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Equally a parent, you only want the all-time for your petty one. From choosing their food or their motorcar seat that makes the most sense for your little pride and joy, the decisions are endless.

It can be stressful when you lot're doing all the inquiry you can, trying to figure out the correct choices, only to find conflicting information.

When it comes to feeding your kid, you care about what'south on the ingredients list, and you as well care that your baby is happy, total, and enjoying the food they eat and drink. You know what to wait for, and you're committed to finding the best nutritional options for your baby.

1 of the biggest decisions you'll brand when deciding how to feed your babe is whether you'll give them oatmeal or rice cereal. Also as the decision of which cereal type makes the most sense for their growing trunk.

If you're in the midst of theoatmeal vs rice cereal argue, don't worry. We've got y'all covered. Read on to learn nigh the benefits of each option, and know what type of cereal nosotros believe is best.

Baby being fed

Table of Contents

  • 1 Oatmeal Vs Rice Cereal: What's The Departure?
    • 1.1 Origin
    • ane.ii Taste
    • 1.three Nutrition
    • 1.4 Tum Issues
    • 1.5 Allergies
  • 2 When Can Yous Beginning Feeding A Baby Cereal?
  • 3 Oatmeal Cereals
  • iv The 5 Best Baby Oatmeal Cereal Brands
    • four.i i. Gerber
    • 4.2 2. Happy Baby Organics
    • 4.three iii. Earth's Best Organic
    • 4.four 4. Beech-Nut
    • 4.5 5. Fleur Alpine
  • 5 Rice Cereals
  • vi The 5 Best Infant Rice Cereal Brands
    • 6.1 1. Gerber
    • 6.2 2. Kitchdee Organic
    • half dozen.3 3. Bio-Kinetics
    • half dozen.4 4. Beech-Nut
    • 6.v 5. Globe's Best Organic
  • 7 Oatmeal vs Rice Cereal for Babies with Reflux
  • 8 The Lesser Line

Oatmeal Vs Rice Cereal: What's The Difference?

When deciding betweenoatmeal vs rice cereal, you'll desire to consider several factors to help you lot decide which option makes the most sense for your infant. Let'south take a wait at some of the main differences betwixt oatmeal andrice cereal for babies.

Origin

Clearly, oat cereal originates from oats, while rice cereal originates from rice. Both are grains and can be organic or conventionally farmed. You besides have flavored or unflavored choices.

Sense of taste

While your baby won't exist able to talk to yous about the season profile of their first solid foods, yous may notice that they take a clear preference for one blazon of cereal over the over.

Rice cereal is virtually tasteless, while oat cereal can have a nutty taste. Retrieve about the taste of patently, white rice compared to the taste of oatmeal, and y'all'll become an thought of what the difference is like for your baby.

Nutrition

While rice cereal can be quite filling for your little one, it doesn't take much in terms of nutritional value. Oat cereal, on the other hand, is loftier in fiber and has a stronger nutritional profile.

Tummy Issues

If your baby oftentimes struggles to go number two, you'll desire to pay attention to this point. Rice cereal is more than probable to cause constipation than oat cereal. If everything is flowing smoothly with your baby, this won't be an upshot.

Allergies

You'll want to follow your pediatrician's recommendations on introducing potential allergens to your baby. No thing what route yous take, information technology'south important to go along in listen that rice cereal is far less likely to crusade an allergic reaction than oat cereal.

baby looking at product with mom

When Tin Y'all Showtime Feeding A Baby Cereal?

The American Association of Pediatrics recommends that parents concur off on giving their babies solid nutrient until half dozen months of historic period.

While past generations swore by putting a fiddling cereal in a newborn babe'southward bottle to assist them sleep, pediatricians caution against doing this today. Infants and very young babies get all the diet they need from formula or chest milk.

In add-on to waiting until at least 6 months of age, you'll desire to expect for these signs:

  • Your baby has practiced control of his or her head. They should exist able to easily pick upwardly and turn their head. This reduces the risk of choking on solid nutrient.
  • They should exist able to sit up with fiddling or minimal support. If y'all demand to place a paw on their back or their abdomen to keep them steady, no problem. If they demand to be fully propped upward in order to sit, it's a good thought to hold off.
  • Look until your baby shows involvement in food. They should lean forward and open their mouth when nutrient is offered. If your baby isn't showing interest in food yet, you may want to hold off.

Now, permit's take a look at the deviation betwixt rice cereal andoatmeal for baby, and which 1 makes the most sense when you decide that it'south time to innovate solid foods.

