Eating For The Rest of Your Life

Introduce Rice Or Wheat Organic Cereal To Your Baby

by Jon Weaver

Introducing solid food to your infant is a rite of passage that can be both exciting and worrisome. Of course, you want to offer your child the best food that is available. However, what are the chances that your baby is allergic to an ingredient or will become sick from consuming foods that are not made with wholesome, all-natural ingredients? Because organic products derive from products that have not been treated with chemicals, organic baby cereal is a smart feeding choice.

You Deserve To Know What Is In A Product

You have probably encountered numerous food labels that contain lists of ingredients that are difficult to pronounce and that you haven't heard of before. If you would be skeptical about eating something that sounds unfamiliar, then there is no reason for you to be subjecting your baby to a similar item.

An organic baby cereal that contains whole grains, such as rice or wheat, has not been exposed to synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Many standard crops that are not considered organic are grown in fields that are sprayed routinely with these two items. Although there is no solid proof that organic products are healthier than non-organic ones, it probably seems more logical and safer to choose organic.

Cereal Should Be Introduced Gradually

For the first year of your child's life, they will get most of their nutrients from formula or breast milk. It is best to consult with your child's pediatrician when determining the best time to introduce solids to your baby's diet. The pediatrician can recommend an organic rice or wheat product that you can offer your baby. Because your infant is not used to eating solid food, it will take some time for them to get accustomed to the cereal.

Use spring water to prepare the cereal. Stir the cereal until it is well blended. Use a soft, flexible infant spoon to transfer a small amount of the cereal to your baby's mouth. Do not overload the spoon and do not offer spoonfuls of the cereal in rapid succession. Give your child plenty of time to get used to the texture of the cereal in their mouth.

Stop feeding your baby if they turn their head or spit out the cereal. Plan on giving your child a serving of organic cereal each day and increase the amount that is offered and the number of feedings that are given, when the pediatrician recommends that you do so. For more information on organic baby cereal, contact your local health foods store. 

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