Can you put baby food in bottle

Putting Rice Cereal in Your Baby’s Bottle: Is It Safe?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on March 02, 2021

During their first 6 months, most babies’ diets consist of mostly breast milk or baby formula. Sometime between 4 and 6 months, you may decide to start supplementing your baby’s diet with solid foods. Most babies’ digestive systems aren’t ready to process anything but milk or formula prior to 4 months of age, at the very earliest.

For years, many new parents have started their babies out on solid foods by adding rice cereal to their baby’s bottle. However, new research has provided several reasons why parents should avoid this method.

Solid Foods for Babies

Before the age of 4 to 6 months, babies are not yet ready to eat solid foods. It’s around this time that your baby’s digestive system can start to handle certain supplementary foods. They also usually stop using their tongues to push food around or out of their mouths.

Signs that your baby is ready to start eating solid foods as a supplement to breast milk or formula include when they:

Can support their head steadily on their own
Can sit upright without help
Show interest in your food when you eat, at times moving their mouth around while watching
Can grab at objects

Is Rice Cereal Safe to Put in a Baby’s Bottle?

Your baby’s first foods should be simple, one-ingredient foods with no added salt or sugar. For this reason, many new parents turn to cereals like rice, oatmeal, or barley.

It was once thought that adding rice cereal to a baby’s bottle at night would help them sleep longer without waking up to feed during the night. Recent studies now show that there is no reason to believe that this is true.

Babies usually can’t sleep more than 5 hours at a time at this stage. They also naturally wake up to feed, whether or not they are full. Not only does adding rice cereal to a baby’s bottle not keep them asleep, but it can also raise their risk of choking.

Adding rice cereal to your baby’s bottle makes the liquid thicker. Babies who get used to drinking thick milk like this might later develop a difficulty telling solid foods apart from liquid foods. This can make it hard for your baby to start eating solid foods.

Arsenic in Rice Cereal

Another risk associated with putting rice cereal in a baby’s bottle is that rice has higher levels of arsenic in it as compared to other cereals and grains.

Arsenic is a naturally-occurring substance in soil, water, and air. Rice that grows with trace amounts of arsenic in it can have lasting effects on your baby’s health.

Arsenic is a carcinogen that is linked to several different diseases. Even low levels, like those found in rice cereals for babies, can affect their development. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends that you introduce oatmeal to your baby instead.

How to Feed Your Baby Cereal

No matter which cereal you decide to give your baby when introducing solid foods, you should never put it directly into the bottle for the reasons mentioned. Instead, you can feed cereal to your baby with a small baby spoon.

To do so, mix 1 tablespoon of single-ingredient, iron-fortified cereal with 4 tablespoons of baby formula or breast milk. Once your baby is sitting upright, offer them about a teaspoon of the cereal. This kind of feeding takes practice, so it might get messy. As your baby learns to swallow and manage the cereal, you can increase the thickness over time.

If your baby enjoys the food, try giving them a little more. If they aren’t interested or don’t like it, don’t force it. You can try it again in a few days.

Other Supplementary Baby Foods

It’s important not to introduce solid foods, like cereal or others, to your baby before they’re ready. Introducing your baby to cereal too early is linked to obesity later on in their life. There is also a higher risk of allergy activation, especially with cereals that contain gluten.

When introducing a new food to your baby, wait a few days to see if they develop symptoms of allergies or diarrhea before introducing another new food. Doctors recommend giving your baby foods with potential allergens when you start giving them supplemental foods. It’s a myth that waiting to introduce foods like peanuts, fish, or eggs can prevent food allergies.

Once your baby has mastered eating cereal, try giving them pureed fruit or veggies with no added ingredients. Only give them one kind of fruit or vegetable at a time. You can also try giving your baby pureed meat. Wait 5 days after introducing each food to check for a reaction.

Feeding Your 4- to 7-Month-Old (for Parents)

Most babies this age are ready to try solid foods. Experts recommend starting solid foods when a baby is about 6 months old, depending on the baby's readiness and nutritional needs.

Be sure to check with your doctor before giving any solid foods.

Is My Baby Ready to Eat Solid Foods?

How can you tell if your baby is ready for solids? Here are a few hints:

Does your baby swallow food or push it out of their mouth? Babies have a natural tongue-thrust reflex that pushes food back out. Wait until this reflex disappears (typically when babies are 4–6 months old).
Can your baby support their own head? To eat solid food, an infant needs good head and neck control and should be able to sit up.
Is your baby interested in food? Babies who stare, reach and grab, and open their mouths for food are ready to try solid foods.

