https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 04:13:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1998380 Fri, 26 Dec 2014 17:21:08 +0000 spaniellove 1998380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just to update with the GI's opinion - we were able to get in quickly and she thought it was definitely a milk allergy despite the negative skin test at the allergist. It was clear to her because his symptoms first started after he was on a regular formula and went away after he'd been off it for months, and came back as soon as he'd been exposed to dairy again. She didn't see the need for all the extra testing but will see him soon to make sure we're getting past his texture issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996810 Wed, 24 Dec 2014 06:31:58 +0000 Rocker2014 1996810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Leah: Just fyi, specific to celiac, the newest research says that the timing of introducing gluten had no impact on long term development of the disease. Here's an article summarizing the studies from the same website as your initial link:</p> <p><a href="http://scienceofmom.com/2014/10/03/new-research-on-gluten-introduction-to-infants-and-risk-of-celiac-disease/" rel="nofollow">http://scienceofmom.com/2014/10/03/new-research-on-gluten-introduction-to-infants-and-risk-of-celiac-disease/</a></p> <p>Didn't mean to threadjack, but as a mom with celiac this was very interesting research. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996807 Wed, 24 Dec 2014 06:22:18 +0000 Dandelion 1996807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use rice cereal to thicken up purees. M likes his stuff thicker. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996799 Wed, 24 Dec 2014 05:33:38 +0000 marionberry 1996799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our pedi seemed weirded out by the fact that we didn't try rice or oatmeal for long, but LO was just fine. Given his lower weight though we probably should have given him some more mixed into his purées. Do what you feel is right! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996758 Wed, 24 Dec 2014 00:56:22 +0000 LovelyPlum 1996758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: yep, this. We started BLW-style at 5 months, and it was a mess because of her uncontrolled MSPI. I didn't want to do so much cereal, but she can digest it easily. We now mix cereal and purees several times a day. So much for my plans, but it makes her happy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996647 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 21:46:01 +0000 Orchid 1996647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: though this is nit exactly what the studies are saying, it's definitely better than the blanket "grains are bad for babies" mantra in vogue right now! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996627 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 21:23:24 +0000 spaniellove 1996627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladybee: Appreciate it :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996626 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 21:22:40 +0000 erinpye 1996626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We never did rice cereal as a first food, we just moved to table foods shortly after some fruit and veggie purées. I mixed some rice, quinoa, or oatmeal into a few purées and put them in zolis or pouches for quick, filling "smoothies" with my older babies, though! I don't think starting with rice cereal is necessary, or that many people still do that anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996618 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 21:11:45 +0000 ladybee 1996618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: I'll be thinking of you guys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996616 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 21:11:02 +0000 spaniellove 1996616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladybee: The plan is for someone from the pediatric GI's office to call us with an expedited appointment. Our EI therapists both stayed twice as long yesterday to help sort everything out which was helpful, and they wanted to bring someone to do feeding therapy when the medical part is figured out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996612 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 21:06:59 +0000 ladybee 1996612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: I am so sorry that J is struggling. I remember how frustrating and terrifying the Neocate journey was. Does J have a pediatric GI? Our pediatric GI's office also has a nutritionist which has been beyond helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996608 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 21:03:07 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1996608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: I agree with your assessment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996605 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 21:01:10 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1996605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tiger: it's called eosinophilia. There's an entity called eosinophilic esophagitis ( or gastritis). Someone here has a child with it. It's a tough diagnosis, but I've seen kids do really well with it once diagnosed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996595 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:55:16 +0000 ladybee 1996595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our pedi had us do oatmeal and rice cereal because it was easy on the tummy and he had a very sensitive GI system. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996593 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:55:00 +0000 spaniellove 1996593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tiger: It does sound like eosinophilic cells? J's first ped suspected eosinophilic esophagitis too and it makes no sense that anything that isn't totally hydrolyzed angers his system. I want to know when he's going to be able to eat anything other than Alimentum or Neocate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996591 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:52:42 +0000 spaniellove 1996591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Leah: @Mrs. Jacks: Thanks to both of you for all the interesting reading! I guess the range of responses kind of answers my question in that basically no one knows and you do whatever works best for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996583 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:48:46 +0000 artsyfartsy 1996583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>WE skipped rice cereal. I just didn't feel like it was necessary...more like just a filler food. Our ped said no solids until 6 months and to start with veggies and fruits. I had to start at 5 months because it was getting harder to hold him over with pumped milk at daycare. I eventually did give him oatmeal cereal for breakfast around 6 months though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996580 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:45:20 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1996580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Leah: thanks for reading them all. I just don't see a lot of definitive evidence to make any conclusive statement. Remember that previously AAP used to have guidelines on introduction of allergenic foods. Those recommendations have now gone by the wayside only in last five years, as evidence is beginning to accumulate that may indicate beneficial effects of earlier introduction of allergenic foods.</p> <p>I posted the links to show that feeding issues are complex, studies conflict, and that there is no consensus.</p> <p>In fact, adult studies are beginning to roll in that indicate that there may be no such entity as non-celiac gluten sensitivity.