What are the Millets?
Milllets are small seeded grasses that grow well in dry areas. Millets are one of the oldest food known to man and possibly the first cereal grain to be used for domestic purposes.
When Can I give my Baby Millets ?
WHO recommends to start millet as cereals or porridges after 6 months while continuing frequent, on-demand breastfeeding after having introduced the staple food of the family.
As with all foods, always consult your paediatrician while introducing any new food, as these are general recommendations. Some babies may tolerate well, while others don’t. So please practice the 3 day rule while introducing any new food.
What are the Millets available in India?
1. Barnyard Millet
Barnyard Millet is also called as the following in regional languages.
Tamil | Hindi | Telegu | Kanada | Malayalam | Gujarathi | Punjabi | Oriya |
Kuthiraivali | Sanwa or Jhangora | Udalu, Kodisama | Oodalu | NA | NA | Skwank | Khira |
The barnyard millet can be given as porridge or Kheer for babies between 6-8 months and as cookies, cheela, dosa for babies above 8 months.
Nutritional benefits of Barnyard Millet or Kuthiraivali or Sanwa ¹
- They are highly rich in protein and vitamin B12.
- They are the richest source of Iron of all the milllets
Barnyard Millet or Kuthiraivali Recipes for Babies and Toddlers.
2. Finger Millet
Finger Millet or Ragi or Nachni is the one of the commonest millet that is being used in our country. As the grain is very tiny, it cannot be polished much and hence the nutrients are safe !!
Finger Millet is also called as the following in regional languages
English | Tamil | Hindi | Telugu | Kanada | Malayalam | Gujarathi | Marathi |
Finger Millet | Kezhvaragu | Mandua | Ragulu | Ragi | Koovarugu | Bhav | Nachni |
Nutritional Benefits of Finger Millet
- Ragi is one of richest source of Calcium, has about 30 times as much as calcium in Rice.
- It has 10 times as much as fiber than Rice and so is easily digestible
Ragi can be given as porridge, kheer, roti, dosa, Idli, appe or kulipaniyram, Idiyam, Puttu
Finger Millet or Ragi Recipes for Babies & Toddlers
3. Foxtail Millet
Foxtail Millet is yet another ancient which has been quoted in Ancient Tamil Literature as one of the most common staple food of the people.
English | Tamil | Hindi | Telugu | Kanada | Malayalam | Gujarathi | Punjabi | Marathi |
Foxtail Millet | Thenai | Kangni | Korra | Navane | Thina | Kang | Kangni | Kang |
Nutritional Benefits of Foxtail Millet
It is rich in Thiamine
Foxtail Millet tastes good as kheer, Millet rice, Idiyappam, Pesarattu, dosa
Foxtail Millet Recipes for Babies and Toddlers
4. Kodo Millet
This is one millet that I can relate to as my grandmother used to have this Varugu Arisi ( Kodo Milllet Rice) daily instead of the normal Rice.
English | Tamil | Hindi | Telugu | Kanada | Malayalam | Gujarathi | Punjabi | Marathi |
Kodo Millet | Varugu | Kodon | Arikelu, Arika | Harka | Varagu | Kodra | Kodra | Kodra |
Nutritional Benefits of Kodo Millet
- It is very rich in Fibre
- Also protein content is very high
Kodo Millet can be given as Variety rice (coconut rice ) for toddlers.
5. Little Millet
Little Millet is known as the following names in other languages
English | Tamil | Hindi | Telugu | Kanada | Malayalam | Gujarathi | Punjabi | Marathi |
Little Millet | Samai | Kutki or Shavan | Samalu | Same | Chama | Gajro, Kuri | Swank | Sava, Halvi, vari |
Nutritional Benefits of Little Millet
A the other millets, it is rich in Fiber and vitamins like thiamine.
Little Millet can be given as Kheer, dosa, rice, khichdi, vegetable briyani, bread.
6. Pearl Millet
This is one of the commonest millet in usage now, I can still smell the KamabanKool and Vathal Milagai I used to have when I alight from the bus in Tamabram Bus stand in Chennai. Yes, I can roadside food are not healthy, but couldn’t resist 😉
English | Tamil | Hindi | Telugu | Kanada | Malayalam | Gujarathi | Punjabi | Marathi |
Pearl Millet | Kambu | Bajra | Sajja | Sajje | Kambam | Bajri | Bajri | Bajri |
Nutritional Benefits of Pearl Millet
- They are excellent source of Phosphorous
- They are rich in Fiber and protein.
