Baby first food rice cereal

When Can You Start Feeding a Baby Rice Cereal? Safety and More

If you ask for advice on the best time to start feeding your baby rice cereal, the responses may be all over the place. Some people might suggest feeding a baby rice cereal starting at 6 months, whereas others might suggest as young as only 2 or 3 months old.

But just because someone else gives their baby rice cereal early doesn’t mean that you should do the same. For advice, the best place to go is to your own pediatrician — they’re the authority on your baby’s health. In the meantime, here’s what other experts recommend.

Updated recommendations

New guidelines caution that rice cereal shouldn’t be the only solid given. So the old practice of starting only iron-fortified rice cereal at about 6 months is no longer recommended.

For the first few months of life, you’ll feed your baby exclusively with breast milk or formula. Anything other than breast milk or formula is considered a solid food. So when deciding the right time to start your baby on rice cereal, you should follow the same guidelines for starting a baby on solid foods.

Some people argue that rice cereal is an exception to the guidelines — perhaps because of the ability of rice cereal to dissolve in (and “thicken”) breast milk or formula when added in small quantities.

Yet, rice cereal is a solid food. Babies aren’t ready for solid foods until they’re about 6 months old.

Since every baby is different, it’s important to look for signs that your baby is actually ready to start eating rice cereal before serving it.

You should hold off feeding a baby solid food until they have control of their neck and head. Your little one will need to be upright while eating, so they should be able to sit in a highchair.

Most importantly, don’t give a baby rice cereal until they have the oral skills to move solid food from the front of their mouth to the back. This skill doesn’t typically develop until at least 4 months old. Until then, your baby’s tongue will push out any food that enters their mouth.

Another telltale sign that your baby may be ready for solid food is when they express an interest in your food. If you’re eating in their presence, they might try to grab your food — or lean in toward food with their open mouth (have your camera ready!).

For the most part, you shouldn’t give a baby rice cereal before the recommended guidelines. Even though the extrusion reflex — that automatic reflex that causes a baby’s tongue to push food forward — can provide some protection before they’re ready, offering solid food too early can still pose a choking or aspiration risk.

Giving a baby rice cereal — or other solid foods — too early may also increase a baby’s risk of having obesity.

But when they’re ready, rice cereal can be a great starter food, among others.

After several months of only consuming breast milk or formula, some babies have difficulty adjusting to solid foods.

To start the introduction process, mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of iron-fortified rice cereal with 4 to 6 tablespoons of formula, breast milk, or water. Some people mix rice cereal with fruit juice, too. But this isn’t recommended because fruit juice doesn’t offer health benefits and is very high in sugar.

Spoon feed an iron-fortified rice cereal to your baby. (It’s important that babies get enough iron once they start solid foods.) But don’t be surprised if it takes a couple of feedings for your baby to get the hang of eating this way. You can nurse or bottle feed first, and then end feedings with rice cereal.

Doctors used to recommend rice cereal as a “first food.” But now we know that age-appropriate foods can be introduced in any order, and rice cereal shouldn’t be the only solid given for very long due to arsenic exposure, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

You can introduce other jar or puréed foods like fruits and vegetables before or after you introduce rice cereal. And do include other iron-fortified, single-grain cereals besides rice. Variety is the spice of life — even for baby!

When introducing new solid foods to your baby, do so one at a time. This way, you can detect any potential food allergies or sensitivities early. For example, after you feed your baby peas for the first time, wait 3 to 5 days before introducing carrots.

You might have heard of adding rice cereal to a bottle to thicken breast milk or formula. This, however, isn’t recommended unless your pediatrician says it’s OK.

If your baby has episodes of acid reflux, your doctor might advise this method to thicken the milk and try to prevent regurgitation. But this is rare.

Starting a baby on solid food is a major milestone, but you shouldn’t introduce rice cereal too early. Doing so poses a few different risks. So wait until your baby is about 6 months, and look specifically for signs that they’re ready for solids.

When in doubt, talk it out — with your pediatrician. They’re a goldmine of information, and best of all, they know your baby’s health better than anyone else, including Dr. Google.

