Once your baby is ready for solids, you will receive plenty of advice on what you should start feeding the baby. One common first food that your mother and other elders would probably advise is daal ka paani for babies. Many feel that this is an excellent way to start the new phase. How factual is this? Does daal ka pani carry all the nutrients in dal? Is it a good start? Ideally, to derive maximum benefits, you should mash some daal to make the daal ka paani, as the plain daal ka paani lacks nutritional benefits.
Studies claim that though daal ka paani is a popular weaning food, serving only the water that the daal is cooked in has no carbohydrates, fats, or proteins – making it a poor nutritional choice. Still, many mothers vouch for Dal Pani as the perfect way to introduce solid foods to babies. That is mostly because its bland taste is great for babies with sensitive tongues.
In This Article
- Benefits of Moong/Toor Daal Ka Paani for the Baby
- When Do We Give Dal Water To Babies?
- How to Make Daal Ka Paani for Babies?
- Things To Remember While Giving Daal Paani For Babies
- FAQ’s
Benefits of Moong/Toor Daal Ka Paani for the Baby
Whether you use moong daal or toor daal for making daal ka paani, you should know that both these lentils possess many nutritional benefits for your baby. They are easily digestible, and are good sources of proteins, vitamins and minerals.
However, to start with, give your baby yellow moong daal and not the green moong daal. Yellow moong daal or toor daal is safe for your baby with very, very rare chances of having an allergy.
Both of these lentils are good for boosting immunity. They are rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and sodium aid the mental development of your baby.
When Do We Give Dal Water To Babies?
Generally, parents start giving their babies daal ka paani once the baby turns 6 months since this is the age at which babies begin eating solid food. The age at which parents decide to feed their child daal ki pani depends on why they choose to do so.
Some mothers consider it an accompaniment to breast milk. While others view it as a method of weaning the baby off milk. In any case, 6-8 months is the ideal time to introduce it
How to Make Daal Ka Paani for Babies?
First and foremost, make sure that all vessels and cooking pots you use for preparing your baby’s food are thoroughly sterilized and clean. To be on the safer side, you can use organic moong or toor daal for your baby. Make sure that the daal is not moist when you use it.
Pressure cooking is the easiest way to cook daal when planning to make daal paani for your little one. This cooking method ensures that the lentil is well-cooked and becomes easy to digest for them. Making daal paani is quite simple.Wash the required daal of your choice in purified water well and then soak it for about 30 minutes.
You can choose between moong daal or toor daal. Moong daal is ideal when you are introducing daal paani to your baby for the first time. Once they get used to the moong daal paani, you can slowly introduce toor daal paani.
After the daal is soaked, wash it quickly once again and add the required amount of purified water along with a pinch of turmeric. Pressure cook the daal well for about 4 to 5 whistles. Turn off the flame and allow the pressure to release. Mash the daal well with the back of a spoon or ladle.
If your little one is already used to eating semi-solid or solid foods, you can feed this daal directly or slightly diluted. If your baby is newly having solids, you can add the required purified water to bring a soup-like consistency. Doctors do not recommend using salt for very young babies.
You can, however, add a pinch of hing if your baby has colic issues or digestion problems. Always check with your doctor before adding new ingredients and foods to your baby’s menu.
Things To Remember While Giving Daal Paani For Babies
Following are certain things to take care of while giving all ka paani for your child.
- Do not add salt to your baby’s food until she is a year old.
- Start with moong daal or toor daal, and then after some time introduce Masoor daal.
- If you feel your baby is getting gaseous, add a pinch of hing powder.
- Make sure your baby is sitting (with or without support) when you feed the baby.
- Never give daal ka paani or any other semi-solid to the baby in bottles.
FAQ’s
1. Can I Give my 5 Month Old Dal-Ka-Paani?
Yes, you can. Do consult your doctor first. Start with small quantity and increase gradually.
2. Which Dal Can I Use for the Dal-Ka-Paani?
You can use moong dal. You can also use toor dal. These are easier to digest than other dal varieties.
3. Can I Add Salt to the Dal-Ka-Paani for my Baby?
It is not advisable to give salt until the baby turns a year old. Their kidneys can’t process the salt. This can lead to side effects.
4. Can Dal-Ka-Paani Cause Gas in my Baby?
Yes, it can. Lentils do cause a lot of gas. If your baby is suffering, soak the dal longer before cooking.
Read Also:10 Super Foods for Babies