Oatmeal Cereals

Oatmeal cereals can be a great way for your baby to get the nutrition that they demand. In addition to helping your little one feel full, oatmeal cereals besides provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals that will help your little one'due south development.

You lot can mix oatmeal cereal with formula or chest milk, which tin assist to start the nutty flavor of oatmeal as your infant begins to explore solid food. Providing a familiar taste can exist a helpful manner to ease your infant into trying something new.

Ane con of oatmeal cereal (or a pro, depending on your opinion): babies tend to absolutely love information technology. This can lead to them wanting oatmeal cereal in identify of trying other solid foods. As a parent, information technology'due south key to ensure that y'all're exposing your baby to plenty of new tastes.

oatmeal for kids

According to registered dietitian Jessica Penner, "Since babies tend to accept the cereal pretty readily, it tin exist easy for parents to proceed feeding their children the cereal and not persist at exposing them to other foods."

You lot may want to rely on oatmeal cereals when you lot're in a blitz, like in the car, or otherwise not able to take them try nutrient with the rest of the family. As your kid grows, you'll want them to accept varied tastes for different foods.

Exposing them to lots of different options early is a bully way to go them curious and engaged at the table.

Some other thing to scout out for if yous make up one's mind to go with oatmeal cereal is gluten. While some babies can process gluten just fine, others cannot. Oats themselves are gluten-free, simply the vast majority of oat processing plants besides process products that contain gluten.

Go on a close eye on your infant if yous outset them off with oatmeal cereal. Since this is probable their first solid food, this may be the first fourth dimension they're exposed to gluten. If your baby is sensitive to gluten, exist sure to purchase certified gluten-free oatmeal cereal.

The 5 Best Baby Oatmeal Cereal Brands

Nosotros know you want the best for your kiddo – and all the enquiry that goes along with providing the best can be exhausting. Surprise: we've taken that off your to-practise list. Check out our recommendations for the five best infant oatmeal cereal brands.

1. Gerber

A tried and truthful brand of all things childhood, Gerber comes out on top when it comes to oatmeal for baby. Gerber's oatmeal cereals are free of artificial colors and flavors and contain iron to back up good for you brain development.

As the #i pediatrician-recommended baby food brand, it's articulate why Gerber comes out on top. Information technology's a brand that parents and doctors alike trust, and for expert reason.

The company is committed to sourcing non-GMO ingredients and fortifies their oatmeal cereal with zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, and six B vitamins. With organic options, flavored options (like Gerber's Oatmeal Banana Strawberry Baby Cereal – yum!), and options with DHA added.

Yous'll be able to find exactly what you need in an oatmeal cereal from the Gerber line.

Gerber Lil' Bits Oatmeal Banana Strawberry Baby Cereal, 8 Ounces (Pack of half dozen)

  • STRAWBERRY BANANA OATMEAL: This cereal contains Vitamins C, East, Zinc & 6 B vitamins for healthy evolution, plus calcium for salubrious bones & teeth. Made with Not-GMO ingredients with no artificial colors or flavors.
  • TRANSITION FOOD: Lil Bits cereals have added texture to help babies larn to chew, brew & transition to table nutrient. Introduce your older babe to new tastes & textures while providing essential diet.
  • PEDIATRICIAN RECOMMENDED: Gerber Cereal is the #one pediatrician-recommended brand for babe cereals among pediatricians who recommend babe cereal.

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2. Happy Baby Organics

Compared to Gerber, Happy Baby is a newcomer in the baby food industry. You may want to requite them a try.

This oatmeal cereal boasts a silky smooth texture. It'south perfect if you've started your infant on rice cereal, and now want to provide them with a larger boost of diet.

With atomic number 26 to support brain evolution, 17% of the protein your baby needs each solar day, and vitamin C, Happy Baby Oatmeal Cereal is a great way to fill your lilliputian 1'southward tummy. A bonus characteristic of this brand is that it comes in a resealable pack, cut downward on spills.

Happy Babe Organic Clearly Crafted Cereal Whole Grain Oats and Quinoa, seven Ounce Bag Organic Baby Cereal in a Resealable Pouch

  • Clearly CRAFTED CEREAL: Made with organic oats, quinoa, Vitamin C & iron that helps support brain development, this organic, whole grain cereal is ideal for babies learning to explore taste & texture with solid foods. Bonus: it comes in a resealable pack!
  • ORGANIC WHOLE GRAIN CEREAL: Happy Babys Whole Grain Oats & Quinoa and Whole Grain Oatmeal Clearly Crafted Cereals are designed with simple, organic ingredients like whole grain oats and quinoa with 45% DV of iron to help support babys brain development.
  • HAPPY Infant: At Happy Baby Organics, nosotros provide organic and succulent options for your babys nutritional journey. Nosotros develop premium organic recipes perfectly matched with your childs historic period and stage. This is enlightened nutrition for every family.