Alternatives to Rice Cereal as a First Food for Babies

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Rice cereal has long been considered the standard when it comes to first solid foods for babies. However, more recent findings suggest that rice cereal may not be all it’s been cracked up to be for babies. The good news is that whether your baby doesn’t love rice cereal or you’d prefer to offer something else, there are plenty of alternatives.

Why is Rice Cereal So Popular?

Rice cereal has been a standard first food for babies for generations. This is because rice is easy for little tummies to digest, is naturally gluten-free and low risk for triggering an allergic reaction, and is generally very well tolerated as a first solid food. Rice has a neutral, bland flavor that isn’t offensive to most babies, encouraging solid food acceptance.

Plus, rice is an inexpensive food. Rice cereal has been specifically designed to contain vitamins and minerals that a growing baby needs as they transition from breast milk or formula to solids.

Downsides of Rice Cereal

A closer look into baby foods, including rice cereal and rice-containing products like rusks and puffs, has encouraged many parents to choose alternative first foods for their baby.

The biggest reason is because rice naturally contains arsenic, due to the way that it’s grown. Arsenic is a naturally occurring heavy metal that’s widely present in the crust of the earth, which means it’s often found in the soil where rice is grown.

Why is arsenic problematic? It’s a known carcinogen or cancer-causing agent in humans, which can also negatively impact immunity and increase the risk for numerous diseases. Given the small physical size of babies, ingestion of arsenic can be more concerning if in large amounts. And some sources say that rice intake is about three times as high among infants compared to adults.

Of course, rice isn’t the only arsenic-containing food. Other fruits, vegetables, and plant foods are also exposed to arsenic, but rice is particularly susceptible to absorbing it. This is because rice is grown in a paddy, or a small flooded field, so any arsenic in the water supply binds to the rice as it grows and accumulates.

To complicate things more, the amount of arsenic present in different soil varies. Certain regions around the world have less arsenic in their soil than others. For instance, some reports suggest that white Basmati rice or sushi rice purchased from Pakistan, India, or California are less likely to have significant amounts of arsenic in them.

You can prepare grains of rice in ways that help reduce arsenic content before serving it, by rinsing before cooking, boiling it in more water than is needed (like you boil pasta), and draining the excess liquid. But unfortunately, there’s no way for parents to control how much arsenic is in rice-containing baby products like teething biscuits, puffs, and infant rice cereal.

Overall, rice-containing baby foods are considered to be a significant source of inorganic arsenic in the diet, according to the US Food and Drug Administration, and ingestion of them should be monitored.

Despite the concern over the arsenic content of rice, don’t let this be a cause of panic for you as you begin transitioning your baby to solid foods. If you’ve been offering rice cereal, or you’d like to incorporate it as a first food, the most important thing is that it’s not the only food you’re relying on. Being aware of how much rice your baby is ingesting is most important, as is keeping it to a minimal level.

What Can I Use Instead of Rice Cereal?

If your baby doesn’t like rice or you’d just prefer to use something else, rest assured that there are plenty of alternatives to rice cereal. In addition to rice-free infant cereals, first foods can also be a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and other foods that are offered in age-appropriate form and consistency.

Alternatives to Rice Cereal

Looking for a rice cereal substitute? No problem. Despite all of the attention it receives, rice isn’t the only cereal available for babies.

Some popular alternatives to infant rice cereal include:

Oat cereal
Barley cereal
Quinoa cereal
Almonds and Buckwheat cereal
Multigrain cereal

Many baby cereals will contain a combination of these grains, or even a grain with a fruit and/or vegetable added to it.

The most important factor in determining which alternative baby cereals you want to use is whether it has been fortified to contain important nutrients, especially iron. Iron is critical for babies as it plays a role in cognitive development and helps prevent anemia.

Not all infant cereals contain added iron, which may be an otherwise more challenging nutrient to make sure your baby gets enough of when transitioning to solids. Look for packaging that states it is iron-fortified, or check the nutrition facts panel to determine whether it contains iron.

Other First Foods for Babies

There’s a common misconception that every baby has to be fed baby cereal, or more specifically rice cereal, as their main first food.

The truth is that, as long as the food is presented in an age-appropriate way, your baby can enjoy a varied palate from early on that may or may not include rice or oatmeal cereals for babies. This means choosing healthy foods that are nutrient- and energy-dense, and also serving them in safe consistencies.

