As a new parent, yous're likely getting tons of unsolicited communication from family members, friends and fifty-fifty strangers on the street. Fussy baby? Trouble breastfeeding? There's a dubious hack for almost everything parenting-related. Ane such tip that but won't quit? Putting rice cereal in your baby's canteen as a way to "make full her upwardly" and aid her sleep longer at dark.

This is an quondam wives' tale that is ofttimes passed on new moms. But is it safety? Read on for the total details — and why leading experts do non recommend this exercise for the vast majority of children.

Is it safe to put rice cereal in your baby'south canteen?

Putting rice cereal in a baby'south canteen is an sometime-school parenting tip that claims to help babies sleep improve at night. In a survey of about 400 parents published inPediatrics, 43 per centum of respondents said they accept tried this "hack" at some signal to help their babies slumber improve.

However, leading experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do non recommend this do, pointing out that in that location's no evidence it improves sleep. What's more, it could increase your child'south risk of choking.

Some experts likewise worry that putting rice cereal in a baby'southward bottle could contribute to excessive weight gain, as it'due south essentially adding extra calories to each repast that babe might non need.

Rice cereal besides contains small amounts of arsenic. While consuming moderate amounts of rice products as part of a varied diet is non considered harmful (more on this below), if your babe is consuming lots of rice cereal (say, frequently in her canteen), that would increase her exposure.

On rare occasions, there are medical reasons why parents might be told to put rice in their baby's bottle. For case, doctors might recommend adding a thickening agent to a bottle for babies with very severe reflux (although oatmeal is at present preferred for this issue). In this specific instance, still, it would be administered with a doctor's knowledge and recommendation.

How to safely introduce rice cereal to your infant

Although you should never put it in your baby's bottle, rice cereal is a popular first food for babies and can be safely introduced once your child starts solids, usually sometime around 6 months. Prepare the cereal according to the package instructions and spoon-feed information technology to your niggling one (or give her a preloaded spoon and let her try to feed herself!).

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To make the texture easier for her to manage when she's first starting solids, mix rice cereal with chest milk or formula. Offering small portions that are easy for her to handle, and watch carefully for signs of choking.

While seeing the word "arsenic" might brand y'all panic, rice cereal is largely considered a healthy food for babies once she's old enough to start solids. To limit your babe's exposure to arsenic — from rice cereal or other foods — experts recommend that y'all keep your babe's diet varied, avoid fruit juice, and avoid offering foods that incorporate brown rice syrup or rice milk. Yous tin also experiment with other single-grain cereals such as oatmeal or barley.

In other words, one time your babe is eating solids, rice cereal shouldn't be served at every meal — no matter how much she may dearest it. This ensures she'southward getting proper nutrition from a variety of delicious foods besides as limiting her arsenic exposure.

The bottom line? Prepared properly, rice cereal can be a safe food for babies who are eating solids, just you should never put it in your child'south bottle, no matter how desperate you are for her to sleep longer at night.

Instead, talk to your pediatrician for recommendations on how to improve your child'southward sleep, and save the rice cereal for when she's quondam enough to safely eat information technology from a spoon.