If your doctor gives the go-ahead but your baby seems frustrated or uninterested in solid foods, try waiting a few days before trying again. Breast milk and formula will still meet nutritional needs as your baby learns to eat solid foods. But after 6 months, babies need the added nutrition — like iron and zinc — that solid foods provide.

Do not add cereal or other food to your baby's bottle because it can lead to too much weight gain.

Watch for signs that your child is hungry or full. Respond to these cues and let your child stop when full. A child who is full may suck with less enthusiasm, stop, or turn away from the breast or the bottle. With solid foods, they may turn away, refuse to open their mouth, or spit the food out.

How Should I Start Feeding My Baby Solid Foods?

When your baby is ready and the doctor says it’s OK to try solid foods, pick a time of day when your baby is not tired or cranky. You want your baby to be a little hungry, but not so hungry that they’re upset. So you might want to give your baby a little breast milk or formula first.

Have your baby sit supported in your lap or in a high chair with a safety strap.

Most babies' first food is iron-fortified infant single-grain cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. Place the spoon near your baby's lips, and let the baby smell and taste it. Don't be surprised if this first spoonful is rejected. Wait a minute and try again. Most food offered to your baby at this age will end up on the baby's chin, bib, or high-chair tray. Again, this is just an introduction.

When your little one gets the hang of eating cereal off a spoon, it may be time to try single-ingredient puréed meat, vegetables, or fruit. The order in which you give them doesn't matter, but go slow. Offer foods that are high in iron and zinc — such as meat, poultry, eggs, and beans — especially if your baby is breastfeeding. Try one food at a time and wait several days before trying something else new. This will let you identify any foods that your baby may be allergic to.

Which Foods Should I Avoid?

Foods that are more likely to cause allergies can be among the foods you introduce to your baby. These include peanuts, eggs, cow’s milk, seafood, nuts, wheat, and soy. Waiting to start these foods does not prevent food allergies. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about food allergies, especially if any close family members have allergies, food allergies, or allergy-related conditions, like eczema or asthma.

Infants with severe eczema or egg allergies are more likely to have allergies to peanuts. Talk to your doctor about how and when to introduce these foods to your child.

Possible signs of food allergy or allergic reactions include:

rash
bloating or an increase in gassiness
diarrhea
vomiting

Get medical care right away if your baby has a more severe allergic reaction, like hives, drooling, wheezing, or trouble breathing.

If your child has any type of reaction to a food, don't offer that food again until you talk with your doctor.

Babies shouldn't have:

foods with added sugars and no-calorie sweeteners
high-sodium foods
honey, until after the first birthday. It can cause botulism in babies.
unpasteurized juice, milk, yogurt, or cheese
regular cow's milk or soy beverages before 12 months instead of breast milk or formula. It’s OK to offer pasteurized yogurt and cheese.
foods that may cause choking, such as hot dogs, raw carrots, grapes, popcorn, and nuts

Tips for Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods

With the hectic pace of family life, most parents try commercially prepared baby foods at first. They come in small, convenient containers, and manufacturers must meet strict safety and nutrition guidelines.

If you prepare your own baby foods at home, here are some things to keep in mind:

Follow the rules for food safety, including washing your hands well and often.
To preserve the nutrients in your baby's food, cook it in ways that keep the most vitamins and minerals. Try steaming or baking fruits and vegetables instead of boiling, which washes away the nutrients.
Freeze portions that you aren't going to use right away.
Whether you buy the baby food or make it yourself, texture and consistency are important. At first, babies should have finely puréed single-ingredient foods. (Just applesauce, for example, not apples and pears mixed together. )
After your baby is eating individual foods, it's OK to offer a puréed mix of two foods. As babies get older, they will learn to eat a greater variety of tastes and textures.
If you use prepared baby food in jars, spoon some of the food into a bowl to feed your baby. Do not feed your baby right from the jar — bacteria from the baby's mouth can contaminate the remaining food. If you refrigerate opened jars of baby food, it's best to throw away anything not eaten within a day or two.
Around 6 months of age is a good time for your baby to try a cup. You might need to try a few cups to find one that works for your child. Use water at first to avoid messy clean-ups. Do not give juice to infants younger than 12 months.

Over the next few months, introduce a variety of foods from all the food groups. If your baby doesn't seem to like something, don’t give up. It can take 8 to 10 tries or more before babies learn to like new foods.

Baby food on board, or how not to leave a child hungry on an airplane

Many families indulge in the pleasure of traveling with their children. If you are going to fly on a plane with a small child, you need to properly prepare for the flight, because the baby needs regular and nutritious food.

