Rice cereal alternatives?

[runningmum]

Does anyone know of any alternatives to rice cereal as a first food? My DD will start solids next month and I feel a bit funny starting her on a food you have to reconsitute with water. I don't eat reconstituted food, so why should she have to. I try to avoid processed foods as much as possible. Is it okay to start straight on to vegies?

[rynosmum]

I started DS straight onto fruits (pears / apples) and then veges.

I gave him a taste of rice cereal but he didn't like it (either did I - yuk!).

I did use it later on though to thicken his fruits/veges. Just mixed it straight in and it gave a better consistency as he was getting older.:)

[Refresh]

Rice congee that you m ake yourself is a better option...you can use organic rice:)

Heres a link to some info..

http://www.naturalparenting.com.au/index.php?id=176&encryptionKey=8e19e834262c3dd0552e880597f738ced964 09bf894217686ba124d7356686c9c39328698200f13f0e1f6f 272ecc9e5f&tx_ttnews[backPid]=150&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=41&cHash=a763d5bc51

And another....

http://www.forums.naturalparenting.com.au/search.php?searchid=431962

[xkwzit]

Hi Runningmum
I never thought of rice cereal as "reconstituted". I considered it similar to cooking rice with water.

Many ppl go to veges or fruit first, I've even heard of some going straight to dairy or almond meal (although I don't think I've read any book that recommends it :D ).

Cheers

[zenifa]

I was told by CHN that if you don't want to use rice cereal or baby porridge or if baby doesn't like it, you can put weetbix into a food processor and mix it with formula/breast milk/cooled boiled water and that it is just as good for bubs as the convential rice cereals. I haven't tried it yet, but other mums I know have and their bubs love it, great with fruit (apple/pear/banana) as well.

[sarah81]

You could just go straight onto fruit and veges but I personally would be apprehensive about using almondmeal or weetbix straight away, this is because my DS was allergic to these and many other things. So I have always avoided introducing possbile allergens early on with my DS's.

One bonus about commercial rice cereal is that it contains added iron which bubs need from 6 months on apparantly ( I'm sure there are other ways to incorporate iron in though). Bellameys (sp) make an organic rice cereal.

[polony]

I started with pureed fruit like apple, banana etc first. Then onto vegies, finding out what bub likes etc and in case of allergies. Then I went to rice cereal but find that "real food" was easier and better.

I also give weetbix mixed with formula and made into a gluey mash. Bubs loves it! I also make custard with formula. She loves that too. It is the only food that she makes yum yum noises with! :p

Babies can eat anything their mum can eat, just has to be soft and not flavoured with salt or sugar or stuff like that. The blander the better.

[Michimum]

Hi Runningmum,

I posted something vaguely similar about an alternative to rice cereal a little while ago. My concerns were in relation to the nutritive value of rice cereal and I received some good advice. The thread is on the 2nd page titled "alternative to rice cereal". I will be experimenting with oats, amaranth cereal and avocados all mixed/made with bm (seperately) and vegies with my bubs when she starts.

good luck and happy experimenting!:D