Some alternative, non-cereal first foods for babies can include:

Avocado
Mashed beans and lentils
Soft-cooked fortified pasta
Quinoa
Buckwheat
Amaranth
Millet
Farro
Finely ground nuts and seeds mixed into a recipe
Sesame seeds
Thinly spread or drizzled nut and seed butter
Cooked corn
Cooked peas
Peeled and cooked/mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes
Couscous
Chia, ground flax, hemp seeds
Tofu
Toast strips
Roasted squash and zucchini sticks
Roasted broccoli, chopped
Peaches, peeled or canned
Steamed cucumber
Roasted beet sticks, peeled
Strawberries, watermelon, raspberries, and mango, mashed or cut into strips

Tips for Introducing Solids

While you may choose to offer purees or practice spoon-feeding with your baby, many parents also choose to do baby-led weaning or even a combination of the two approaches.

However you decide to introduce solids to your baby, below are a few tips to help make the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Readiness

First, make sure that your baby has demonstrated that they are ready to start transitioning toward solid foods.

Note that while some babies may be ready around 4 months of age, there is no benefit to introducing solids before that age. For most babies, 6 months of age is an optimal timeframe to begin exploring.

Some of the signs of feeding readiness include:

Your baby is around 6 months of age
They are interested in the food around them, which may be on someone else’s plate
Your baby is no longer using the tongue-thrust reflex that prevents food from staying in their mouth
They are sitting up on their own, without instability in the head and neck, for at least a minute at a time
They reach their hands to objects of interest, grab and bring it to their mouth, meaning they already developed their eye-hand-mouth coordination

Safety

The most important thing to remember when introducing foods to your baby is that the texture and consistency of the food need to be safe for them.

First foods need to be soft enough for a baby to eat by mashing with their gums, as they have no teeth to chew. To make sure a certain food is safe to serve, assess the consistency of it by applying pressure to the food between your fingers to mimic gumming.

This also means avoiding known choking hazards, as well as foods that your baby may not be ready for quite yet.

Additionally, never leave your baby unattended while they are eating.

Some of the foods that are best to avoid when just starting your baby on solids include:

Salt, sugar, honey: These items are not necessary for kids this young, and also come with potential risks. For instance, honey can contain Clostridium botulinum bacterial spores, added sugar offers calories with no health benefit, and salt may not be adequately processed by immature kidneys before 12 months of age.
Milk: Whether you choose dairy or plant-based milks for your kids, this isn’t a necessary food to include right away as they will still be getting most of their nutrition from breast milk and/or formula for a little bit. Plus, too much milk at this age can take up space in small tummies and prevent your baby from actually eating the solid foods you offer.
Foods that form a ball when eaten: Things like crackers and thick bakery breads may taste good to us, but they can be dangerous for young children. These types of foods can become a gob in the mouth which presents a choking hazard.
Raw nuts, seeds, and popcorn: Children younger than 4-5 years old should not be given these foods as they are a major choking hazard at this age.
Dollops of nut/seed butters: While you can thin nut/seed butters with water to use as a drizzle, babies should not be offered gobs of these foods as they can get stuck in their throat.
Segmented fruits and vegetables: Babies can learn to suck on things like citrus segments that have had their membranes removed, but whole slices of these items should not be offered yet.
Circular foods: A great example here is sliced hot dogs. These are the perfect size of food that can get stuck in a child’s airway.
Unpasteurized dairy and deli meat: If you incorporate animal products like these into your baby’s diet, they should not be offered before 12 months of age. This is due to the increased risk for foodborne bacteria like Listeria, which can be potentially dangerous.

Variety

As you plan your baby’s first solids menu, aim for a wide variety of healthy foods.

Not only does this help create a nutritionally sound diet for them, but it also exposes your baby to many different flavors and textures. This in itself helps your baby develop his or her palate of food preferences that can set the stage for a lifetime.

If you utilize iron-fortified baby cereals, like oat, or multigrain options, you can prepare these with breast milk or infant formula instead of water to help optimize nutrition.

