Should I just ditch the baby rice completely?

[pixielove]

I've just read this article and now feel TERRIBLE that I've been giving my dd2 baby rice for about 3 weeks (she's 6 mo tomorrow)! I've been following the Gina Ford plan more or less and she recommends adding baby rice to purred fruit and veg etc. for the first few weeks. It's been going down well (not surprisingly) on the whole but now I'm very concerned about how processed it is and her rejecting 'normal' tasting foods! Today I tried giving mashed potato and parsnip and then just mashed potato and she just spat it out. I got very stressed and worried that she wouldn't eat enough and so gave her some mango puree and baby rice mixed with formula and she ate the lot! She's generally preferred the sweet stuff over the veg so far, which is my main concern as I so want her to be healthy! I'm wondering whether I should just give the fruit and veg purrees (I've made tons of them in the freezer!) without the rice but then I don't think they'll be filling enough? I don't remember feeling so anxious about weaning with my first (and I used some rice then I seem to remember) but now everything seems different and there's so much advice about traditional and BLW that I'm feeling really stressed and anxious about it all!!

www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2011/12/nine-good-reasons-not-to-use-baby-rice.html

But it's not about filling her up is it. It's about getting her to taste stuff.

Baby rice is shite.
I went with yummy fruit purees and baby porridge for a couple of months.

I haven't used any 'baby foods' i started ds on blended carrots and gave him an ice cube full a day (obviously warmed up for him) then made up another batch of potatoes and carrots blended up and every batch i added an ingredient. He basically has what we eat now, i just cook him the same as we have then blend and freeze a batch. Same as fruit for puddings, ds is 28 weeks, i started weaning at 20/21 weeks.

but isn't the baby porridge just as processed as the rice? The rice I've got is the organic one from Boots and you'd think it was the most amazing food from the packaging! Gina Ford reckons it's important to add more rice than fruit puree as it's more filling - so I guess the intention is to fill baby up and get them on a better routine and sleeping better? I was thinking of doing some 'normal' porridge tomorrow using oats and milk and ditching any baby cereal

They don't need filling up, it's about getting them to taste a variety of food -they should still be getting most of their nutrition from milk

Food is fun until they're one - until that point the majority of calories and nutrition is from milk. Ditch the baby rice and baby porridge and start giving them normal food to taste, play with and explore. If they eat it then it's a bonus!

You can add tiny pasta to the veg purees.

Agree they don't need filling up, food is for fun until they're one and all that. And also ageee OP Gina is probably only concerned with filling them up from the sleep angle.

We didn't bother with baby rice just purees and mushed up meals from start.

Don't feel bad though, it's baby rice, not cocaine. And do nt feel stresses because she seems to prefer sweet things. They all do as far as i know and she is so small she is only just starting her food adventure. Try to relax and model healthy eating and she'll follow in time I'm sure.

Agree that food doesn't need to be filling at this age - milk is their main source of nutrition, it should complement milk. So, different tastes and some vitamins. Baby rice doesn't provide anything a baby needs.

Their tastes will change after a while. If breastfeeding, breast milk is really sweet and I think formula is as well so it's no wonder they like fruit to start off with.

9mo dd has just had some rice cooked with mushroom, garlic, onion and bacon lardons and really liked it. She also loves white fish so they do move on to savory after a while.

At that age I would stick to porridge (nothing wrong with normal porridge) with some purée mixed in, or just plain. And just keep trying with different tastes.

I'm doing both finger foods and spoon feeding. Never used baby rice but plain porridge is dd's favorite food and my go to if she spits out what I've made her for dinner!

Baby rice and porridge are pointless. As is Gina Ford

Seriously though, don't stress about it. It's not about filling them up at this age - until the age of one, it's about them experimenting and testing out different things. Ditch the baby rice, and just go with the flow.

And read more by AA, they have some fab articles!

Baby rice IS processed but not on harmful. It will dilute the taste of the foods but the initial purpose of weaning is to get them to get used to pushing food back with their tongue and swallowing, then its about accepting flavours and textures. I am starting weaning next weekend (so excited) and i know i don't NEED baby rice but ive bought one box to start with and will start for a day or 2 with just pure rice mixed with his milk so he is familiar with the taste, then puree plus rice, then just puree once he is used to different fruits and veggies.

The first time you try it without rice it WILL be a different taste and so i wouldn't worry about baby rejecting it first time. Just try again and in sure in a few days they will be wolfing it down!

Try eating baby rice. Then decide whether you want your baby it eat it.

Personally, I wouldn't want my children to eat food that I wouldn't accept as a meal for myself and I'm really not a fussy eater.

Also jr, I think that's your interpretation of the initial point of weaning. It's not everyones.

Mine have never pushed food down with their tongue. They chewed and swallowed.

round i wouldn't drink my baby's milk as it smells rank, its a prescription one, but mixed with the rice im sure he will find it palatable!

