What is baby rice and which is the best one to buy for your baby?

If your baby is coming up to six months old, you might be starting to think about baby weaning and wondering what their first foods should be. You might be deciding between baby-led weaning and spoon-fed weaning, or thinking of doing a combination of the two. Whatever you choose, it's likely to be a learning experience for both of you and it's worth doing the research to make it as enjoyable as possible for you and your baby.

When it comes to first foods, many parents choose baby rice as it offers a gentle introduction to solid foods and a smooth texture which many babies find agreeable. But there are so many options to choose from and conflicting advice on when and how to give baby rice. To help guide you through everything you need to know about baby rice, we've enlisted the help of Baby & Child Nutritionist and author of How To Wean Your Baby, Charlotte Stirling-Reed.

What is baby rice?

Baby rice is just normal rice that has been ground to a fine consistency. It comes as a dry mixture, which is then mixed with water, formula or breastmilk. As it's a bland taste with a smooth texture, it's considered ideal as a first weaning food.

However, while baby rice can be a good option as a first food, it's a good idea to also introduce other flavours so your baby gets used to a wide range of tastes and textures.

Is baby rice good for babies?

You've probably heard of a lot of people using baby rice as their baby's first food when weaning and this is mainly because it's easy for your little munchkin to digest. But there are plenty of other positives too:

• It is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans
• It is hypoallergenic, so your baby is unlikely to have a reaction to it
• It has a bland taste so won't be too dissimilar to the milk flavour they're already used to
• It has a smooth, runny consistency once combined with milk, which means your baby won't have trouble swallowing it
• You can combine baby rice with milk or water

Our expert, Charlotte Stirling-Reed notes that some baby rice is fortified with vitamins and minerals, which can also be a benefit. But as she points out, while it can form part of their early diet, it shouldn't be the only food they try. "At the very start of weaning, we want babies to explore a variety of foods, flavours and textures and this is more of a benefit than focusing on getting lots of nutrients in. Babies rely on their milk as their main source of nutrition until around 10-12 months of age, which means that solid foods, especially at the start, are more about helping babies learn the process of eating and to accept a wide variety of flavours into their daily diet."

When can babies have baby rice?

While some baby rice brands are advertised as suitable from four months old, the NHS guidance is to start weaning your baby from six months old. However, all babies are different and some may be ready sooner so if you think your baby is ready for weaning before the six-month mark, speak to your doctor or health visitor.

How to make baby rice?

When making baby rice, it's best to follow the instructions on the specific brand you've bought. Typically, baby rice is combined with 3-4 spoonfuls of your baby's usual milk. We've also known some parents to use water but you should always follow the specific instructions for the baby rice product you're using.

If you are using milk, it's completely up to you whether you use it cold or warm, but if serving warm, remember to check the temperature before feeding your tot.

How often should my baby have baby rice?

Baby rice tends to be the starting point for parents before they move onto baby purees or finger foods, so you may find that after a couple of days of using baby rice, you'll feel comfortable moving on to other foods.

Baby rice can also be used to bulk out fruit and veg puree, so it's always useful to have a box around in the kitchen cupboards. It's worth bearing in mind that your baby doesn't need baby rice and you may prefer to dive straight into purees or baby-led weaning. It's completely up to you and what's best for your baby and your lifestyle.

In fact, a lot of experts now suggest starting with more flavoursome foods such as vegetables. Charlotte Stirling-Reed explains; "A whole host of new research has looked at the idea of weaning with vegetables first. Savoury, bitter, sweet veggies – you name it – should be offered in order to help encourage acceptance of vegetables and to expose babies to these flavours in early life to help children to develop a liking for these very early on."

Is baby rice safe?

A study revealed that certain brands of baby rice and cereals made with baby rice contained potentially harmful toxins such as arsenic and cadmium. These toxins are able to enter the product through contaminated water, which is used to irrigate rice crops in certain countries. Due to babies having a lower body weight than adults, they can take in a higher amount of arsenic.

However, the NHS states that "In the UK, there are maximum levels of inorganic arsenic allowed in rice and rice products, and even stricter levels are set for foods intended for young children." If you're concerned, speak to your doctor or simply use baby rice for a few days and then move onto other foods.

Can my baby have rice milk?

While baby rice can be used as a first food for weaning babies, the NHS advice is that it's best to avoid rice milk until they're 5 years old. This is because, if used as a substitute for breast milk or formula, they're likely to consume too much and the arsenic levels could become an issue.

What is the best baby rice for your baby?

There are a lot of different brands of baby rice, so we've whittled them down to our favourites.

Should you start babies weaning with baby rice?

Our expert tells us it's not essential to give your tot baby rice as a first food. In fact, as she said, "there is research that suggests offering a variety of flavours (including some savoury, bitter flavours too) can help babies to accept a wider variety of flavours as they get older" too". She explains that the early foods are more about helping your baby to explore flavours and learn how to eat. "We want babies to learn HOW to eat and HOW to accept foods that the rest of the family are eating and focusing ONLY on baby rice as a first food isn't an ideal way to do this."

Baby rice alternatives

If your baby isn't a fan of baby rice or you'd just like to try something different, here are some alternatives to try once your baby is six months:

• Quinoa

• Baby porridge

• Avocado

• Veggie puree

• Millet

• Barley

• Weetabix

Just be sure to prepare these alternatives so they are safe for your baby to enjoy. Charlotte Stirling-Reed also recommends Veg Led Weaning, where you offer your baby a variety of savoury and bitter veggies for the first few days of weaning to help them build some familiarity with these totally different tastes. "Weaning is all about experimenting with your baby, so offering some savoury foods as their first option can be a great way to help them explore some very new tastes early on. Research shows that frequent and varied vegetable offerings during weaning can help babies to accept them later on in their journey with foods."

About the expert

Charlotte Stirling-Reed is “The Baby & Child Nutritionist” and is a Registered Nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition. Charlotte is also an author and mum to little foodies Raffy and Adaline, and owner of consultancy, SR Nutrition. It’s her mission in her work to give parents confidence in feeding their children.

About the author

Adejumoke Ilori is a Commercial and Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mummy of one who's been through the weaning process with her daughter and is able to use her own experiences to help other parents. She enjoys writing about baby world, mothership, true life stories (especially single parenthood), and celebrity gossip. With a degree in Creative Writing, she has also worked with media platforms like, OK! Magazine, New, She Rose Revolution and Fab Magazine.