In addition to baby cereals, offer your baby a variety of soft-cooked grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and fats. There’s no guarantee that they will like, or even try, all of the foods you present, but exposure is key.

The Takeaway

Rice cereal is a standard first food for babies, but many parents are choosing alternatives due to the concern around the arsenic content of rice and rice-containing foods.

Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives to rice cereal, including iron-fortified baby cereals made from other grains, like oats, quinoa,buckwheat, and barley. Additionally, first foods for babies can - and should - include an abundance of fruits, vegetables, fats, legumes, and whole grains served in age-appropriate ways.

If you choose to incorporate some rice cereal into your baby’s diet, that’s okay. Just be sure that rice is not the dominant food being offered, and instead prioritize exposing your baby to other healthy, nutrient-dense, and lower risk foods as they transition to solids.

The content and advice provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice for specific medical conditions. Always consult a pediatrician to understand the individual needs of your child.

how to cook rice for feeding

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Rice porridge for infants

First baby food with rice porridge

Dietary Guidelines

How to cook rice porridge for babies

One of the first "adult" dishes on the baby's table is rice. This cereal has earned the trust of nutritionists, pediatricians and parents around the world. Rice is a gluten-free, low-allergenic cereal with a high content of "healthy" carbohydrates (up to 85%), which are perfectly digested in the baby's sensitive digestive tract. Rice is also traditionally used in the therapeutic diets of people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and intestinal infections.

Main useful properties

The main properties of rice porridge are its low calorie content (44 kcal per 100 g of product) and the optimal ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Rice has a low glycemic index, which contributes to a more efficient supply of glucose to the brain. Protein in rice contains a small amount, but due to its structure, it is perfectly absorbed by the human body (up to 98%). In the fat component of rice, 1/5 part (21%) belongs to fatty acids important for the child's body: oleic (37%), linoleic (41%) and linolenic. The low fat content in rice groats (0.7–1 g/100 g of groats), the optimal ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates (7 g/1 g/74 g) create a long-lasting feeling of fullness when eating ready-made rice dishes. Since rice does not contain coarse dietary fiber, it can be used in the diet of people with diseases of the digestive system, accompanied by excessive motility and gas formation. The vitamin and mineral composition of rice cereal is not as rich as compared to buckwheat or oatmeal. However, rice grains contain a large amount of B vitamins, of which the most are pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and tocopherol (vitamin E).

Rice dishes occupy one of the leading positions in the world gastronomic culture. About 5000 recipes based on this cereal are known. Therefore, in baby food, rice porridge does not lose its popularity.

For breakfast in Russia, porridge is traditionally prepared for children, because the first meal should be high-calorie, satisfying and tasty. The main components of a healthy breakfast should be complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats of animal origin, which take longer to be processed by digestive enzymes. Therefore, the choice of parents in favor of porridge as the main dish in the morning is quite justified.

Rice porridge for feeding children in the first year of life

Children's rice porridge is one of the most popular products in the Baby Premium line. Small gourmets can choose from dairy-free and milky rice porridges, with fruit additives. All cereals of the Baby Premium line have a high safety profile, are enriched with essential vitamins and minerals, which increases their nutritional value.

The use of fortified baby foods is an important part of nutrition in the first year of life. During the transition of a child from exclusive breastfeeding to the stage of introduction of complementary foods, short-term deficiency states for individual microelements may occur.

Lack of proper eating habits in the family, encouragement of the child's independent choice of foods, selectivity in nutrition, restrictive diets are factors that lead to a deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the baby's diet.

In this regard, health professionals have developed a global strategy to reduce the risk of developing vitamin and mineral deficiencies - the mandatory fortification of daily food, especially regarding the children's menu.

Thus, it has been proven that no additional non-fortified food can provide the infant with an adequate level of zinc, the deficiency of which causes a decrease in growth rate, intestinal diseases and a decrease in immune tolerance. Accordingly, the child should receive additional zinc with enriched complementary foods.

The same risk factors include a high prevalence of iron deficiency in children of the 1st year of life due to poor control of maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation, obsession with diets, premature birth and the development of digestive disorders in the infant in the first months of life. Iron deficiency can cause delayed psychomotor development and other health problems in the baby. With the right balance of trace elements in the diet of both the mother and the baby, this condition can be avoided.

