What Is a Serving Size of Rice Cereal for a Baby?

When it's time to begin feeding your baby solid foods, the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests that you introduce your infant to one food at a time. The first food should be the easiest to digest and something that mixes well with formula or breast milk; rice cereal fits the bill. The thin white flakes are not flavorful for adults, but they contain the right nutrients to help baby continue to grow and develop. At a certain point during infancy, bottle- or breastfeeding is not enough to keep baby satisfied and healthy. The introduction of rice cereal in the proper serving sizes is the recommended way to begin baby's relationship with solid foods.

  1. Why Rice Cereal

    • Rice cereal is the easiest food to digest because it's a simple grain that causes virtually no allergic reactions. When mixed with water, the flakes become a smooth paste that babies can consume without fear of choking. The cereal has the nutrients that baby's body can absorb, which prevents a bad digestive reaction like diarrhea or vomiting. The cereal is the best texture to use for infants who have yet to develop their swallowing skills, as well as those who are pick up the task fairly easy.

    Age Requirements

    • The National Institutes of Health's website, Medline Plus, recommends introducing rice cereal to your baby between the ages of 4 months and 6 months. Babies younger than 4 months are too physically immature to handle the swallowing motions needed to properly consume rice cereal. At this age, the infant is still receiving adequate nutrition from formula or breast milk, so unsuccessful feedings do not affect the baby's appetite.

    Serving Size

    • Medline Plus suggests that parents start with a tablespoon or two of rice cereal at two feedings per day. Once the baby is comfortable with those, she is ready for 3- to 4-tablespoon servings. After the baby begins eating the cereal regularly, parents can introduce other grain cereals like oatmeal. Wait one week between each new type of cereal so you can keep an eye out for any developing allergies.

    Other Considerations

    • In addition to age, Medline Plus recommends beginning rice cereal meals only after certain milestones have been achieved. Doubling his weight, controlling his head and neck, sitting up, refusing food or becoming visibly interested in food are the key milestones. Until your baby has accomplished these things, he isn't physically mature enough to handle rice cereal meals -- or any other solid foods -- just yet.

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