “you won’t cook porridge,” and if things took an unexpected turn, they shouted: “Here’s the porridge made!” For a long time, groats for Slavic farmers symbolized a house, a family hearth, was an object of admiration and respect: they showered brides with grain, they met a newborn with a sweet drink, and in memory of the dead they made a funeral. In fairy tales, porridge is an invited guest at the holiday, an indispensable attribute of wealth. All in all, our food. And the original Slavic can be considered three main cereals - from millet, barley and millet. As early as the 20th century, millet was boiled, strained and seasoned with honey. Rice appeared only in the XVII century from the east, and buckwheat was imported from Byzantium.

“Crayons, crayons, chalk!”

Porridge is popular to this day. However, cereals differ in the set of minerals and are suitable for children of different ages. It is recommended to start complementary foods with buckwheat, corn and rice porridge, and then introduce oatmeal, semolina, pearl barley and millet porridge. By the way, buckwheat, oatmeal, rice porridge, cooked on water, are more valuable than semolina, millet and pearl barley.

Buckwheat porridge is a favorite of kids - it is rich in plant fibers, an excellent source of iron. Its minerals and vegetable proteins, fats, starch, vitamins are perfectly absorbed. Moreover, it is better for the kids to give it (crushed cereal) - it is slightly polished and, although it lost some useful elements during processing, it is absorbed better than the kernel.

Semolina porridge has long been the basis of complementary foods. It is this product that the current parents tried first after mom's milk and grated apple. Manka is less a source of fiber and carbohydrates than, for example, buckwheat or rice. But it is rich in starch, vegetable protein and has a great effect on digestion. Medicine actively uses semolina for dietary nutrition of postoperative patients. Recently, decoy has been subjected to “persecution”, and children under 2 years old are not recommended to eat it. It is believed that the acid contained in it “eats” calcium and contributes to the development of rickets. However, so far this is only an opinion.

In the beloved dish, there are more high-born English than in others, protein and plant fibers that improve digestion. Essential amino acids and fats, potassium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, magnesium - all this is native not only to English, but to our heart oatmeal. Another plus is vitamin E. It is not in vain that mums eat oatmeal and granola for the kids: it's good! Oatmeal is well absorbed, but for karapuz it is preferable not to whole-grain cereals (a very fashionable trend), but Hercules flakes, which are specially steamed, chopped for better brewing and assimilation.

Corn is rich in starch, iron, vitamin PP and carbohydrates, which are necessary for the body’s energy needs. At the same time, you will not find calcium and phosphorus in it, as in buckwheat. Corn is neutral for the intestines of children, unlike “fixing” rice. But there is one significant drawback - cereals must be cooked for a long time.

After 6 months, the baby can be given cereal from millet. Millet porridge is delicious, especially with milk and butter. True, you should not get involved in “millet”, but once a week - completely. They make this miracle dish, saturated with phosphorus, fiber and iron, from barley. The disadvantage is that it is poorly digested, so feed yourself, and do not eat babies up to a year.

Hypoallergenic rice is a source of carbohydrates, but there are much less minerals in it than in buckwheat. Rice porridge will save during indulgences - it perfectly “fixes”. And in order not to provoke constipation, feed the baby with rice (after 6 months) not often, alternating it with other cereals.

Cooked porridge - fed the children

Nutritionists advise alternating cereals, making cereals mixed from three to five cereals - this is how almost all the useful properties of cereals are involved. In general, porridge is a unique product: your imagination really has a place to unfold. During cooking, you can add vegetables, fruits, nuts, dried fruits, and frozen berries to your taste. Ordinary oatmeal is flavored with prunes, raisins, dried apricots and nuts, fresh currants, strawberries, cherries or apples, rice porridge is tasty with dried fruits, and millet with dried apricots and bananas. By the way, such nutritional supplements eliminate one drawback that some cereals have: they help to absorb calcium. A combination of buckwheat porridge with milk, liver, oatmeal - with milk, millet - with an egg or pumpkin is considered successful.

Cooking cereals is simple: sort out the cereals, rinse first with warm water, then hot. Hercules, semolina is boiled, as is. Bring water or milk to a boil, add salt, oil, pour in the cereal and cook, stirring occasionally. When the cereal absorbs all the water, stirring is stopped, the pan is covered with a lid, and on low heat bring to readiness. You can cook friable, viscous and liquid porridge. Crumbly cereals are best boiled in water, and milk is added afterwards so that it does not lose the biological value of proteins. In the preparation of porridge, the proportion is important: the ratio of cereals to liquid should be in oatmeal - 1: 2.5, buckwheat -1: 2, millet and rice - 1: 3, manna 1: 5.

