Early meals don’t need to be complicated. Here are five gentle porridges built on our single-ingredient cereals. All are prepared with water (or expressed breast milk / formula) in the first year — not cow’s milk.
Five to try
- Classic ragi porridge — the everyday first porridge, smooth and mild.
- Sweet potato porridge — naturally sweet and creamy, a favourite early bowl.
- Traditional banana porridge — Kerala’s filling first spoon; cook 5–6 minutes.
- Apple ragi porridge — ragi with a spoon of steamed, mashed apple stirred through.
- Vegetable ragi porridge — a savoury step towards family flavours, with soft-cooked, mashed vegetables and no added salt.
Getting the texture right
Start thinner for younger babies and thicken gradually. Introduce one new food at a time, and keep salt and sugar out in the first year, as ICMR–NIN advises. Find the full method for each on our recipes page.
A note on our guidance. Breastfeeding is best for babies. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding, alongside safe complementary foods, up to 2 years and beyond. This article is general educational information in line with the Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods Act, 1992 (IMS Act) and is not a substitute for advice from your pediatrician.
References
- WHO. Complementary feeding guiding principles (2003).
- ICMR–National Institute of Nutrition. Dietary Guidelines for Indians (2024).
This article is general information, not medical advice. For your baby’s individual feeding plan, please consult your pediatrician.