Are there 'regular' alternatives to so-called 'baby' rice, if so could you recommend...?

[PinkPussyCatInAPearTree]

Ds is coming up to weaning stage, was just wondering, in view of popular antagonism directed at the marketing of baby rice, is there a rice/ground rice equivalent suitable for babies? Quite like the idea of maybe mixing it with a fruit puree....or is that a bad idea too...so much to take in with this weaning thing!

I think the thing with baby rice is that it's gluten free. It's possibly not that easy to find other rice that is, but I don't know. I used to mix baby rice with fruit purees from time to time. I don't think I'd bother with baby rice again, certainly not ever on it's own - it's disgusting - but it is a useful thickener, I'll give it that.

All rice is gluten free, not just the baby variety, as is millet and quinoa, both of which are also available in flakes for easy porridge.

"Baby" rice is just a marketing ploy, buy rice flour/ground rice instead, there's absolutely no difference.

That's interesting, I didn't know that (sucker).

That's what these baby foods manufacturers count on.

Much cheaper and healthier IMO to buy a book or two on nutrition and learn to make informed choices and cut through the hype. You save yourself from buying so much toot in the end

Thank you! Very helpful

Will def be buying a book Have bought enough toot already since becoming a mummy....might even start a toot shop!

or have a look here, save your money altogether...

Ds is formula fed. I thought they had to be bf to do blw?

.

My baby is ff now and I am doing BLW. I started off with baby rice mixed with purees etc and then gave her mashed stuff. She totally went off all of it and am now doing BLW - much easier and she loves it.

No, it makes no difference. It's all about the baby's ability to hold the food and has nothing to do with the type of milk whatsoever.

I didn't do blw with my DD (although it was mixed purees and fingr foods from early on), but would definitely do it if I had another.

DS was ff from the start and is doing BLW, he's nearly 7 mo. He has never had purees or baby rice or anything. The only non-solid food he sometimes has is porridge, which he helps himself/the floor/his hair/the dog/his highchair/me to by himself with a spoon . All that 'must be bf' is rubbish thankfully

That's really interesting! So where does the misconception that they must be bf come from? (can't remember where I heard it)

Here pinkpussycat. But see Aitch here with comment from Gill Rapley at the end.

We gave lots of finger foods and ds was ff by that point.
We also did give him a porridgey breakfast with fresh fruit mashed in.
Since I would eat that myself, I don't see why it is so against the ethos of blw
We used to buy an organic baby porridge from Boots
I'm not sure I would bother again, might just make normal porridge, but there was nothing intrinsically wrong with it as far as I could see!

AAAhh yes i recognise that dutch website!

Just thought of something else - do they have to be able to sit before you start blw?

ds eats porridge, yoghurt and even custard with his hands

they don't have to be able to sit alone - as long as they can sit supported that's fine.

Thanks nappyaddict, he can sit supported and has good head control. I have been looking at aitch's blog and some of the Gill rapley stuff just now... it does sound great!
LOL @ custard eaten with hands!!

Does blw prohibit use of spoons? Does cultery muck up the whole process? (obv I am talking about foods like yogurt/porridge etc.)

I give my dd a spoon (9 months) it's very messy but she is getting the hang of it. I don't know if you are meant to do this when BLW but I do since they have to learn to use cutlery at some stage! She still uses her fingers and hands a lot.

you can load the spoon up for them and put it on their tray so if they want it they can put it in their mouth themselves.

pruni, how's porridge against the ethos of BLW you eejit? most of the babies i reckon eat porridge. if they want to self feed it you can just hand it over and prepare for the mess, load up a spoon or let them go at it with a spoon. or, if you can't be arsed with the mess or are too busy eating your own breaskfast to supervise, just overcook it in the micro so that it holds together and is easier for them to pick up.

Aitch, are there any books out there on blw? Or do we have to wait for years of scientific research to give it the official 'ok' before it is allowed to be put into print? (love a book, me!)