Cook, pot, by the rules!

Whether to cook porridge for steam, milk, water, add sugar, or buy instant (instant) porridge - this is not a complete list of issues that concern newly made parents.

For the first acquaintance, 5-8% milk cereals are best suited (1 teaspoon of cereal per 100 ml of liquid). Porridge is introduced gradually: on the first day for breakfast - one teaspoon, on the second - two or three, and so bring to 100 g by the end of the week. Prepare cereals in the "half", diluted in half with water milk, from the second year of life - on the whole. For allergies, cereals are cooked on vegetable broths or just on water. Some "milk" mothers add their milk for taste. The baby cup should be mashed, slightly fresh, and put less sugar or exclude it altogether. It is preferable for young children to give cereals from crushed buckwheat, rice, corn grits. These cereals are not only useful for the baby, but also safe, since they do not contain a special protein - gluten.

Gluten is contained in the shell of the grain (a lot in semolina), often contributes to the development of a serious disease in children - celiac disease. The cause of this scourge is gluten, and the first signs are irritability, moods, weakness, and loose stools with plenty of mucus (diapers are poorly washed). Gluten intolerance is common among babies quite often, so the industry produces special gluten-free products from cereals - cereals, cookies, cereals.

To cook or not to cook?

Today, the market is filled with ready-made dry cereals with various flavors. These cereals are divided into dairy - "just add water" - and dairy-free, requiring dilution with specialized milk. It is important to remember the difference (dairy or dairy-free) and prepare them correctly. Dear mothers, read the label carefully! In practice, cases of food allergies caused by the culinary delights of parents have been recorded. If milk porridge (and it is written on the packaging), then you need to breed it with water! You do not need to add milk - you only harm the child. If there is no milk in the porridge, then it is prepared with the milk mixture or breast milk.

Porridge is also distinguished by the method of preparation: instant and requiring heat treatment. Instant milk porridge, slightly fresh or sweet on the contrary, is intended for children under the age of two years, then it is better to cook ordinary ones. The undoubted advantages are convenience, saving cooking time. Some cereals that are difficult to digest - rye, barley, corn - after industrial processing are easily transformed into delicious malasha porridge. The disadvantages of cereals for baby food prepared using the latest technology are closely related to industrial processing, during which some useful properties of natural cereals are lost. This drawback, however, is fully compensated by the enrichment of minerals and vitamins, and sometimes turns into a dignity. Ready-made baby cereals are tested for herbicides, insecticides, heavy metals.

In our far from ideal ecological environment, this is a guarantee of safety. The World Health Organization has taken care of the cooks, and there are special requirements for “cereal” products. Good porridge contains minerals, selenium, iodine, biotin; There is an indication of the age at which this complementary foods should be introduced. Minimum flavors, sugar and salt. And the lack of soy and milk base is a big plus.

For several years, porridge has been a healthy, dietary, inexpensive and hearty meal. Cooked semolina according to the rules, turns out to be a tender, pleasant and well-digested dish. Pieces of fresh fruits and berries, jam, chocolate, dried fruits can be added to it depending on the age of the child.

Semolina is used in food from infancy to old age. In Soviet times, this type of porridge was popular in baby food: in schools, kindergartens, summer camps and hospitals. Today, scientists treat semolina both positively and negatively. Today it is necessary to figure out at what age you can give semolina to a child and how to cook it.


Pluses of semolina

Semolina is obtained from wheat grains by grinding according to a special technology. The size of the grains varies from 0.2 to 0.7 mm. It is made from soft, hard, combined wheat varieties.

The composition of semolina is diverse and useful:

  • tocopherol (E);
  • b vitamins;
  • a nicotinic acid;
  • calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, silicon.

The dish contains a significant amount of carbohydrates, therefore it is considered energy-intensive and saturated. Due to the strong grinding by the body, it happens quickly, easily.

With the correct introduction of semolina into the diet, it benefits the developing organism in the following:

  1. Replenishes energy reserves.
  2. The functioning of the nervous system improves.
  3. The condition of the skeletal system is normalized, it accelerates the growth of teeth.
  4. It has enveloping properties. It does not irritate the digestive system.
  5. Strengthens the heart, blood vessels.
  6. Increases defenses.
  7. Promotes the normal functioning of the body.

