Baby cereal and formula – what are their benefits? And what can be offered if the baby refuses them?

Why baby cereal and formula are popular for infants

Baby cereal and formula have long been a part of children's diets in the Nordic countries. They are easy to serve, filling, and contain many important nutrients. Commercially produced baby cereal and formula are often fortified with iron, vitamins, and minerals that are crucial for a baby's growth and development.

They typically contain:

• Milk or milk alternatives
• Cereals, e.g., oats or maize
• Vegetable oils, e.g., rapeseed oil and sunflower oil
• Added vitamins and minerals (including iron, zinc, iodine, vitamin B12, and vitamin D)

Iron in baby cereal and formula – why it's important

One of the main advantages of commercially produced baby cereal and formula is iron fortification.

• A portion of cereal (approx. 130 g) contains around 3 mg of iron
• A bottle of formula (approx. 200 ml) contains around 2 mg of iron

This corresponds to approximately one-third of a baby's daily iron requirement.

Iron is essential for:

• The blood's ability to transport oxygen
• Growth and development
• Brain function

To supplement intake, you can also offer iron-rich foods such as black pudding, meat, chicken, salmon, tofu, beans, chickpeas, and lentils.

Homemade baby cereal – tips for extra nutrition

Homemade cereal can be a good option for those who wish to avoid ready-made products. To make it more nutritious, you can add iron, for example, by using finely ground tunnpaltbröd (a type of rye crispbread, available in well-stocked shops). This does not affect the taste but increases the iron content.

Examples of grains for homemade cereal:

• Rolled oats
• Graham flour
• Rye flakes
• Rye flour

Is homemade formula an alternative?

Making your own formula is not always recommended. Ordinary milk contains too little iron and can have excessively high levels of protein and salts for an infant. Alternatives such as oat drink or coconut milk often become too low in nutrients.

If you want to avoid commercially produced formula, it is therefore better to offer iron-fortified cereal instead.

How much baby cereal and formula should an infant consume?

The right amount is important. Too much baby cereal or formula can lead to the child not having an appetite for other foods with varied tastes and textures.

A good rule of thumb is a maximum of three servings of cereal/formula per day. This accounts for more than half of the energy requirements for a 1-year-old.