Do I Have To Feed Him Farex?

[Seekrit]

Hi! :)
I'll be soon introducing solids to my boy, I'm not keen on Farex and am wondering if it's an essential item in a baby's day-to-day meals or if I can just start him, and feed him, something else.

I understand that Iron intake is an issue... or is it? Will he be anemic if I choose not to feed him farex?

Thanks you lovely experts :)

[the pero clinic]

Dear Seekrit,

Rice cereal is a very good starting point when introducing bubs to solids for a number of reasons. Babies’ iron levels can become lower as they reach the 6 month mark, and baby cereals are fortified with iron to assist with this. Rice based foods are also unlikely to cause allergic reactions that more commonly occur with wheat-based foods or even some fruits and vegetables.

Baby cereals are generally well accepted by bubs as they can be mixed with formula / EBM / cooled boiled water for a familiar taste. On that note, the bland flavour is also less likely to be rejected than a strong taste. Furthermore, cereals’ textures are also very easily modified to assist bubs in learning to manage solids – more liquid can be easily added to make a smooth and runny puree for starting, while adding less liquid later on will help your bub to progess to thicker and lumpier textures.

In summary, yes, rice cereal is a really good starter for your bub. Once your little one is managing to take it, you can gradually add other foods such as fruit and veggies. Paediatric dietitians do recommend, however, that rice or wheat cereals continue to be given (or added to babies’ foods) until at least 12 months of age to continue to provide supplemental iron as their diets expand to include other iron-rich foods.

the pero clinic