How do I make a homemade Cerelac / cereal mix for starting solids (6 months)?

Most moms prefer homemade cereal over packaged versions to avoid preservatives. The basic method is to wash, sun-dry, dry-roast and powder rice with a dal, then cook a few spoons in water or milk with ghee, adding more dals and nuts as the baby grows.

Community Answers from Moms(5)

Here's what moms in our community shared based on their own experience.

1. 1

   Basic recipe: 1 cup rice + 1/2 cup moong or toor dal. Wash, dry fully in the sun, roast well and powder to the texture your baby prefers. Mix 2-4 spoons in room-temperature water without lumps, then boil well. Add ghee and nuts powder before turning off the heat. No salt. As the baby grows, add more dals, roasting each one separately.

2. 2

   Instant version: 1 cup makhana, 1 cup puffed rice, 1/2 cup toor dal, 1/2 cup moong dal, a handful of cashews and almonds. Roast everything together nicely, powder it, then just add warm water and it is ready.

3. 3

   Oats cerelac variation: dry-roast oats, makhana and dry fruits (almonds, cashew, walnuts), powder and store. Cook in water and add a banana.

4. 4

   Dry-roast rice, makhana, lentils (moong/masoor) and nuts (almonds/cashews), then grind into a fine powder. Many recipe varieties are available on YouTube.

5. 5

   Note on dals: adding too many dals together can be hard for a baby to digest. Give one dal at a time and aim for a balanced meal of fat, protein and carbs. Add seeds only after 1 year.