Brown Rice Nutrition Information for Babies

Brown rice is a nutritious whole-grain food with a mild, somewhat nutty flavor. It is an inexpensive staple and one that has long been a recommended single-grain ingredient for children beginning to transition to solid foods. Comparatively speaking, you'll get much more for your money if you prepare your own rice cereal than if you purchase manufactured infant cereals.

Ever wonder what the difference is between brown rice and white rice? The short answer is processing and nutritional value.

Brown rice is harvested when the husk is removed from the rice plant. White rice is further processed by taking the brown rice grain and removing the bran layer and the germ. This step also removes some vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and fiber as well.

Brown rice is rich in nutrients and is a wonderful grain to offer your baby. 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of cooked brown rice contains:

Contemporary research makes it clear that starting healthy babies on solid foods, like infant cereals, before the age of 4 months is an unwise choice. Rather than looking to the calendar to time when you will begin solid foods, you should be watching your baby closely for signs that he is ready for solids. This will likely be around 6 months of age. They include:

• Absence of tongue thrust, a reflex that when something is placed in her mouth she pushes her tongue out. If she's going to swallow food, it is essential that this reflex is gone.
• Solid head and neck control. She needs to be able to turn her head away so that she can communicate with you that she is full. She also needs to be strong enough to support the weight of her own head.
• Can sit up independently fairly well.
• Has doubled her birth weight (though this is not a "magic" moment either that indicates that she is ready for solids).

You can easily make your own rice cereal. Simply grind the grains into a fine rice powder using a clean coffee grinder or food processor. Be sure to follow basic tips for starting solids.