#LetsEatBulilit: Transitioning to Solids

My baby’s first meal.

As babies hit the 6 month mark, their nutritional needs increase because of their rapid growth and development. Moms, on the other hand, get excited to plan out and prepare meals for their babies. Seeing our bulilits eat is a milestone that we all look forward to with joy and excitement. At this stage, you would often see first meal photos, messy, and happy ones. But as days, weeks and months pass, moms would definitely agree that the experience on feeding babies and transitioning them to solid food differs from one child to another. For some, it is easy. But for some, it is quite challenging and for others a bit frustrating. It would mean for us moms lots of patience, perseverance and love.

I have talked to 4 other moms since I myself need tips on feeding my baby as she just turned 6 months old this month. These moms highlighted the importance of 3 things: 1. Giving the right nutrients. 2. Complementary feeding. 3. Introducing different flavors and textures.

Giving the right nutrients
Giving the right nutrients is the most important thing to consider when feeding babies. Moms will do everything to ensure that they are able to provide the needed nutrients and will exhaust all means possible.

"It usually takes me a long time when I’m at the baby food section of a grocery store because I go through the ingredients’ section of each and every item before it goes inside my shopping cart." says Rachelle Carpio, mom to Riri and blogger.

Cebu-based blogger Sweet Selma and mom to Sven shares, "I do spend time planning Sven’s food and make sure he gets everything homemade.  I am proud to say that it is freshly prepared but sometimes I am not so sure if the nutrients are retained while I prepare his food."

Complementary feeding
Aside from serving vegetables, fruits and breastmilk to babies, these moms revealed that they include #CerelacPh in their babies' diet since they discovered that Cerelac is an integral nutrient source for them.

Sven mixing his Cerelac Dry Cereal

"Though I know that homemade or organic food is mostly preferred by most moms, I mixed Cerelac [dry cereal] in Sven’s daily meals because I am confident that what he gets from Cerelac is the complete nutrition he needs fortified with iron, minerals and vitamins.", Mommy Sweet explains.

"Cerelac became an integral nutrient source for Sven because I know that I am giving him the appropriate balance of protein and carbohydrates in one solid meal without worrying if the nutrients are still intact for his development." she adds.

"My daughter loved the Cerelac [dry cereal] with mixed veggies." quips Mom blogger Angel Enero and mom to Eliana.

Mom blogger Cheryl Polican, mom of three, shares that her daughter is a picky eater unlike her boys whom had no problem eating. "Meal time is always a struggle, except when she gets Cerelac [dry cereal]. It's the one thing that she likes. I'm glad that I can count on Cerelac to be appetizing and nutritious at the same time." she adds. 

Momy Rachelle comments, "Cerelac Nutripuffs has become a staple on my list as it is made with whole wheat and fruit bits and which has the good stuff -  Iron, Vitamin B1, and fiber. It’s a good supplement for my growing baby who needs nutrient-dense food in her diet."

Riri loves Nutripuffs

Mommy Jonalyn Munoz, mom to Kaitlyn, shares, "At 10 months old, I did not hesitate giving Kaitlyn the Cerelac nutripuffs because it has calcium, iron and vitamin B1 needed for her to stay strong and healthy. Snacking with Cerelac nutripuffs is fun and healthy because it is made of whole wheat and real fruit bits."

Introducing different flavors and textures
These moms find Cerelac helpful in introducing different flavors and textures to their babies.

To get her daughter used to different textures, Mommy Cheryl varies the consistency of the Cerelac [dry cereal] mixture. "We've also discovered the Cerelac Nutripuffs and she likes to munch on it too." she adds.

"I believe that mixing Cerelac with Sven’s food has helped him in adjusting to different flavours and textures. It was easy for him to play with textures from mashed fruits, finely chopped vegetables and tasting smooth or lumpy foods." says Mommy Sweet.

"It has encouraged Sven to chew and discover each flavour. Sometimes he may resist the taste but every time he progress from one recipe to another I know it broadened his appreciation for food textures and tastes.  It also encouraged him to self-feed because I let him play and explore while taking his meal by touching, tasting and smelling them which he enjoys the most." she adds.

Mommy Angel mentions that Cerelac Nutripuffs is one of her daughter's favorite snacks and that it provides her to experience new textures and new food experiences.

"When my daughter Riri hit the 8-month-old mark, all cues show that she’s ready to transition from mash and pureed food to firmer finger food. Cerelac Nutripuffs was the perfect finger food as the texture allows her to do more mouth movements – chomping and chewing." Mommy Rachelle shares.

She further adds, "Not only that, the Nutripuffs was also the right size for her to hone her pincer grasp skills. Cerelac Nutripuffs comes in two variants which are Banana & Orange and Banana & Strawberry.  The flavors aren’t too overpowering for my baby’s taste buds.

Mommy Jonalyn shares that giving Cerelac Nutripuffs helped her child's motor development like picking, pinching and munching.

Kaitlyn eating her favorite Nutripuffs

She says, "The [star-shaped] puffs is just the right size for my Kaitlyn’s little fingers. So easy to pick and eat." 

"Because she already knows the real taste and texture of banana, orange and strawberry she even loved the Cerelac Nutripuffs." she adds.

"What I love about it is that it is not too sweet unlike the other baby snacks even adults can munch on it and sometimes I am guilty of it." she further comments.

So if you are looking for a safe, easy to prepare and preservatives-free food for your baby, do try #CerelacPH and see how it may help you in your baby's feeding journey. I am excited to try it too for my baby and would gladly share with you my experience.