Baby rice

[5678hfdtu]

Why are so many people against it? What are the pros and cons?

I'm weaning my lo and have some ellas kitchen banana baby rice which he has from time to time and absolutely loves but have seen a lot of people saying bad things

I think theres just very little nutrients in it in comparison with alternatives. Theres nothing wrong with, you could just give better stuff.

Please tell me if I'm being very stupid but doesn't the milk (formula or breast milk) you make it with provide the nutrition? And the rice serves as the 'cereal' part of the diet babies should have?

For example, in the ellas kitchen baby rice, quinoa is the main ingredient which is very high in protein, fibre and iron

It has no pros, it’s a throwback to when people used to wean their infants dangerously early before their gut was ready and would spoon slop into the kids mouths as they pushed it back out with their tongues.
Once they’re 6 months, just give them normal food.

I personally dislike rice in general because of the arsenic content. Prefer oats for babies.

There’s just better options really, like oats and fresh vegetables.

NHS say on their website the arsenic content can't cause any harm. Fair enough, the quinoa based baby rice I'm giving is great for iron which they need as they don't get a lot from formula :)

It’s literally just rice powder and flavouring and that’s it, yes it might be fortified with vitamins but it just doesn’t have anything else going for it!! As previous poster has said, it would be better to go for porridge oats (even readybrek if you want a smooth texture!) or veg purées. Plus it’s expensive compared to normal food!

OP if you want to carry giving it, then carry on

Have a taste when you next make it. I brought this and tasted it before feeding DS. I changed my mind as soon as I tasted it and gave him fruit instead

@YoureRight

It has no pros, it’s a throwback to when people used to wean their infants dangerously early before their gut was ready and would spoon slop into the kids mouths as they pushed it back out with their tongues. Once they’re 6 months, just give them normal food.

The above.

It's basically dust.

@5678hfdtu

NHS say on their website the arsenic content can't cause any harm. Fair enough, the quinoa based baby rice I'm giving is great for iron which they need as they don't get a lot from formula :)

I was reading on the NHS website last night that they do not recommend baby rice due to the arsenic content

@ PeanutButterFalcon - you’re right. They don’t recommend rice cakes either

We recommend that consumers eat a balanced, varied and healthy diet. Rice and rice products can be part of that, including for young children.
"However, we do advise that toddlers and young children – ages 1-4.5 – should not be given rice drinks as a substitute for breast milk, infant formula or cow's milk.
"This is because of their proportionally higher milk consumption and lower body weight compared to other consumers."

Continued exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic is known to have toxic effects, possibly increasing the risk of cancer and affecting development. However, this study doesn't give evidence that the arsenic levels in urine observed here would be toxic to the child and could affect their future health.

Erm where exactly? This is from the NHS website

'Europe set a limit on the amount of arsenic that should be present in rice products in January 2016.'

Also this

OP the PPs have given you their opinions considering you asked why people are against it, and for the pros and cons. There are very little pros to baby rice compared to giving a baby pureed fresh vegetables. Baby rice doesnt hold anything pureed broccoli or pureed carrot wouldnt, and considering baby would still be having bottles of formula, baby wouldnt be missing out on anything.

Why ask for peoples opinions if you are just going to refute them anyway?

I used a bit with my first but not my second, there isn,t much nutrients in it, the feal or Arsnic, it,s a bit pointless.

@MummaBear4321

OP the PPs have given you their opinions considering you asked why people are against it, and for the pros and cons. There are very little pros to baby rice compared to giving a baby pureed fresh vegetables. Baby rice doesnt hold anything pureed broccoli or pureed carrot wouldnt, and considering baby would still be having bottles of formula, baby wouldnt be missing out on anything.

Why ask for peoples opinions if you are just going to refute them anyway?

Where did I refuse the opinions? Just having a conversation. And I'm pointing out I found conflicting information to what people are telling me is all. Sorry for replying :/

If he enjoys the flavour, why not just give him bits of banana? Much better for him, nutritionally and developmentally!

Why are you giving him that instead of normal homemade porridge with oats (whizz in the blender before you cook it if you want it smoother) and full fat milk? So much cheaper, healthier, mix in some mashed banana if you want to. Oats are full of goodness and as he grows you can use the oats unwhizzed so he gets used to different textures.

What else are you giving him? Things like cucumber sticks, celery, steamed broccoli, carrots or courgettes etc are great, bits of bread, full fat plain yogurt. They get to use their hands and try different textures and flavours. You don’t want to fill them up with chaff, you want them to experience a wide range of foods, it’s not about eating but the whole thing. And we’re all programmed to enjoy sweet flavours so it’s good to get them on savoury things asap.

He has it every few days if he wants more food than Ive made. He's had every vegetable under the sun and tries new things every day! Just wanted to check there was nothing seriously wrong with it but I guess not

There's nothing "seriously wrong", it's not like McDonald's or anything, but it's just dust and flavouring really, it's basically nothing. It's not going to hurt him, but there are so many better things you could give him so I'd wonder why you'd bother really.

@5678hfdtu

We recommend that consumers eat a balanced, varied and healthy diet. Rice and rice products can be part of that, including for young children. "However, we do advise that toddlers and young children – ages 1-4.5 – should not be given rice drinks as a substitute for breast milk, infant formula or cow's milk. "This is because of their proportionally higher milk consumption and lower body weight compared to other consumers."

Continued exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic is known to have toxic effects, possibly increasing the risk of cancer and affecting development. However, this study doesn't give evidence that the arsenic levels in urine observed here would be toxic to the child and could affect their future health.

Erm where exactly? This is from the NHS website

And the rest of the site says "baby's do not need baby rice". It is also under the foods to avoid section and also states

Don't worry if your child has already had rice drinks. There's no immediate risk to them, but it's best to switch to a different kind of milk.

Personally after reading the entire weaning section I wouldn't want to risk poisoning my child for little health benefits you can achieve with other foods but that doesn't mean you have to. Each to their own but I was just pointing out the NHS doesn't recommend it

To add I assumed as you said weaning it was a baby not a toddler as mentioned in your post

In a nutshell I didn’t give my children anything I wouldn’t eat