Bajra can be given to babies and toddlers as dosa, porridge, idli, puttu, appe and idiyappam
Bajra Recipes for babies and Toddlers
7. Sorghum
Sorghum is yet another common millet that is widely in use now. The other names for sorghum in regional languages are
English | Tamil | Hindi | Telugu | Kanada | Malayalam | Gujarathi | Punjabi | Marathi |
Sorghum | Cholam | Jowari, Juar | Jonna | Jola | Cholam | Jowari, Juar | Jowar | Jowari, Jondhala |
Nutritional Benefits of Sorghum
- Sorghum is a energy dense gluten free millet.
- Sorghum is rich in thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and trace metals.
Sorghum can be given to babies and Toddlers as kheer, porridge, dosa, Appe, laddu
Use Millets in Moderation²
Just because Millets are healthy and nutritious, it does not mean that eating them in daily in large quantities will ensure a perfect healthy life. Researchers believe that Millets in general have giotrogenic effects and so it is always advisable to eat in Moderation.
As of now only ragi and jowar recipes are available, will be posting millet recipes every week, do follow us in Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ for regular updates.
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References
1. Nutritional benefits of the millets sourced from Millet Network of India
2. Antithyroid and goitrogenic effects of millet
Hi Doctor .. your website is very useful
… And your receipes are amazing .. thank u .. I have a doubt my baby is 6 months old can o offer 2 millet in a week .. or in 7 days how many days we can offer millets ..
Hi,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation dear. Millets can be introduced after 6 months (after introducing the basic foods). It can be given in alternative days, so that the other new foods can also be introduced. Please do follow 3 day rule while introducing any new food to the baby.
Thank you doctor ?
Welcome 🙂
Hello Hema,
My daughter is 5 years old. She is slightly underweight for her age. Am planning to include millets in her diet for her to gain some weight. Am planning to give her ragi malt daily and also some other millet food in the form of upma etc.
How much quantity can be safely given to kids everyday..to avoid goitrogenic effects?
Sitara
Hello dear, you can give this to baby once a day. Also, try some weight gain foods for the little one. https://www.mylittlemoppet.com/20-super-healthy-weight-gain-foods-babies-kids/
Hi yesh here … my baby 4 month old what and al food can I start now along with mother milk???? In Millets what and all I can give pl suggest me…
Hi, you can start solids after 6th month and introduce millets after you have given soups and purees.
My baby is one year old.can you suggest me recipe for cooking sanwa millet.
You can cook Sanwa millet in many recipes for toddlers. Search for barnyard millet recipes using the search bar
Very useful and informative website
Hi Hema,
My son is 8 months old now. So far I am giving him, fruits puree, dal paani, dal rice cereal, raw banana powder porridge, oats porridge and juice. I want to know whether can I start foxtil millet powder with moong dal powder as a porridge for my baby?
Foxtail millet powder means dry roast it and than powder it like how we follow the instruction to make brown rice cereal powder right? Please revert back.
Thanking You
Harshita
Dear Harshita,
Yes you can start millets for your baby, yes you can dry roast foxtail millet and moongdal in the same quantity
Hello Hema,
Your website has very useful information especially for first time mothers like me.:)
My baby is 7 months old. My aunt has given a health mix for my baby that contains all the Millet’s you mentioned along with green and fried gram,samba wheat,red rice, soyabean,Sago,groundnut,
maize,jowar,red aval,cashew,almond,pista,dry ginger and cardamom.
Is it okay to give this to my baby ? If yes, please let me know the quantity and how often can it be given.
Thanks
Hi Diya,
Yes you can give it, try with one tablespoon of porridge the first day, if your baby tolerates well then continue it. Please refer to teh instructions in the packet as I am not sure about the brand instructions
Hi Hema,
My daughter is 22 months old now. We live in Dubai, and along with me my daughter’s hairs are also falling. She does’nt have dandruff. Can u please guide me what might be the reason for this? Is this due to any deficiency?
Hi Blooming,
Hairfall can be due to multiple reasons, it is better to discuss with your doctor or paediatrician as without seeing the patient I cannot recommend a treatment.
Cheers
Hema