Baby Premium baby cereals contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals, but the content of such elements as iron, iodine, zinc, B, A, C vitamins is especially high, which cover up to 10% of the daily requirement for these substances.

The first complementary foods with rice porridge for children

Each parent can offer children's rice porridge for breakfast. For healthy babies, complementary foods at 4-6 months can be started with safe, low-allergenic Baby Premium rice porridge and gradually move to milk-based rice porridge, which has a high nutritional value due to the ideal combination of animal proteins and cereals, as well as the additional introduction of vitamins and minerals . In terms of calories, milk porridges are comparable to breast milk (90 kcal and 70 kcal, respectively), in this regard, they perfectly maintain a long-term feeling of satiety and give a stable supply of energy to the little hero.

If it is necessary to make a more varied diet and introduce the child to new tastes in the Baby Premium line, you can choose milk rice porridge with fruits. Fruit additives in cereals are additional sources of dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and also develop the taste buds of a little gourmet.

If a child has health problems in the form of food allergies, malabsorption syndrome, celiac disease, then he can be recommended for a long time low-allergenic rice porridge, which is also a full-fledged dairy-free cereal dish. The ratio of the main nutrients, the content of vitamins and minerals in it correspond to all physiological norms of consumption in early childhood. Dairy-free rice porridge is enriched with prebiotics in the form of inulin, which will favorably affect the formation of a healthy microbiota in the intestines.

The use of Baby Premium cereals in the daily diet of young children allows parents to be confident in the high level of technological, microbiological and chemical safety of the product, its usefulness and ease of preparation in a variety of conditions.

Dietary Recommendations

1. Start introducing a new food into the diet with a tiny amount. For the first acquaintance with rice, a quarter of a teaspoon of porridge will be enough for a crumb. Every day, you can increase the serving, gradually trying to reach the amount of one serving recommended by the pediatrician.

2. It is best to offer this high-carbohydrate product to babies in the morning.

3. Postpone rice foods for a while if your baby has bloating, intestinal colic, or problems with bowel movements (constipation).

4. Having decided how to cook rice porridge for feeding, over time you can enrich the taste of the main dish by adding mashed apple, pear or squash puree to it.

5. In the Bebi Premium line, along with classic rice porridge, there are options with fruit, vegetable, and cream components. They will introduce the baby to new facets of the taste of a product already known to him a few months after the introduction of the first complementary foods.

6. Take the time to teach your child about food etiquette from an early age. Wash your hands before and after eating. If the baby is already more than 10 months old, let him try to feed himself. To do this, put a beautiful bowl in front of him and offer a spoon that will be comfortable for him to hold.

How to cook rice porridge for babies

You can go in two ways - buy a package of regular rice or choose a special ready-made baby porridge from this cereal. Let's consider both options in more detail.

Rice groats

Several varieties of the product can be found on store shelves. These are parboiled, long-grain, round-grain and medium-grain rice. For the first feeding, the last option is best. Such a product absorbs a large amount of moisture during cooking and boils well. Before you cook rice porridge for the first feeding, you need to carefully prepare the grain.

Sort by hand to remove possible pebbles and other debris.
Rinse under water until the liquid is clear.
Soak rice in warm water, then rinse with cold water.

It is important to consider the following information:

it is not recommended to cook cereals for children under one year old with cow's milk;
proportions: for 20 g of rice - 50 ml of water and 100 breast milk or formula;
for babies, do not season porridge with salt, sugar.

Ready porridge

At the first feeding, the consistency of the food should be thin and as homogeneous as possible. The presence of even small lumps in the baby can provoke regurgitation and rejection of food. Therefore, for the smallest, it is permissible to begin acquaintance with rice in the form of a ready-made powder for making porridge.

In this case, it is better to take the dairy-free version as the very first product. He leaves the mother the opportunity to prepare a dish with the addition of breast milk or a mixture - products with which the baby's body is already familiar. As a rule, a cooking recipe with exact proportions is indicated on the packaging of porridge.

