One of the most important phases in life for a mother and her baby is when the baby’s food switches from milk/formula to solid foods and other liquids. This time is important as well as full of excitement for mum. Choosing which food is healthy and tasty for the kiddo is also a tough choice. Poha for babies is one such healthy and tasty supplement to help them in their growth.
Before introducing poha to your baby, you need to understand every single thing there is to know about it, for example, how many nutrients it has, how many varieties it can be made, and many more things. This article highlights the various aspects to know before you plan to introduce poha to your infant.
In This Article
- Is Poha Safe For Babies?
- When Can You Introduce Poha For Babies?
- Nutritional Value of Poha
- Amazing Top 5 Health Benefits of Poha For Babies
- Precautions to Take When Introducing Poha to Babies
- Are There Any Side Effects of Poha For Babies?
- Top 4 Healthy and Tasty Poha Recipes For Babies
- FAQ’s
Is Poha Safe For Babies?
Poha is high in nutrients, making it a nutritious and appetizing food for babies, toddlers, and growing children. These rice flakes are light on the stomach and can give various health advantages when provided in the right amounts.
If your baby is 7 months old or more, you can start giving your baby poha in smaller amounts. However, remember to soak poha thoroughly before cooking, so that it is easy for the baby to gulp.
When Can You Introduce Poha For Babies?
Due to its easy digestibility and assimilation, most Indian households introduce poha as one of the first solid foods for babies. You can introduce poha the moment you plan to start weaning them and feed them solids. Poha is soft, easy to digest, and easily accepted by babies. You can introduce poha at around the 6th to 7th month mark once you decide to start solids for your infant.
Nutritional Value of Poha
According to research and experts, Poha contains a huge portion of nutritive value per serving. Let’s look at the table to understand the nutritional value of Poha and how healthy it is for babies.
The following values are for 100g of uncooked poha:
| Nutrients | Value |
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrate | 88 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g |
| Calcium | 22mg |
| Iron | 6 mg |
| Cholesterol | 0g |
| Sodium | 12mg |
| Vitamin C | 1 mg |
| Vitamin A | 2 mg |
| Sugar | 0g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Saturated Fat | <0g |
Amazing Top 5 Health Benefits of Poha For Babies
Poha is high in nutrients, making it a nutritious and appetizing food for babies, babies, and growing children. It has the following benefits.
1. Easily Digestible
One of the biggest advantages of poha for babies is that it is easily digestible by their little bellies. Because digestion is quick and uncomplicated, your baby will not feel nauseous and will remain active.
2. Better Metabolism
Poha improves the body’s metabolism by turning absorbed food into the required energy. This, in turn, keeps your baby active and ensures that the entire body’s metabolism is working smoothly.
3. Gluten-Free
Babies are susceptible to any kind of infection or allergy, and since poha is gluten-free, your baby is very less likely to develop any kind of food allergies.
4. Improves Immune System
Poha contains a variety of vitamins and nutrients that help the baby’s body’s immune system stay healthy. Thus, including poha in your baby’s normal diet will help your baby stay healthy and avoid sicknesses.
[Read : How to Increase Immunity in Babies?]
5. Healthy Growth
Poha is found to be helpful for babies. Poha is manufactured by heat processing the rice, then flattening and drying it to make it easier for the babies to digest. Along with this, poha is high in iron and other essential nutrients for the healthy growth of babies.
Precautions to Take When Introducing Poha to Babies
If not cooked properly, poha can cause stomachache or cough in the babies, therefore, keep in mind the following things while cooking Poha for babies
- Let it soak properly for at least 5-10 minutes before you cook it, also keep an eye so that it does not get mushy.
- Do not give poha to your baby in excess quantity, start by giving two to three spoons of it.
- Do not feed the baby while doing any activity, because it can lead to choking.
- Avoid adding nuts to poha without introducing them one by one to your baby as it can cause the baby to choke. Some babies can have nut allergies too which must be ruled out before you add nuts to your baby’s poha dish.
[Read : Infant Choking]
Are There Any Side Effects of Poha For Babies?
There are no such side effects of giving Poha to your infants, however, anything given in excess quantity is harmful to anyone.
If you give poha to your baby in excess amounts, it can cause stomach aches, vomiting, dehydration, diarrhea, drowsiness, etc. Taking precautions can help mothers avoid these side effects and thus help the baby enjoy the Poha.
Top 4 Healthy and Tasty Poha Recipes For Babies
Poha for babies can be cooked with many vegetables as they just add more nutrition and taste making it a more delicious meal.
1. Spinach Poha
You can cook this by first soaking poha properly to soften it. Add this soaked poha to tempered and well-cooked chopped spinach. Cook till everything cooks well and combines properly. You can mash it before feeding if your baby is just starting on solids and cannot chew.
[Read : Spinach For Babies]
2. Poha Kheer
You can combine soaked and cooked poha with breast milk (or animal milk if your baby is a year old or more). Combine everything well and cook well before serving. Remember not to add sugar or any other sweetener if your baby has not celebrated their first birthday.
3. Poha Oats Porridge
Poha porridge for infants is a simple snack that mothers can easily prepare. With the addition of oats, it becomes a nutritious and nourishing cereal that infants will like. You can combine oats and poha and cook well with water. Make sure it is mashed and soft before feeding
4. Dahi Poha
This simple recipe may be prepared quickly anytime your baby is hungry. You may make it by mixing 2 tbsp cleaned and soaked poha into a dish of fresh curd. You may also add jaggery for flavor and fruits like mashed banana to make it a nutritional food for your child.
Poha for babies is one of the best and most nutritious weaning options. It provides various health and wellness benefits for a growing infant. If you know how to make Poha for infants correctly, the dish can be delicious and healthy food.
However, throughout the weaning process, a mother must be especially careful and cautious. Do not overfeed your infant as a result of enthusiasm. It might potentially cause severe harm to your child. You can also seek extra guidance and support from a pediatrician.
FAQ’s
1. Can I Give Poha to My 6 Month Old Baby?
Yes, poha is easy to digest and among the best first foods for babies who are on the path to weaning.
2. Does Poha Increase Weight in Babies?
Feeding your child Poha for breakfast will not only keep them energetic but will also help them gain weight in a healthy manner.
3. Does Poha Cause Gas in Babies?
Poha is very easy to digest and light on the stomach. It is best eaten as the first meal of the day or as a light evening meal. Poha never causes digestive problems and keeps your baby fuller for longer.
Read Also: Tasty Quinoa Recipes For Babies And Its Health Benefits