Yes but they do still have to ush the food back with their tongue or it would just fall out of their mouths.

I know not everyone weans like that but i think that if a baby eats the rice on its own or mixed with food it can be a useful 'tool' to start the process if that's how you choose to do it.

In my opinion,, I don't think the two are comparable. Baby rice has been scientifically proven to have no nutritional value, it's just a filler. Babies tummies are so tiny, I don't see why it would be necessary.

However, it's the parents decision, and the op was concerned about it not being a healthy choice which it's not.

Op, I don't know much about purees as I've never used them but if it's right for your family go for it, but I had a thought. If you're worried about your baby being hungry, could you puree avocado or banana or something along those lines to mix in or serve as it is? They're fillers and very nutritious. Sweet potato would be another good one too.

Good luck with weaning and I hope you both get into the swing of things soon.

But its not an UNhealthy choice for those first few spoonfuls. As said above, at this stage baby will be getting all their nutrition from milk. Although i get what you are saying. Using it to bulk up meals long term isn't a good option.

OP is feeling terrible about giving baby rice for 3 weeks and that's not necessary. No harm will have been done.

Totally agree with you that the op shouldn't feel terrible.
But it is a totally pointless 'food' when there are many nutritious alternatives.

I do wish in antenatal classes before you have your baby they would give weaning talks. It's hard for parents to access it sometimes when they're in the midst of it and I remember when I had ds1, they sent me a letter about weaning classes when he was 7 months old! Bit too late by then surely?

Again op, don't feel terrible. You've gone with the information that you knew to be best at the time. You've done nothing wrong. I'm sorry if any of my posts have made you feel bad, that really want my intention.

Wasn't

Agree round, its hard not to question all of your weaning decisions like all parenting stuff and there should be more help available.

On a similar note, DS has reflux and suspected CMPA and ive been told i have to see a dietician before i start weaning. But he is 23 weeks and still no appointment so ill just have to muddle through and avoid dairy until i finally get to see someone.

My experience of weaning has taught me one thing - ignore absolutely everything every book and every internet poster tells you and go with what works for your baby. Children are individuals not robots, and whereas one baby will eat finger food from 6 months another will freak out at anything other than milk until much later. Mine falls in the latter camp.

I wanted to do baby led weaning, but dd was having none of it. She picked up and threw everything on the floor. She didn't even put it near her mouth. I then tried purées, but she pushed the spoon away... but she did like baby rice and porridge. I assume it is because those smell like milk. They were useful in teaching her how to swallow and use a spoon.

She's 10 months now and prefers finger foods.

So do what works for you.

That's ridiculous jr! Especially with a baby that clearly has intolerances as a minimum. I hope you get something through soon, that must be very difficult.

Op, also, sorry to waffle on, but the river cottage baby and toddler cookbook has some fantastic recipes. They include purees and whole meals. You may find that helpful as you're making the transition from purees to solids. I found a copy at my local library so you can see if it's for you before spending pennies on it.

Thanks everyone for your reassurance and advice, I'm feeling much better about things now! Roundtable, your posts haven't made me feel bad honestly, you have very valid points! And thanks HazyShade - you're right, it's not cocaine! I feel a bit naive really because I blindly just followed Gina's advice to the letter and assumed that it was OK especially as Annabel Karmel recommend the same (using baby rice as a good first food). However, I have been giving dd all organic home prepared veg and fruit purees alongside the rice, so I haven't just been filling her with rubbish! I've started to give mashed banana and she was more than happy to eat squash and courgette this evening, cold (not warmed) which probably soothes her (she's teething). I've also given natural bio yoghurt which has been OK (ish) and I'm going to try avocado tomorrow. I've made lots of good organic purees (including sweet pototo and squash) and even my own chicken stock to add soon. I've been freezing mini portions of meals I've made recently (fish pie, lasagne, bolognaise and leek and potato soup) to give at some point in the not too distant future. 2 of the 4 freezer drawers have now been taken up with dd's food but it won't be too long before she can have finger foods and eat what we do. I'm comfortable going down the puree route for now as it worked fine with dd1 and she eats well. My main concern was the baby rice and I've definitely decided to ditch it! There's no point in me feeling bad now as what's done is done. I'm mix breast & bottle feeding now and I felt terrible about using bottles too for a while but there are reasons why and I think I'm now at peace with my decision. I think as mothers we're almost encouraged to feel guilty about everything and I certainly get sucked in and lose my way (and intuition) now and again. Thanks again everyone, your posts have really helped.

I pureed vegetables for my DT's then moved onto fruit. Introduced meat to the veg after that. I tend to avoid giving them wheat full stop.

I'm glad you don't feel bad and I'm sorry again as I do think my tone was a bit lecturey and I really didn't mean it to.

You sound incredibly organised, I have never been that sorted so clearly your children are in very good and very caring hands.

Sounds like your baby has lots of exciting tastes and textures to look forward to. Enjoy yourselves. :)