When choosing ready-made baby porridge, pay attention to the composition. The presence of dyes, soy products and some other components can cause allergies and other undesirable reactions on the part of the child's body. Bebi Premium rice porridges for the first complementary foods are distinguished by a balanced composition and are additionally enriched with a complex of prebiotics, which contribute to the formation of the correct microflora of the baby's intestines.

Important! Whichever of the options for how to cook rice porridge for the first complementary foods you choose, only a freshly prepared dish should be offered to the baby. Do not refrigerate leftovers and do not use for subsequent feedings.

How to cook for the first feeding

Published 02/24/02. 2020 05/27/2020 Elena Volodina

Reading time: 6 minutes

Rice porridge is a tasty dish, which is one of the first to be one of the first to the main baby. Many pediatricians consider milk rice porridge to be the optimal ratio of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Rice is extremely quickly digested, saturates the body with energy and improves mood. Due to its mild and delicate taste, rice porridge for babies can be a good option for first foods. And therefore, the mother of the baby should know how many months a child can be given rice porridge, and also how to cook it.

1 How to cook rice porridge with milk and water for a baby

1.1 Composition and benefits of rice porridge for children

1.2 When rice is given for the first feeding

1.3 How to cook rice porridge for the first feeding

1. 3.1 How to do it right boil rice porridge for a child in water:

1.3.2 How to cook rice milk porridge for a child:

1.3.3 Delicious additions

1.4 Possible harm and contraindications

1.4.1 Similar entries:

The composition and benefits of rice porridge for children

Rice porridge in the first complementary foods is very useful, since rice groats are classified as gluten-free products. Due to this, it is recommended to cook it for a baby with frequent food allergies.

The benefits of rice porridge for a child of different ages:

Rice contains vitamin B, C, E, PP, which stimulate the functioning of nerve cells, strengthen hair and nail plates, increase immune defense.
Complex carbohydrates are vital for strengthening and replenishing the body's energy costs.
Phosphorus, iodine, sulfur, selenium and other minerals - provide active intellectual and physical development of a one-year-old child.
Rice flour contains 8 essential amino acids that speed up metabolic processes and cell regeneration.
Oligosaccharide - improves the functioning of the digestive system, stimulates intestinal peristalsis and solves the problem of frequent constipation.
Lecithin - stimulates brain activity, strengthens memory and susceptibility to learning.
The energy value of porridge in water is 77 kcal, in milk - 98 kcal.

Rice dish can be given to babies with insufficient weight gain, moodiness, anxiety, sleep disturbances. This tasty and nutritious treat is great to add to your baby's diet for skin rashes, redness, dermatitis, and diaper rash.

This cereal is also recommended for pregnant and lactating women suffering from frequent bloating and stool disorders. It gently envelops the gastric mucosa, and due to its easy digestibility, it does not burden the digestive organs.

When rice is given for the first feeding

Answering when rice porridge can be added to the diet of a newborn, pediatricians advise doing it a few weeks after he was given buckwheat.

Basic rules for introducing a rice dish to the children's menu:

Children's rice porridge is given to an artificial baby at the age of 7 months, for breast-fed babies it is recommended to prepare a treat at 9 months.
For "tasting" complementary foods must be boiled in water. Milk porridge is allowed to be made at about 1 year old, because it is quite difficult to digest by the digestive system.
Do not add granulated sugar to the finished dish, and do not add salt. By the year, you can add butter to the porridge.
Complementary foods are given well-mashed, to the state of sour cream.
A 7-month-old baby can eat rice porridge with the addition of mother's milk or an adapted formula.
For the first time the baby is offered a small portion of rice porridge - no more than a teaspoon, in the morning.
The consistency for the first samples should be quite liquid, reminiscent of sour cream. Gradually, the baby can be given treats with a thicker and more viscous consistency.
Rice groats are not considered food for daily consumption. With good tolerance, it can be given to the crumbs twice a week, with a tendency to constipation - once every 8-12 days.

Listen to Dr. Komarovsky's expert opinion on rice for children (beginning at 5:34): milk, it is necessary to carefully observe the reaction of the child's body to a new product. In the absence of negative manifestations, the next day, the amount of complementary foods is doubled. The maximum allowable portion for a one-year-old child is 190-220 g.

