
Start with a wide variety of soft fruit and vegetable purees as well as iron-fortified infant cereal to expose your child to the nutritionally dense foods that are crucial for staying healthy into adulthood. Babies won’t be ready to eat Cheerios for several more months after starting solid foods.
- Dry breakfast cereals (without nuts or chunks)
- Wafer-type crackers, bread, and soft tortillas (without nuts, seeds or chunks)
- Soft canned fruit, cut into small slices (peaches or pears)
Can babies eat Cheerios?
Can Babies Eat Cheerios? - First Foods for Babies - Solid Starts Can Babies Eat Cheerios? Can my baby eat Cheerios? (I hear you…”For the love of my sanity, tell me Cheerios are okay!”) Short answer: Yes! Babies can have Cheerios. Parenting is hard! Fun foods like Cheerios make it easier. (Never sponsored, ever.)
Are Cheerios made with genetically modified foods?
While General Mills maintains that Cheerios are not produced with genetically modified ingredients as stated on the label, the presence of the herbicide most often used with GMO crops is cause for concern, particularly when on the lookout for healthy cereal options to feed our families.
Is rice baby cereal the best choice for baby’s digestion?
Let’s delve into the science behind baby’s digestion, when to introduce solids, and the best first foods for baby. You’ll see that rice baby cereal is not the best choice for baby!
Are Cheerios a good source of iron?
Not off the charts nutritious, but relatively low in sugar and fortified with critical vitamins and minerals, including a notable amount of iron, a critical nutrient babies and toddlers need. So are Cheerios a great source of iron? Sort of. Iron added to cereal is in the non-heme form.

What can I give my baby instead of Cheerios?
Top 6 finger foods that are safe and delicious for infantsPeas. Steamed fresh frozen organic peas are my 15-month-old's favorite! ... Eggs. Small soft pieces of scrambled eggs are a perfect first finger food. ... Peanut puffs. ... Cheerios, or any whole-grain round cereal. ... Blueberries. ... Beans.
What cereal can babies eat besides Cheerios?
Here are my favorites.Puffed rice, corn, millet, or kamut.Shredded wheat (softened in milk for younger toddlers)New England Naturals Unsweetened Granola.Cheerios (or similar store brand “O” cereal)Brown rice crisps or Rice Krispies.Kix.Rice Chex (or another unflavored Chex)Corn flakes.
What can I give my baby instead of cereal?
Some alternative, non-cereal first foods for babies can include:Avocado.Mashed beans and lentils.Soft-cooked fortified pasta.Quinoa.Buckwheat.Amaranth.Millet.Farro.More items...•
Are Cheerios OK for babies?
Babies can enjoy Cheerios after they can sit without assistance and bring food to their mouths. Expect your baby to be ready no earlier than 8 months of age, though all babies develop at different paces. As usual, ask your baby's pediatrician if you have any questions about when or what to feed your child.
What cereal can I give my 10 month old?
Yes, babies between 6 and 9 months old can eat cereal. Choose soft cereals such as an iron-fortified grain cereal or oatmeal made with breast milk, formula, or water. Fortified infant cereals are a good source of iron for growing babies.
Which cereal is healthiest for babies?
Final Verdict. Happy Baby Oatmeal is our best overall pick for baby cereal. With just three ingredients—oatmeal, vitamin C, and iron—your baby is getting only what you want them to have. It takes the pick for simplicity, whole ingredients and fortification.
Is baby cereal necessary?
Baby Cereal Provides Much-Needed Iron Just two 1/4-cup servings of iron-fortified infant cereal (oatmeal, rice, barley, or mixed grains) deliver most of your baby's daily iron needs. Infant cereal also provides other nutrients, such as zinc, calcium, and vitamins B, C, and E.
Do babies have to eat cereal?
Breast milk or formula is the only food your newborn needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months after birth. But by ages 4 months to 6 months, most babies are ready to begin eating solid foods as a complement to breast-feeding or formula-feeding.
Can I give my baby oatmeal instead of rice cereal?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends oatmeal cereal for babies with acid reflux. Because of the possible arsenic exposure with rice cereal, experts believe oatmeal is the safer choice. It's also wheat-free, so won't irritate your baby's stomach if she is sensitive or allergic to gluten.
Can 8 month old choke on Cheerios?
Are Cheerios a Choking Hazard? No. A Cheerio is a dissolvable food, requiring only a small amount of liquid (or saliva) to become a mushy texture, so there is little chewing or mashing needed to manipulate the food in the mouth before swallowing.
Can 9 month old have Honey Nut Cheerios?
No, babies under age 12 months cannot have Honey Nut Cheerios or any food with honey—whether cooked or uncooked. Honey can contain a bacteria that is potentially very dangerous to the immature immune systems of babies. Read more about babies and honey.
What can I feed my 8 month old for lunch?
Lunch ideas for babies and young childrenlamb curry with rice.cauliflower cheese with cooked pasta pieces.baked beans (reduced salt and sugar) with toast.scrambled egg with toast, chapatti or pitta bread served with vegetable finger foods.cottage cheese (full-fat) dip with pitta bread, cucumber and carrot sticks.
What kind of cereal can I give my 1 year old?
Single-grain cereals like rice, oatmeal or barley are best at the beginning, so you can introduce your baby to one ingredient at a time. (But avoid serving just rice all the time, since it can expose your baby to too-high levels of arsenic.)