Disadvantages of semolina

Despite all the positive properties, scientists have identified a number of negative properties in cereals. Let's see why children should not be given semolina:

  1. Unlike other types of cereals, semolina is inferior in nutritional value. In its composition, it contains a diverse amount of vitamins, minerals, but in small doses.
  2. It is considered a champion in the content of gluten protein compounds. The gastrointestinal tract of a small child is quite difficult to digest this type of food, and a severe allergy can also occur.
  3. The presence of phytin reduces the absorption of vital minerals. That is why it is impossible to semolina for children up to a year.
  4. Gliodin is a substance that negatively affects the digestive system and feeding young children.
  5. With excessive use of children's semolina there is a risk of gaining excess body weight.


From how many months you can give decoy to the baby

With breast or artificial feeding, complementary foods are administered 6 months after birth, when the baby is not fed up with breast milk or mixtures. Therefore, a developing organism must be properly prepared for adult food.

Semolina and dishes from it are not the ingredients that need to be introduced into the diet of a baby with good health. Porridge can cause constipation or, conversely, diarrhea. As an exception, premature, weak and emaciated babies with a lack of weight. This group of children is allowed to enter semolina, but after consultation and examination of a specialist.

Doctors say that manna porridge for children is recommended not to be given earlier than 8 months, but with a tendency to allergies at 1 year. At this age, the digestive system is already stronger and perfectly copes with the assimilation of heavy foods.

Up to 3 years old, feeding a child porridge is allowed no more than 1 time in 7 days.

To prevent an inadequate reaction of the body to a new product, porridge must be correctly introduced into food and, moreover, in small portions. It is forbidden to add new ingredients in the diet, as it will be incomprehensible because of which component the allergy began.

Is it possible to use boiled semolina porridge on water as the first food? Yes, according to pediatricians, this is the best option for a child aged 8 months. Initially, it is necessary to give the child a sample of 10 grams. In the absence of rashes, discomfort in the intestines, the amount of food consumed increases to 100 grams per 1 meal.

Semolina is rich in gluten, so it can cause constipation.

In some cases, there is a need to feed the baby earlier than the specified time. Then the question arises: “When can I give semolina porridge to the baby?” If the child has no colic then you can enter from 2 months, otherwise from 3-4. So, at a young age they cook 5% porridge, and for children over six months old - 10%. Before introduction, be sure to consult a specialist.

After full inclusion in the diet of porridge, it is allowed to cook with milk. For children with poor sleep, waking up at night with a need for food, it is allowed to give the baby porridge before bedtime.


Rules for making semolina porridge

Most young mothers are faced with the problem of how to cook semolina porridge. The main thing is not only to make high-quality, but also tasty, so that the child ate with pleasure. We suggest considering several cooking options.

Semolina porridge on the water

Ingredients:

  • semolina - 3 tablespoons;
  • filtered water - 250 ml;
  • non-iodized salt, granulated sugar to taste.

Pour the required amount of water into the cooking container. Bring to a boil and pour in a thin stream of semolina with regular stirring. You can prevent the formation of unpleasant lumps if you mix with a whisk for whipping.

Semolina on water should be boiled for 2-3 minutes, after reducing the heating of the cooking surface. Remove from heat to taste (salt, sugar, butter as desired).

Semolina is boiled in milk in the same way only milk with water is used in a ratio of 1: 1.

Porridge for kids (5%)

Semolina porridge for babies (recipe see below) is prepared in a certain proportion for the purpose of pouring into a bottle. If the cereal concentration is greater, then sucking the contents will be much more difficult.

Components:

  • filtered water - 130 ml;
  • milk - 70 ml;
  • semolina - 1.5 tsp;
  • granulated sugar on the tip of a knife.

Pour water into the pan, pour the cereal after boiling. How many minutes to cook semolina porridge? With regular stirring on slow heating for 7 minutes. After small portions pour milk and sugar. Bring to a boil and boil for another 2 minutes.

For children on artificial feeding, instead of milk, you need to add a mixture. But how to be, after all, it cannot be boiled. Initially, porridge is boiled in liquid water, then it is cooled and the mixture is dissolved based on 100 ml of liquid porridge - 1.5 scoops.

For children from six months (10%)

We suggest considering another option how to weld a liquid semolina for a bottle. The consistency of the finished dish is thicker and is intended for children older than 6 months.