Moms should remember that any new complementary foods are introduced into the child's diet only when he is completely healthy, vigorous and active. Also, the baby should not be given a new dish if he has a preventive vaccination or immediately after it.

Read on the topic At what age can you give millet porridge to a child: with milk and water

How to cook rice porridge for the first feeding

depending on taste preferences and age of the child. A 7-8-month-old baby should eat porridge on the water; for a one-year-old child, you can cook a nutritious and satisfying milk porridge.

How to properly cook rice porridge for a child on water:

Pour two tablespoons of cereal in a saucepan with 250 ml of boiling water;
put on a small fire - the dish is cooked for 25-30 minutes;
leave the cooked porridge covered for 12-15 minutes;
grind food with a blender;
Give your baby warm.

A small amount of butter and sugar can be used to make rice porridge. This dish is best cooked after the child is one year old.

How to cook rice milk porridge for a child:

Pour 2 tablespoons of thoroughly washed rice groats into a small saucepan;
cover with a cup of boiling water;
porridge should be simmered for 22-25 minutes;
chop the finished dish with a blender and pour over a cup of milk;
boil again on low heat for 8-10 minutes.

Baby rice milk porridge for babies over one year old will taste better with the addition of a small slice of butter and granulated sugar.

Delicious additions

Rice flour

Mix a tablespoon of rice flour (coffee grinder) with 3 tablespoons of cool water;
Pour 100 ml of milk (or an adapted milk mixture) into the flour and put it on a slow fire;
boil for 4-6 minutes, stirring constantly.

You can add a pinch of sugar. But many pediatricians recommend adding sweeteners only after 9-11 months.

Multicooker

Pour 100 g of rice cereal into the multicooker bowl;
add a teaspoon of granulated sugar to it;
pour in 200 ml of milk and the same amount of filtered water;
Cook a dish with the "Milk porridge" or "Rice" function switched on.

After the beep sounds, set the “Heating” mode and simmer the porridge for another 13-15 minutes, season with butter before serving.

With prunes or dried apricots

An appetizing and satisfying dish is prepared very simply - pour dried fruits with boiling water and leave for a while to soften. Prepare rice milk porridge according to any recipe, cut prunes or dried apricots into small pieces and pour into the porridge. Before feeding the baby, grind it with a blender.

With strawberries or raspberries

2-3 tablespoons of strawberries or raspberries, pass through a sieve;
mix strained juice with the same amount of water and bring to a boil;
Mix a glass of boiled berry broth with a tablespoon of grits and cook until tender.

To prepare such a dish, any seasonal berries to which the child is not allergic are used.

For the children's menu, you can use the recipe for rice porridge in water or milk with various additives. They improve the taste of the dish, so the kids will eat it with appetite. Moms can choose from 9 delicious and healthy additions0005

pumpkin;
carrots;
dried apricots, prunes and other dried fruits;
raspberries;
strawberry;
apples;
apricots;
pears.

When adding raisins and other dried fruits, they must first be soaked in hot water and then cut into small pieces. Vegetables and fruits are crushed with a blender to a puree state and mixed with rice.

Possible harm and contraindications

Rice is one of the nutritious and healthy cereals, but it can also harm the child's body. The main recommendations of doctors on the use of the product:

Groats have fixing properties. Therefore, with a tendency to frequent constipation, its amount in the children's diet must be limited.
The product does not contain gluten, but it does contain vegetable protein, which can provoke allergic reactions accompanied by nausea, bloating, stool disorders.
White rice contains a high amount of sugar, so children with diabetes should eat it in a strictly limited amount. Brown rice is your best bet.
If you are allergic to lactose, the dish is prepared exclusively with water.
Before cooking, it is recommended to rinse the cereal at least 5-7 times - the water must remain completely clean. This treatment is necessary because many growers treat cereal crops with chemicals when grown.

Read on the topic Buckwheat porridge for children: how to introduce it into the first complementary foods and how to cook it

Read on the topic At what age can you give oatmeal to a child: how to cook it with milk and water

Rice porridge is a product that must be in the children's diet. It is allowed to enter the menu from 7-9 months, depending on the type of food the child has. Even the most capricious kid will like mouth-watering cereals with the addition of fruits or berries, and mothers will appreciate the ease and simplicity of their preparation.