For decades, parents have used infant rice cereal as baby?s first food. And why not" It?s mild in flavour, fortified with iron, easy to digest and takes just a few seconds to prepare. But rice cereal has fallen out of favour with dietitians and paediatricians as an ideal first food for babies. Meat, poultry, beans, tofu and enriched pasta are common foods to start with instead.
When babies start solids, it?s imperative that iron-rich foods are introduced. That?s because babies are born with a reserve of iron that begins to deplete by six month of age if they are breastfed. (Formula contains iron, so it?s less of a concern for formula-fed infants.) Babies need 11 milligrams of iron per day for normal growth and development, and iron is vital for brain health and red blood cell production. Though rice cereal is fortified with iron, it?s a kind of iron that doesn?t absorb well. Heme iron, found in meat, fish and poultry, is easy to absorb, while non-heme iron, which is found in fortified rice cereal, as well as beans, lentils, enriched pasta, leafy greens and dried fruits, is more difficult.
Plus, rice contains trace levels of arsenic, a chemical that rice grains naturally soak up from soil and ground water. It?s fine to serve rice cereal a few times a week, but excessive arsenic intake can have detrimental effects on a baby?s immune system. Rice?whether as infant cereal, rice cakes or rusks?should not be served at three daily meals. Even organic brown rice. Brown rice a...