Products:

  • pure water - 130 ml;
  • milk - 120 ml;
  • semolina - 16 g;
  • granulated sugar;
  • butter as desired.

Combine water with 100 ml of milk, bring to a boil on medium heat. Pour the cereals neatly, cook for 8-10 minutes. Then pour in the remaining milk and pour sugar, stir thoroughly. Warm over low heat for 2-4 minutes. Add oil, stir.

So we figured out how to cook semolina for a child in milk, water and liquid for a bottle. It is important for parents to remember that everything is good in moderation.

The question of whether it is permissible to raise children on decoy, as was done in Soviet times, arose before doctors only about 10 years ago. This is due to progress in the methods of diagnosing allergic diseases, as well as metabolic disorders.

In itself, semolina is not dangerous for children, because it is not for nothing that several generations of children have grown on it. But in some conditions that cannot be diagnosed on time, its intake can worsen the condition of the baby. Therefore, now, as a preventive measure, the introduction of semolina in feeding a child is delayed. We will talk about the reasons, as well as how to cook and feed your baby semolina, below.

What is semolina semolina?

Semolina itself is small grains and dust produced by threshing wheat. They are collected separately and packaged according to particle size and labeling. Therefore, semolina is identical in composition to wheat. It is rich in trace elements (phosphorus, potassium, iron), vitamins E and group B. With a small amount of protein, it contains only 1%. The crushed cereals minimizes the amount of fiber, which allows it to be easily digested. Croup passes in transit to the intestine and is absorbed only in the lower parts of the small intestine.

Semolina is used as a nutritious product for diseases of the kidneys, digestive system, and also after operations.

Along with positive properties, semolina also has negative ones. A large amount of phytin and a trace element of phosphorus affect the metabolism of calcium, causing it to be washed out of the bones. Also semolina, like wheat, can cause allergies. Everything is individual here.

Decoy and baby

Today, pediatricians do not advise early administration of semolina due to the possibility of celiac disease. With this disease, the intestine does not produce an enzyme that breaks down gluten, which leads to impaired absorption of substances in the intestine. It manifests itself in problems with stool, anemia, stunted growth and development. Celiac disease is quite common: 1 case per 200-300 people. The disease is inherited genetically, and can manifest itself at any age, both in childhood and in adults. The insidiousness of the disease lies in the fact that all the symptoms are nonspecific, and knowledge and extensive experience are required in order to suspect it in time.

Some mothers rush to the other extreme, generally excluding semolina from the children's diet. It is important to understand that moderation in nutrition will not hurt. It is better to offer it to children after a year. Do not abuse a nutritious and high-calorie dish, in the baby’s menu it takes place 1-2 times a week.

How much can I give?

Due to the peculiarities of the development of the intestines of the crumbs and the maturation of the enzymatic function, semolina, like other gluten dishes, is introduced closer to the year. At about 11-12 months.

How to cook?

You will need 2/3 cup cereals and 1/2 cup water or milk. Bring any liquid to a boil, then pour a little grains a bit, stirring constantly. Constantly stir until ready. So in the porridge there will be no lumps that children do not like so much. After 4-5 minutes, the porridge will swell and be ready. Remember that porridge on the water is not very high in calories. But boiling it in milk and adding oil there, you will increase the number of calories.

Some housewives advise to cook only 1-2 minutes, turn off, cover with a lid, wait until it swells itself. But then there is a chance that lumps will appear.

How to start feeding?

Any porridge, including semolina, is introduced gradually. For the first time, crumbs are given the so-called 5%, i.e. the ratio of milk to water should be 1: 1. Then, when the baby gets used to the new product, you can do 10%, completely on milk. Semolina is introduced gradually into the 2nd or 4th meal, adding a teaspoon per day. As a result, the baby should eat 150 g per day.

The opinion of pediatricians

Most pediatricians are inclined to believe that semolina is not recommended for children with intestinal problems, digestive disorders, excess body weight, and allergic diseases. The rest, with normal development and without contraindications, can be introduced into the lure, but not more often than the aforementioned amount.

At the same time, some paramedics do not consider the dish necessary and do not see anything wrong if the baby does not try it.

So, if the child is healthy and he likes semolina, then let him eat to health, but in moderation. Moreover, its cost is low, nutritional and taste properties are high. If not, then no need to force. It can be perfectly replaced with other cereals.