How to cook semolina porridge in milk for a child?
Many of us grew up on semolina. For some, such a porridge was cooked in childhood by their mother, and for others by their grandmother. Remembering their young years, many mothers have a question: how to cook semolina in milk for a child. After all, the problem of complementary foods sooner or later confronts the mother of a baby who has already grown up, and only breast milk is not enough for him. It is worth considering the basic rules for feeding semolina, as well as the most popular recipes for semolina porridge for babies.
Basic feeding rules
The main advantage of this porridge is its high calorie content and the ability to quickly saturate a growing body. Therefore, many doctors, both before and now, recommend including this product in food for premature or weakened babies. Despite this, semolina is quite difficult to digest, which can provoke constipation in infants.
In addition, you should not abuse this dish, since the phytin, which is part of this porridge, does not allow calcium and iron to be properly absorbed. In this regard, it is necessary to introduce such a dish during breastfeeding with extreme caution, adhering to some rules.
- It is recommended to start feeding with semolina when the baby is at least 8 months old, and it is better to wait until the child's age exceeds the mark of 1 year. By this time, the baby's gastrointestinal tract will be able to digest such a porridge without causing negative consequences.It is recommended to feed the baby semolina at an earlier age only with the consent and under the supervision of a pediatrician.
- It is necessary to start complementary foods gradually - from 1 teaspoon. The first time you should feed the baby with semolina porridge, which was boiled in water. It is necessary to carefully monitor the reaction of the baby. In some situations, gluten intolerance may be observed (since semolina is made on the basis of wheat, gluten is included in this product). If the baby has a rash, a disorder of the stool is observed, or the child has become restless, then it is necessary to wait a little with the introduction of this dish into complementary foods. If the baby tolerates such a dish well, then you can gradually increase its amount, bringing it to a full serving.
- Semolina, which was cooked in milk, can be given during breastfeeding, but only after the baby has already tasted cow's milk itself, and he has no reaction to cow's protein.
- This product is recommended to give infrequently, the best option is 1 time per week. If the baby is restless and does not sleep well, you can try to feed the baby semolina at night. Such a porridge is very satisfying, the baby will not constantly wake up at night from hunger.
Cooking process
Cooking semolina for a child in milk or water-based should be in compliance with the dosage of this porridge. Its value depends on the age of the baby.
- For infants whose age is in the range of 2 to 3 months, a very thin porridge is prepared. It is necessary to take 5 grams of semolina (an incomplete teaspoon) in relation to 100 grams of liquid. Such a liquid porridge can be given to the baby to drink from a bottle.
- For a child whose age is more than 6 months, you can cook not such a liquid semolina.To do this, take 10 grams of porridge (1 teaspoon with a slide) and pour it with 100 grams of liquid.
- A thick porridge should be fed to a child when he is 1.5 years old. To prepare it, you need 75 grams of porridge (approximately 3 tablespoons) and 250 grams of milk or water.
Important! If the baby absorbs cow's milk well, then it can be taken in equal proportions with water. It is also recommended to buy special baby milk for babies, because it is enriched with vitamins and useful microelements, unlike the usual counterpart.
It is necessary to rinse the pan or ladle where the porridge will be cooked. This must be done so that the milk does not stick to the bottom and does not burn. Milk is poured into the container (if porridge is being prepared for the baby, then it must first be diluted with water). Milk is brought to a boil, it is necessary to ensure that it does not “run away”, stirring it periodically so that it warms up evenly. Semolina is added to boiling milk.
So that semolina does not stick together during cooking and lumps do not appear in it, it is recommended to pour it into milk or water gradually, in a small stream. And also it is necessary to constantly interfere with it so that it does not stick to the bottom. Boil semolina over low heat without closing the lid. It is prepared very quickly, on average, this process takes from 4 to 7 minutes, depending on which type of cereal was used. Many doctors do not recommend adding a sweetener or adding salt to semolina that has been prepared for babies.
Important! You should not be afraid if the porridge immediately seemed very liquid, after it stands for a while, the semolina will swell and the porridge itself will become thicker.
Popular semolina-based recipes
When semolina has been successfully introduced into the baby's diet, you can diversify this dish. It is worth considering several popular recipes for how to cook semolina in milk for a child that the baby will like.
Manka with pumpkin
To prepare it, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1 glass of milk;
- 100 grams of pumpkin;
- 1 tablespoon semolina;
- 1 teaspoon of butter;
- a little sugar or salt (you can do without them).
The cooking process includes the following steps:
- pumpkin should be thoroughly washed, peeled and cut into small cubes;
- you need to put it in a saucepan and pour boiling water, while the water should only cover the pumpkin; the vegetable is boiled for 15 minutes;
- after this time, the container with the pumpkin is removed from the stove and it should be cooled slightly;
- pumpkin needs to be mashed - milk is poured into the finished pumpkin, sugar or salt is added; everything is cooked on a small fire, as soon as the mixture boils, you should pour out the semolina and boil for another 7 minutes;
- a little oil is added to the finished porridge.
Carrot semolina
For its preparation, you will need ingredients such as:
- 1 carrot;
- 1 tablespoon semolina;
- 1 glass of milk;
- 1 teaspoon of butter;
- salt and sugar.
The cooking process includes the following steps:
- it is worth washing the carrots from dirt, peeling and grating on a fine grater;
- add a little water, half a teaspoon of oil, sugar and salt to the carrots and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes; then milk is added;
- when the mixture boils, you need to gradually pour out the semolina;
- it is worth boiling this dish for another 7 minutes;
- the remaining amount of oil is added to the finished porridge.
As you can see, it is easy to cook liquid or thick semolina.Its preparation does not take much time, and a hearty breakfast or dinner for a baby is definitely guaranteed.
For information on how to cook semolina porridge for a one-year-old child, see below.