The question often arises: is it possible to take baby food on the plane, will it be taken away during the pre-flight inspection, is the menu offered by airlines suitable for a child?

Our article will tell you how to get ready for the journey so that your child is not hungry on the plane.

What can I take on the plane?
How much food should I take?
Weight of hand luggage
Children's menu on board
How to transport canned food and drinks?

What can I take from baby food on a plane?

First of all, let's determine that is allowed to take baby food in hand luggage.

It is necessary to prepare food for the child if you have transfers and a long journey from the airport to your destination, as well as if you are flying on a low-cost airline (low-cost) airline. So, for a child, you can take:

baby food jars, drinks, milk formula;
suitable snack foods: fresh and dried fruits, nuts, crackers, corn sticks;
basic food (needed while waiting for a transfer or when flying with a low-cost airline): it is advisable to take such food that the child is used to and which is convenient to eat in "marching" conditions, without cutlery;
sour-milk drinks or products (it is important for children to get such food when the climate changes).

When planning to take food with you, calculate the amount based on the fact that airlines also offer baby food (see below).

Perishable products must be carried in a cooler bag. However, we remind you that for the safety of air travel , most of the items are checked in before boarding the plane in baggage .

What if you need to take baby food with you not only for the duration of the flight, but also for the entire holiday?

If food is in a cardboard or metal package, then it will not be damaged in luggage, but if you have to carry mashed potatoes in glass jars or sour-milk products that need to be stored in the refrigerator, then it is clear that you cannot check them in luggage - fragile packaging can simply break .

You will most likely be asked to pack the food jars separately and hand them in at the front desk. They will not be transported in the baggage compartment, but directly in the cabin, and you will be given them before leaving the aircraft.

How much baby food should I take with me?

The need to carry a large supply of jars with you (for the entire holiday period) may arise if the baby has allergies and other food simply does not suit him, or if you go, for example, to resorts Egypt or Thailand , whose hotels are often remote from supermarkets and it will be difficult to quickly purchase baby food.

In this case, we recommend that you call the carrier in advance and consult about the possibility of carrying a certain amount of food in the cabin, in addition to hand luggage.

Usually, in such a situation, the airlines meet halfway and do not refuse the request.

If you are planning a vacation in European resorts (for example, at Austria, Germany, Bulgaria and others) or your vacation is associated with visiting large cities ( Vienna, Munich, Prague and others), then you should not worry about the supply of baby food: you can buy it at any time in a nearby supermarket or pharmacy.

What additional questions should I ask the air carrier during travel planning before arriving at the airport?

How much hand luggage can I take on a plane?

The weight of carry-on luggage varies between companies. Usually it ranges from 5 to 10 kg per person. When flying in business class, hand luggage can carry much more weight than in economy class.

If you are flying on a low-cost airline, you should definitely find out from the carrier whether hand luggage is included in the ticket price - some budget companies take separate, very significant money for carrying hand luggage.

Traveling with a child by plane:
What are the best places on the plane to choose if you are flying with children

The good news is that many major Russian carriers offer this service for free, regardless of flight class.

Children's menus can be ordered free of charge on all long-haul flights of the German airline Lufthansa and on some European flights when booking tickets, or by calling the Lufthansa Service Center no later than 24 hours before the departure of your aircraft.

The airline's children's menu is designed by renowned chef Stefan Marquard. Food for children is a topic close to the heart of this master, who is the author of a children's cookbook. With his out-of-the-ordinary ideas and fun recipes, he excelled in creating dishes that were both healthy and appealing to children.

On the other hand, there is a limited amount of baby food for babies under 2 years of age on board each Austrian Airlines flight . Pre-order is not necessary - just ask the flight attendants.

Ukrainian airline UIA also offers meals for children (from 2 to 10 years old) on its flights, the need for which must be provided at least 50 hours before the scheduled flight departure. This service has recently been paid, the children's menu will cost parents 8 euros.

Aeroflot and Rossiya have baby food and baby food (soft chewable food for children from 2 years old and portioned milk and baby food in assortment (Aeroflot) or puree in jars (“Russia”) for children under 2 years old

Special meals must be ordered no later than 36 hours before departure One important nuance: ordering special meals on Aeroflot flights in Economy class is available on flights over 3 hours, in JSC Rossiya Airlines it is possible in Economy class on flights lasting more than 4 hours, in Business class - on flights lasting more than 1 hour.

Ural Airlines is ready to provide baby food if ordered at least 24 hours before departure. You should check with the carrier directly about what offers for baby food international companies have.