</p> <p>It's all fascinating to me, and I really believe that some of the science around food and nutrition goes in trends and waves. Fat was evil, then carbs were evil. The fact is that no food is evil and there are lots of valid ways to feed a baby. When I was looking through the literature there were interesting comparisons of babies from different cultures. The one thing that seemed to hold true across cultures was that breast feeding until at least six months was the most protective, though not everyone can do that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996571 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:36:32 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1996571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: I can't remember the name. It was eos____ cells. Some googling suggests maybe eosinophilic cells? The doc said that the prevalence of those cells showed they were irritated or he would be prone to allergies. Maybe @Mrs. Jacks: can sort out what I'm talking about? I know his docs want him to get an endoscopy every 6-12 months, although we're yet to get a follow up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996558 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:29:43 +0000 Orchid 1996558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: I've gone through those articles, and here's what I read:</p> <p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/15900004/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/15900004/</a> - these authors find that exposure to gluten within first 3 months of life puts babies at a 5 fold increased risk for celiac disease, as compared to those babies who were exposed to gluten between 4 - 6 months. Babies exposed after seven months had a marginally INCREASED risk of celiac disease as compared to those exposed between 4 - 6 months. Based on this study only, your best bet is to expose baby to gluten between 4 - 6 months.</p> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263106.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263106.php</a> - infants introduced to solid food before 4 months have increased risk for type 1 diabetes. Interestingly, delaying introduction to solids until later than six months also increases type 1 risk. Introducing solids while the mother is still breastfeeding (between 4 to 6 months) is the ideal scenario. I don't see anything at all in this link suggesting that delaying the introduction of grains is advantageous in any way.</p> <p><a href="http://m.ajcn.nutrition.org/content/91/5/1506S.full" rel="nofollow">http://m.ajcn.nutrition.org/content/91/5/1506S.full</a> - this is an interesting article which seems to call cow milk protein into question more than anything else. </p> <p><a href="http://m.pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/02/07/peds.2010-0740.abstract" rel="nofollow">http://m.pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/02/07/peds.2010-0740.abstract</a> - this one says that for breastfed babies, timing of solids introduction was not found to be significantly associated with diabetes risk. For formula-fed infants, introduction of solids before 4 months is associated with greater risk. Nothing specific about grains.</p> <p>I know there must be great scientific studies supporting delayed introduction of grains but to date all the science I've read suggests otherwise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996524 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:07:30 +0000 spaniellove 1996524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tiger: Can I ask what it was they found on the endoscopy? You can wall me if you don't feel like posting here. I'm curious because the ped put in an expedited request for the GI to do an upper GI to check anatomy and endoscopy to do a biopsy and rule out EoE. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996513 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 19:55:38 +0000 Bluebonnet 1996513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We skipped rice cereal and started with veggies. We did feed LO oatmeal because it was fortified with iron and LO is EBF (and I'm worried about her getting enough iron in other food sources). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary/page/2#post-1996404 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 18:53:48 +0000 spaniellove 1996404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: We did BLW briefly and he liked it...even when we went back to purees he wanted to take the spoon and feed himself. Overall I think he was enthusiastic about solids. It's just his weird gag/vomit/reflux situation that requires a modified diet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary#post-1996365 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 18:23:31 +0000 Torchwood 1996365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We won't be bothering with things like rice cereal and oatmeal. It's just unnecessary at beat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary#post-1996361 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 18:19:51 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1996361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started with veggies and fruit instead! We didn't give any grains until after he was a year old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary#post-1996357 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 18:13:58 +0000 Kimberlybee 1996357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We introduced it at 5 months, rice cereal and then oatmeal also to see which she preferred. She refused both and would spit out immediately. This went on for over a week, so we moved on to purée veggies shortly after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary#post-1996339 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 17:44:20 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1996339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>D's doc had us start on veggies, then add meat, then add grains. During an endoscopy she found some kind of cells everywhere that indicated he would probably be sensitive to a range of stuff. Obviously his issues are very different but still :) the veggies recommended were anything with less than 3g of sugar (no carrots, sweet potato, etc) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary#post-1996283 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 16:55:08 +0000 keiki_mama 1996283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We skipped rice cereal/oatmeal and jumped into vegetable purrees at 7 months. We introduced grains around 10 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary#post-1996277 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 16:45:11 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1996277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Leah: While your link has a lot of good information, it only looks at one aspect of exposure to grains. Can babies digest it? The answer of course is yes, and there are several papers to suggest that early introduction of allergens may protect against development of allergies. There is definitely conflicting data on protection against celiac disease (some say early introduction is better, some say delayed introduction is better.) <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15900004" rel="nofollow">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15900004</a></p> <p>But with regard to obesity and diabetes, there may be advantages to delaying solids/grains.<br /> <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263106.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263106.php</a><br /> <a href="http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/91/5/1506S.full" rel="nofollow">http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/91/5/1506S.full</a><br /> <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/02/07/peds.2010-0740.abstract" rel="nofollow">http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/02/07/peds.2010-0740.abstract</a></p> <p>In other words, it's complicated and there are no right answers... but I don't think it would be an unreasonable approach to delay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-feed-rice-cereal-is-it-necessary#post-1996218 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 15:59:29 +0000 brownie 1996218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did not have quite as many issues but my son was MSPI and we did skip cereals. One thing I read that wasn't very scientific but led my way of thought was that by playing with food helped him learn about food. So we went the path of BLW and gave him chunks of food first. No purees or cereals. He was 6 months old when we started and for him/us it was very successful and he is a fantastic eater. </p>