Homemade Baby Cereals

Making baby cereal can be a bit tricky; some parents say that the recipes called for too much water whilst others say they had to add two extra cups of water. We find that the texture and “gloopiness” will depend a lot on the type of rice used as well as the texture of the powder you have created. If you find that the cereal is cooking up too sticky or too thick, you may add water while cooking the cereal. You may also further process the cooked homemade cereal in a food processor or blender.

The type of rice that you would want to use for cereals would ideally be a short-grain brown rice. Short-grain rice cooks up softer than long or medium grain rice. The only caveat is that it may become sticky and “pasty” when pureed so keep a watch over the rice when cooking and pureeing/blending it. You may use a blend of any type of rice that you like; ensure that it is whole grain however. Brown jasmine rice and plain brown rice make a nice blend for cereals as do basmati and plain brown rice. If you find that your baby does not like this blend, then consider switching to the plain brown rice type until the palate has become used to solid foods!

Barley Cereal

1/4 cup ground barley (barley ground in blender or food processor)

1 cup water

Bring liquid to a boil. Add the barley and simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly. Mix in formula, breast milk or juice and add fruits if desired. Serve warm.

Rice Cereal

¼ cup rice powder (rice ground in blender or food processor)

1 cup water

Bring liquid to boil in saucepan. Add the rice powder while stirring constantly. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly, mix in formula or breast milk and fruits if desired. Serve warm.

Oatmeal Cereal

¼ cup of ground oats (do NOT use instant or Quick Cook), ground in blender or food processor

¾ cup water

Bring liquid to boil in saucepan. Add the ground oats while stirring constantly. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly, mix in formula or breast milk and fruits if desired. Serve warm.