Are different brands of Weetabix much the same?

[Bumperlicious]

Don't eat it myself but dd2 coming up to weaning age and have been advised that Weetabix is essentially a baby sedative and to give dd some before bed!

Are the cheap versions just the same as the branded version? Do they have added sugar? Should I mix with ebm or cow's milk? Worth adding a bit of cinnamon for flavour?

I bought Saisnbury's own brand for DS. It seems fine, but high in salt - I believe you can get baby weetabix with less salt but far more expensive. I use full fat cow's milk (obviously baby over 6 months, no dairy allergies).

I'd be interested to know if any of the own brands are lower in salt.

Yes. I heard someone who worked in the production of weetabix say so on the radio in a giggly "Oh God they'll sack me now" sort of way and switched at once to Sainsbury's own brand and they seem identical.

I think porridge might be better before bed - oats are more of a slow release energy, will keep her feeling full for longer.

DS often has weetabix for breakfast - all much the same, but C&G do a salt free baby version I think.

asdas smartprice is rank - stay away.

Ok, stupid question, but how do I make porridge? I don't like it so never make it.

Just use readybrek - or any own brand instant oat cereal

DS has weetabix and rice crispies and readybreak (not at same time though)

I've looked at brands and Asdas own in all 3. There is a slight variation with salt and sugar. One has a tiny bit less sugar but the other has a tiny bit less salt....I guess it's whichever you feel is less important.
They do all have added iron/calcium or other vits so can be beneficial.
But the daily guidlines are also for adult portion not weaning baby.

I started off with baby cereals for first 2-3 months but cheaper to by adult stuff unless on offer.

good luck

I'm sure I've read that the salt content in two weetabix is less than a slice of bread anyway.

I think it says on the pack that there is 0.44g salt in 2 weetabix, so a hefty proportion of the 1g per day max for a baby! Not that most babies would eat two, but even so.

Porridge is easy and cheap. Put two parts liquid to one part oats (so half a cup of oats and a cup of milk for example) into a saucepan and put the heat on low. It will heat gently. When it starts to 'erupt' so gently bubble it's ready. No need to boil it/heat it quickly. If you have the hob low enough you don't even need to stir it heats up so gently.

Woodlands - 0.5g of salt in one slice of white bread!

Proper weetabix has around 1/4g of salt in 2 biscuits so 1 biscuit has 1/8th of a gram of salt so half a biscuit would only have 1/16th of a gram of salt (at the start I used less than half a weetabix so even less salt). It has much less salt than bread which seems to average at 0.4/0.5g per slice.

"Not that most babies would eat two" - tell that to my pair They have been known to manage 2 1/2 followed by a banana!