The Turkish airline Turkish Airlines also always takes care of its young passengers. A set of baby food is served in a colorful design with a toy. Usually the menu includes a salad, a second course (potatoes and meatballs), sweet pudding. Drinks to choose from: tea, ayran, juices, water.

You can make an order for special meals (any) in advance, at least 24 hours before the departure of your flight, by phone at the call center or the nearest office of the airline.

For reference. Nutrition codes: infant (for children under two years old) - BBML, children's (for children from two years old) - CHML.

How to transport canned food and baby drinks?

The rules for conducting a pre-flight screening in force in the Russian Federation contain a list of items that are allowed to be carried in hand luggage subject to special requirements.

This list includes: mercury medical thermometer, liquids in containers up to 100 ml with a total volume of up to 1 liter (they must be packed in a separate transparent plastic bag), medicines, special dietary needs, baby food, including mother's milk, in the amount required for the entire duration of the flight.

In order to avoid a conflict at the airport during the screening over the number of jars of baby food required for the flight, it is advisable to agree on the procedure for their transportation in advance.

We also recommend purchasing special baby water to avoid disputes about whether it is liquid or baby food.

In conclusion, I would like to note that sometimes airlines publish on their websites far from the entire list of services that they provide to passengers with children.

Don't be afraid to call the carrier's representative to find out everything you need to know and what extra help you can get if you're traveling with a child. Use this simple "key", and then the journey will be a joy to you.

Recommended: Do I want to fly, or Flying a child without parents

Now that you are armed with all the necessary information about baby food on board, you can safely move on to searching for the most suitable flights and booking air tickets. And of course, if you go on holiday with a child, do not forget to take out travel insurance .

It is not expensive, it takes almost no time for registration. But on the other hand, it will save you from unnecessary troubles while traveling, if God forbid something happens to the child. How to choose and what to look for when buying insurance you will learn from our Special Article . Happy travels to you and your children!

Is it possible to take baby food in hand luggage on the plane

Traveling with children should be comfortable. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare for a flight on an airplane with a child.

The baby will not be able to do without regular meals for a long time. In order for the baby to be able to eat on time, you need to put the usual food with you.

Transportation regulations allow you to take baby food in your hand luggage on the plane, but the requirements of different airlines are different. There is a single rule for all air carriers: baby food should not be more than the child needs for the flight.

What kind of baby food can be taken on a plane in hand luggage

First of all, it should be the usual food for a child, depending on age. For small crumbs - these are milk mixtures, vegetable or fruit puree. For an older baby, the main meal is taken for a quick snack - fruits and cookies, as well as drinks.

In any case, the amount of baby food allowed in hand luggage is sufficient for the baby's flight. No airline will allow you to carry food for several days in your hand luggage.

How much liquid baby food can be taken on a flight? The rules for transporting food for children are more loyal.

It is often allowed to transport liquid food for crumbs with a volume of more than 100 ml. However, this issue is usually decided on an individual basis.

Baby food in carry-on baggage: rules of Russian airlines

In accordance with the rules in force on the territory of the Russian Federation, you can take as hand luggage on the plane as much baby food as necessary for a comfortable flight of children. Many Russian air carriers do not limit parents to liquid baby food up to 100 ml in one container. However, you should take reasonable amounts of food for children with you. For convenience, carefully pack liquid nutrition in plastic containers to prevent leakage.

Thus, S7 Airlines writes on the official website: “Parents can take food for their child on board without any fear. There are no hard limits on volume or content.” But Pobeda, when traveling with a child, allows you to take food and drinks with you, but each container should not exceed 100 ml.

For older children on long flights, the airline can order a special children's menu. The order must be made at the stage of booking tickets. For example, Aeroflot will offer fruits, vegetables, various pastries and drinks for children to eat. The children's menu is distinguished by the absence of hot dishes.

Regulations for transporting baby food in other countries

On international flights, you can also put baby food in your hand luggage, but the rules for transporting it will be stricter. A set of products for a child depends on the duration of the flight and is usually limited to three servings.

Liquid food must be packed in plastic containers with a volume of up to 100 ml and no more than 1 liter per person. The rules provide for the packaging of each container in an individual transparent plastic bag. Containers should be tightly closed.

For children over 2 years of age, the shipping rates for baby food vary. Products are stored in containers with a volume of not more than 100 ml. Each container must be signed and packed in a separate transparent bag.

It should be noted that for children over two years old on international flights, many airlines provide a special children's menu free of charge. So, Swiss Air, Air France offer for kids vegetable salads, cereals, yogurt, fruits or something more substantial, for example, chicken nuggets with a side dish. In order for the baby to be provided with food, it must be ordered in advance, at least 36 hours before departure.