Starting solids is such an exciting milestone, but it also comes with so many questions. What’s really safe for your baby to eat and what should you avoid?
Imagine you’ve just noticed your little one showing signs of readiness for solids. You’re gearing up to jump into this new and thrilling stage together. While you know your baby’s primary source of nutrition will still be breast milk or formula for a while, introducing solids is an important milestone.
Now you might be wondering where to begin. What foods should you offer, and what consistency should they be? How much do you give and how often? Are there any foods you should limit or skip altogether?
Why You Should Avoid Feeding Your Baby Rice Cereal
There are countless questions about children’s early nutrition, many of which are covered in this article. As more research is conducted, the discovery of new knowledge enables us to develop evidence-based guidelines for what pediatricians recommend to parents. It also helps direct changes we need to take away from current practice. A prime example of this is when research demonstrated concerning levels of arsenic found in rice cereal and the subsequent adjustments to intake guidance that followed.1
Concerning Levels of Arsenic
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust, found in water, air, and soil. It often pollutes fields where rice is grown, and rice absorbs it more than most other grains. Interestingly, more arsenic is found in brown rice than in white rice, as arsenic tends to accumulate in the rice bran. This is most likely related to high levels of these metals in our air, water, and soil, which are linked to runoff or pollution from chemicals used in manufacturing and farming throughout the United States and worldwide.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), inorganic arsenic is a known human carcinogen, which means it is linked to cancers, specifically of the skin, lung, liver, kidney, and bladder.2 It also poses risks to a child’s developing brain. Based on epidemiological evidence, including dietary exposures, inorganic arsenic exposure could decrease a child’s performance on certain developmental tests that measure learning. It’s toxic for everyone, but babies are more vulnerable than adults.
Use Caution and Limit Exposure
This is concerning information, but it is likely not a new issue or one limited to a single brand. We have known that arsenic is leached from the soil, causing elevated levels in rice cereal. These metals are present in the food, likely not introduced during processing. Therefore, it’s likely the same whether you eat the foods, mash them, purée them, or consume jars of purée. We have multiple dietary sources of arsenic and other heavy metals, so it is something to be aware of. It is also worth exploring from an agricultural perspective to ensure good practices. In 2016, nearly half of all infant rice cereals were found to be near the limit, prompting the FDA to propose an “action level” of 100 parts per billion (ppb) for inorganic arsenic. This limit was finalized in August 2020.3
This is one reason why many of us who care about children are committed to having strong environmental regulations and policies in place to protect our children. There is no reason to test for heavy metals in your child at this time. But you can take measures to decrease consumption and help limit this exposure. This is a “do the best you can within reason” scenario, like so much of parenting.
What To Offer Your Baby Instead of Rice Cereal
I encourage families to focus on variety rather than volume when introducing new foods. If your child is eating infant cereals, it is important to offer a variety of grains, including oat, barley, and multi-grain, rather than relying solely on rice cereal. A greater variety of foods means a lower potential for exposure to high levels of heavy metals.
For the lowest levels, use basmati rice grown in California, India, and Pakistan. According to testing by Consumer Reports, Rice from Arkansas, Louisiana, or Texas has the highest levels. Cooking brown rice in excess water (six to 10 parts water to one part rice) and draining the excess water can reduce the arsenic content by as much as 40%. Watch for rice syrup as a sweetener. It can contain elevated arsenic. Avoid processed foods containing brown rice sweeteners. Do not use rice milk as a primary milk alternative.
If your child has a swallowing disorder (dysphagia) or gastroesophageal reflux disease and needs cereal thickeners added to formula or breastmilk, the AAP suggests using oatmeal instead of rice cereal.4 Unless explicitly instructed by your child’s pediatrician or a feeding specialist, it is recommended that caregivers NOT put baby cereal in a bottle. Doing this could cause your baby to choke and may also increase the amount of food they eat, which can cause them to gain too much weight.
Key Takeaways
- Starting solids can be exciting, but raises questions about safe foods for babies.
- Research shows concerning levels of arsenic in rice cereal, which can harm infants’ health and brain development.
- Instead of rice cereal, offer a variety of grains, such as oatmeal, barley, and multi-grain options, to reduce heavy metal exposure.
- For lower arsenic levels, opt for basmati rice from California, India, or Pakistan, and avoid rice syrup in food products.
- Awareness matters; limit your child’s rice cereal consumption and focus on a balanced diet for optimal nutrition.
Know Better, Do Better
If rice has been a staple food for your child leading up to today, do not panic. Many bright, developmentally appropriate, healthy people have been eating rice for years and have been fine. I intend not to instill fear but to spread awareness and share this information with you. As the saying goes, when you know better, you can do better. There is no changing the past. Instead, limit this exposure and offer your child a healthy, balanced diet.
You’re doing your best, and learning along the way is what makes you a great parent.
