Babies constantly need a healthy and balanced diet in order to match up with the energies that result from the growth and development during the early years. They can’t be given the same food as the adults. Still, as a parent, you must ensure that you give your little one a combination of nutritious, easily digestible meals covering as many food groups as possible. Arrowroot for babies is a good option.
This is one such plant that is easily digestible and provides a host of nutrients for your little one. Arrowroot powder, the powder obtained from the root of this tuberous plant is high in starch and carbohydrates. This provides babies with much-needed energy. In addition, arrow root powder acts as a natural thickener and is a healthy replacement for refined options. Whether you are baking or adding it to your baby’s meal, arrowroot has many benefits for babies.
In This Article
- Arrowroot- What Does it Mean?
- Nutritional Facts of Arrowroot
- Is Arrowroot Safe for Babies?
- Health Benefits of Arrowroot for Babies
- Arrowroot And Teething
- How to Make Arrowroot Porridge for Babies?
- Other Ways to Eat Arrowroot
- Feeding Arrowroot Porridge
- FAQ’s
Arrowroot- What Does it Mean?
Arrowroot is a tuber vegetable that is a native of and extensively grows in Indonesia. The flour from this tuber is most commonly used for various purposes. The vegetable forms an important part of sweet and savory dishes, while the powder is used as a thickening agent and in the preparation of medicines.
The arrowroot plant is known as “Ararot” in the Hindi language. The arrowroot starch is the most usable form. Most common uses of arrowroot include- as a thickener for thickening top mik, and as a medication for stomach-related issues such as pain and indigestion.
Nutritional Facts of Arrowroot
Arrowroot is rich in carbohydrates, vitamin B9, and minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and phosphorus. It also has trace amounts of zinc, iron, and vitamin B1.
Is Arrowroot Safe for Babies?
Arrowroot is an excellent addition to your baby’s meal. Since it is a plant product and rich in starch, it is free of any contaminants and is safe for your baby.
- Arrowroot flour is a natural thickener for your baby’s food
- It is full of vitamins that help in the production of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins in the baby’s body.
- The arrowroot starch is an excellent substitute for breast milk if your baby has a breast milk allergy or if the baby needs to be weaned off breast milk.
- Arrowroot is also rich in folates that help in synthesizing the cell division of the baby.
- It has potassium that helps to keep the heart rate of the baby in control.
- It is gluten-free and, therefore, allergen-free.
- Arrowroot is easily digestible for very young babies.
- The high starch content helps to ease bowel movement.
- It is easily available and absolutely harmless for babies.
- The magnesium, zinc, and iron and traces of many more minerals in the arrowroot facilitate the healthy development of the baby.
Health Benefits of Arrowroot for Babies
Giving arrowroot and arrowroot flour can have many health benefits for your baby.
- Infants fed with arrowroot porridge have better digestion and a clear stomach
- If your baby has loose motions, arrowroot can be of great help.
- Arrowroot powder can provide protection from the urinary tract (especially during summer).
- You can apply arrowroot powder paste to mouth sores, rashes, blemishes, or painful gums for your baby. This provides relief from pain and burning sensation and provides comfort to your little one.
Arrowroot And Teething
The process of teething usually starts at six months of age. The growth of new teeth is quite painful and irritating for the baby. Chewing arrowroot biscuits can provide relief to teething babies. As babies such on these biscuits, they get a soothing feel, which also helps reduce the pain arising from new tooth formation. Arrowroot biscuits have minimal choking dangers and are completely safe for your little one.
How to Make Arrowroot Porridge for Babies?
It is quite easy to prepare Arrowroot porridge for babies. Always use only jaggery syrup as a sweetener while preparing arrowroot porridge for your baby. This way, you can ensure your baby gets the extra benefit of palm jaggery as well.
However, never use it directly. Instead, you can make Jaggery syrup and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. This will help to remove the impurities in jaggery.
In fact, you can store and use it in dishes for around three months. However, when it comes to baby food, we always recommend preparing only the quantity that you can use within a week.
Step 1: Prepare Jaggery Syrup
Mix well one cup of powdered jaggery and ¾ cup of water in a saucepan. On medium flame bring it to boil. Stir continuously while doing this. Once the jaggery completely dissolves and starts to boil, you can reduce the flame. Let it simmer until it thickens.
Once you dip a spoon in this syrup if it falls down like a thread (without breaking), it is the desired consistency. Now switch off the stove. Take it out and strain. Once it cools down, you can pour it into an airtight container, preferably glassware. You can store it in the refrigerator. Take one or two teaspoons and mix in water to make jaggery liquid.
Step 2: Preparing Arrowroot Powder
Cleaning, chopping, grinding, and multiple filtering are among the steps in the process of preparing arrowroot powder. The impurities must be filtered out multiple times to create a pure white arrowroot powder. To ensure there is no moisture left in the arrowroot powder, you can sundry for at least a day. Once this is done, you should store the ready-to-use arrowroot powder in an airtight container
Step 3: Preparing Porridge
Take the desired quantity of arrowroot powder. Two tablespoons are enough to make a bowl of porridge. To this add 1 cup of water and around ½ cup of jaggery liquid. Heat it on a medium flame for about three minutes. (It is a trial and error method, so if you want to make it loose add some water or if you want to make it thick, boil it a little longer). Cool it to room temperature (slightly warm is also good) and then feed your baby.
Other Ways to Eat Arrowroot
The infants can consume the arrowroot powder in several ways. Some of them are mentioned as under:
- Mix mother’s milk and arrowroot powder into a paste and feed it to your little one.
- You can also feed arrowroot porridge or jelly to your baby.
- Add some arrowroot powder to vegetable purée to make it healthier as well as tastier.
- Arrowroot helps in making the consistency thick and is an ideal way of introducing it as solid food.
- If you are a home baker, you can bake arrowroot biscuits, which can be quite helpful when your little one is teething.
- You can enhance the taste of arrowroot powder by mixing it with milk or jaggery before feeding the baby.
Feeding Arrowroot Porridge
Arrowroot porridge is a yummy option for babies. To prepare this, you can mix two cups of milk, ¾ cup liquid jaggery, and a cup of arrowroot powder and leave it on a low flame for three to five minutes. Cool it down and feed it to your little one. You can make the porridge taste for your baby by adding shredded coconut to taste.
Mother’s milk is indeed the best choice for babies. Yet, arrowroot also can act as a replacement in cases where either the breast milk consumption is not enough or the baby needs to stop the mother’s feed. It is a nutritious food and perfect for the baby and its medicinal properties also help with the healing of skin ailments like rashes, burns, etc.
FAQ’s
1. Can I Use Arrowroot to Wean my Baby off Breast Milk?
Yes, you can. This root is rich in nutrients. It can be the perfect substitute while weaning.
2. Can I Give Arrowroot for my 3-Month-old Suffering From Constipation?
Babies are very sensitive. They cannot digest everything. Always check with your pediatrician.
3. Can I Use Arrowroot for Treating Sores?
Yes, you can. Arrowroot is healthy and safe for babies. They can provide instant relief from sores.
4. Can Arrowroot Cause Allergies in my Baby?
Arrowroot powder is generally allergen-free. It is ideally safe for a baby. However, if you feel your baby is reacting to arrowroot, please consult your doctor immediately.