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3. Globe's All-time Organic

Bachelor with and without fruit, Earth's Best Organic Oatmeal Cereal is a healthy style to ensure that your baby gets a great start when information technology's time to eat solid nutrient. Free of salt, refined sugar, and preservatives, Earth's Best works to provide your baby with everything they need – and nothing that they don't.

With iron, thiamin, niacin, folic acid, zinc, calcium, vitamin E, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, starting your baby'southward twenty-four hour period with Earth's Best is a great way to give them long-lasting energy to help them get through a busy fourth dimension of learning, playing, and snuggling with mommy or daddy.

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4. Beech-Nut

Made with non-GMO oat flour, Beech-Nut oatmeal cereal is a not bad style to get your baby'south solid food journey off to a perfect start. With each serving, your lilliputian 1 gets 60% of their daily iron demand and a hefty dose of vitamin D, calcium, folic acid, phosphorus, zinc, pantothenic acrid, vitamin B, riboflavin, and niacin.

It'south important to notation that this brand of oatmeal cereal does contain wheat, and so you'll want to steer clear if your babe is sensitive to gluten.

Beech-Nut Consummate Stage 1 Oatmeal Baby Cereal (Pack of 2)

  • This Stage 1 organic infant cereal is a great choice for adding a solid food into babe'south diet, equally it'southward a hearty blend that will assist fill baby'southward tummy.
  • Beech-Nut® Organics Oatmeal Baby Cereal is made with non-GMO oats.
  • Information technology has a creamy, like shooting fish in a barrel-to-digest texture and provides baby with 60% daily value of fe, an essential food that helps support early brain evolution.

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5. Fleur Alpine

This organic option hails from Deutschland, and information technology'due south popular with babies around the world. Fleur Alpine prides itself on helping babies get the healthiest kickoff possible.

The visitor caters to babies who are sensitive to dairy, who need a no added saccharide diet, who have allergies to synthetic products (including vitamins), and more. Just like Beech-Nut products, be careful if your lilliputian ane has a gluten sensitivity, as Fleur Alpine oatmeal baby cereal does contain wheat.

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Rice Cereals

Rice cereals tin exist a great way for parents to help ease babies into enjoying solid foods. It provides a blank palette, perfect for blending with new tastes. Many parents discover that rice cereal provides an easily digestible mode for babies to try the flavors of pureed fruits and vegetables.

Some babies struggle with textural issues when they brainstorm to attempt solid foods. Using rice cereal as a backdrop to get a gustation of the flavor of a new fruit or veggie can exist the perfect style to permit your footling one explore their gustatory modality buds.

Rice cereal is like shooting fish in a barrel for little ones to digest, and if you want to amp up the diet factor a bit, you can cull a rice cereal made with chocolate-brown rice. The texture of rice cereal is very polish, making it just a rock'southward throw away from the milk or formula they know and love.

Using rice cereal as a starting time solid food can help your baby to gently ease into the procedure of enjoying something other than milk or formula.

Something to lookout out for with rice cereal is many of these products incorporate small amounts of arsenic. While these amounts are negligible in an developed trunk, the aforementioned is not true for a tiny baby body. Pediatricians recommend feeding rice cereal no more than six times per week in an effort to keep arsenic levels low in your baby.

Constipation can as well be an effect with rice cereal. If you notice that your baby is becoming constipated, you may want to try to blend some fruit or vegetable purees in with their rice cereal.

If this doesn't get the job done, it may exist fourth dimension to consider switching to a basin of cereal with less of a binding effect.

The 5 Best Baby Rice Cereal Brands

Thinking nigh going the rice cereal route? Nosotros've got you covered. Check out these summit five rice cereal brands for your lilliputian lovey.

1. Gerber

The baby product giant strikes once more, coming in at number one for rice baby cereals. The options nether the umbrella of Gerber rice cereals are vast.

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Cull from added probiotics, banana and apple flavoring, organic options, and more. If you're not sure whether rice or oatmeal cereal is going to exist the best fit for your baby, you may want to check out Gerber's diverseness packs. You can get both options for a lower price than buying them separately.

2. Kitchdee Organic

This combination of rice and lentil cereal is perfect for babies who struggle with digestive issues. Lightly flavored with cumin, this organic cereal is cooked in modest batches.

The lentils in Kitchdee Organic are sprouted to allow for your child to absorb as many nutrients every bit possible. Free of preservatives and bogus flavors, Kitchdee Organic is a cracking choice for any parent who wants to maximize their baby's diet.

Baby Cereal Organic , Rice & lentil / Sprouted multigrain (Rice & Lentil)

  • OUR RECIPE :Rice & Lentil Infant Cereal is made with fresh grains, sprouted lentils and nuts that are sprouted for piece of cake food absorption. Our cereal is lightly flavored with cumin for natural taste and piece of cake digestion.
  • ORGANIC Infant CEREAL: 100% Sugar gratis and contains NO preservatives and NO bogus Flavors. Shelf life of upto 6 months.
  • HEALTHY & HAPPY Babe CEREAL: Made in small batches and all grains are roasted and precooked. So, its gentle on little tummies.
  • BABY FIRST FOOD: Our organic baby cereal stage ane is nutritious and a bully transition food for babies. Absolutely NO FILLERS!

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iii. Bio-Kinetics

Made from sprouted whole grain rice, rice baby cereal from Bio-Kinetics is a great way to give your baby a nutritional boost that they won't probable get from other rice cereals.

When yous choose a rice cereal fabricated from chocolate-brown rice, your baby gets increased nutrition and fiber compared to what they'd get from a bowl of white rice cereal.

Organic Brown Rice Baby Cereal Made with Sprouted Whole Grain Brown Rice 7 Oz. (198 thou) – ii Pack

  • Pack of 2, Gluten-Costless, Organic, Sprouted Whole Grain Brown Rice Cereal
  • Delicious, Nutritious, Additive-Free and Perfect for Your Fiddling Ones
  • Loved by Babies and Toddlers - and Grown-ups Beloved It Too!
  • Packed with Expressed Nutrients, Enzymes, FOS and MOS plus the natural benevolent probiotic flora of our sprouted grains
  • Nutty, earthy fragrance characteristic of fresh, sprouted grains - not like other candy dry cereals with no smell

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4. Beech-Nut

This rice cereal is packed with vitamins and minerals: each serving includes vitamin D, vitamin A, zinc, biotin, and calcium.

Reviewers of Beech-Nut baby rice cereals say that their babies adopt the taste of Beech-Nut over other brands (fifty-fifty the more than expensive ones). Loaded with atomic number 26, this cereal boasts a flossy texture that allows your baby to easily begin the transition to solid food.

Beech-Nut Complete Rice Cereal – viii oz (ii Pack)

  • Smashing kickoff nutrient for starting solids.
  • Easy-pour spout and curved grip prevents spilling.
  • Congenital-in measuring cap makes portioning a snap.
  • Includes vitamins and minerals: ten% DV vitamin A, 20% DV vitamin D, 25% DV zinc, xx% DV calcium, 10% DV biotin

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5. Earth's Best Organic

Committed to creating organic products free of GMOs, Globe's All-time Organic rice cereal is a great manner to go your baby started on solid food.

With 6 B-complex vitamins to support the evolution of a salubrious allowed system, Globe's Best Organic rice cereal supports your babe's quick growth and development during their 2d half-dozen months of life.

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Oatmeal vs Rice Cereal for Babies with Reflux

When it comes to babies who endure from acrid reflux, the experts are in understanding: as long every bit allergies aren't a factor, sticking with oatmeal cereal makes sense.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Sure nutrition textures are frequently prescribed to assist infants and children with special needs eat more safely and easily. Children with dysphagia or gastroesophageal reflux, for example, may need their food to be thicker in gild to eat safely or reduce reflux."

This means that babies who take reflux are consuming more than cereal than their peers without reflux. The AAP likewise states, in response to concerns over arsenic in rice, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) at present recommends parents of children with these atmospheric condition use oatmeal instead of rice cereal."

baby is fed

The Bottom Line

Both rice and oatmeal cereals have their pros and cons, and you'll need to think almost which one makes the most sense for your child. Continue in heed that you don't accept to pick but one.

You tin can switch between the ii to learn about your baby's preferences. You may notice that your kid enjoys different flavor combinations. For example, they might prefer banana puree composite with oat cereal, but prefer pea puree blended with rice cereal.

Take note of what they love, and be sure to proceed it tucked away to use as a complement when introducing a new food.

Of course, if yous're concerned virtually your baby getting enough to consume, or if they're struggling to get started with solid foods, don't hesitate to accomplish out to your pediatrician.

Hi, my name is Lorie and I'g a mother of 3 beautiful kids. I accept a masters of science in educational activity, learning design, and technology. I like to share my experiences from raising 3 kids and review products I've establish useful.