Can babies eat Chex cereal?
Your child is now six months old and will be making the transition from baby food to table food. Your child should be on three meals a day taking cereal, fruit and vegetables. You may now introduce cereals like: Cheerios, Rice Chex, Corn Chex and Crispix.
Are Gerber puffs safe for babies?
They are easy for little fingers to pick up once the pincer grasp is mastered, they come in vibrant colors, fun shapes, and are a super easy snack to take on the go. Plus, they dissolve easily in baby's mouth, making them a good early food with a low risk for choking.
When can my baby have puffs?
Even if your baby still relies heavily on formula or breastmilk, once they reach 6+ months, it is a great age to start introducing puffs and other soft foods. Puffs are formatted to dissolve quickly in the mouth, making them the perfect baby snack for new eaters.
What’S Really in Baby Cereal?
Let’s first take a look at what baby cereal really is… because it’s not just plain rice. Since it’s usually made from white rice, there really isn’...
When Is Rice Cereal recommended?
Most pediatricians recommend starting rice baby cereal at about 4-6 months old for baby’s first food. Some doctors will recommend it even earlier a...
Supplementing With Baby Bottles
If your baby is colicky and fussy at night, this could be related to digestion or latent food allergies (source). Lulling them to sleep with rice b...
Why Rice Baby Cereal Is Not Good
Arsenic is naturally found in soil and water, however it can become concentrated due to conventional farming practices. When pesticides and herbici...
Best First Foods For Baby
So now that we’ve covered why rice baby cereal isn’t the best first food for baby, what is? Nutrient dense foods– animal foods, in particular– are...
What is the best food for a newborn?
Pureed pastured/organic meats. Mashed ripe fruit like avocado and banana. Fruits high in pectin like apples, pears, peaches and plums should be cooked, cooled and then fed to baby. The Surprising Best First Foods for Baby by Mama Natural. Here’s more info on best choices for baby’s first foods.
Can you put rice in a baby bottle?
Some doctors will recommend it even earlier as a way to help newborns sleep. Mom’s are urged to add a little rice baby-cereal and formula to baby’s bottle as a way to keep him full and sleep through the night. There are a few problems with this recommendation though.
Is rice baby cereal low in nutrition?
2. Low in Nutrition. Rice baby cereal is naturally devoid of nutrition, so manufacturers add synthetic vitamins back in to fortify it.
Is baby rice cereal whole?
1. Highly Refined. Baby rice cereal isn’t whole rice for obvious reasons, but it’s not even just ground. Rice cereal is usually highly processed until it’s converted into light flakes, which are “instantly” ready for consumption.
Is iron in breastmilk good for babies?
If you indulge in high iron foods, like pastured beef and liver, then this nutrition is then passed through the breastmilk to baby in the right amount. ( Source ). Iron is a necessary nutrient, high levels of synthetic ferrous sulfate, which is hard to digest, is not.
Does rice cereal cause thyroid problems?
It can cause thyroid damage and health issues for the estimated 50% of the population with MTHFR mutations ( Source, Source ). 4. Fortified With Iron. Rice cereal is fortified with iron, and pediatricians and dietitians argue that a baby’s diet is too low in iron.
Is rice baby cereal good for babies?
Why rice baby cereal is not good. Best first foods for baby. Let’s delve into the science behind baby’s digestion, when to introduce solids, and the best first foods for baby. You’ll see that rice baby cereal is not the best choice for baby!
What is the name of the ingredient in Cheerios cereal?
It’s worth noting that before the use of tripotassium phosphate, General Mills used a controversial ingredient called trisodium phosphate (a salt used in cleaning agents) in its Original Cheerios cereal recipe. After mounting public criticism, the company replaced trisodium phosphate with tripotassium phosphate.
What are Cheerios made of?
However, other types of Cheerios, including MultiGrain and Honey Nut, are made from GMO grains or oils, including corn, rice, or wheat. 13 14 15 If avoiding GMOs (and, therefore, the pesticides that many GMO foods are designed to withstand) is important to you, opt for Original Cheerios or other organic cereal brands.
What is glyphosate used for in Cheerios?
Glyphosate is commonly sprayed on fields before planting oats – the main ingredient in Cheerios – and for corn or maize production for making corn starch – the second most abundant ingredient in Cheerios. 24 25 26.
How much sugar is in a honey nut cheerios?
And second, practically speaking, Honey Nut Cheerios are full of sugar with a whopping 9 grams of added sugar per ¾ cup serving.
How old is Caden when he eats Cheerios?
Once babies get used to processed foods, it can be hard to dial back. Caden, 8 months, eats Cheerios for the first time. Cooper, 10 months, tries Cheerios for the first time.
Do Cheerios help with iron?
So while Original Cheerios can help increase overall iron intake, it would be wise to focus on iron-rich whole foods as your child’s primary source of iron. When it comes to nutrition for babies, we want to focus on foods that are high in fat to support cell growth and structure, high protein, and foods high in fiber.
Is Cheerios good for kids?
Original Cheerios ( the kind in the yellow box) are often cited as a healthy cereal choice for kids because it is low in sugar and has a decent amount of fiber. 1 This is valid: compared to other cereals marketed to kids, Original Cheerios are often a healthier choice.
Why are Cheerios good for kids?
Cheerios are made for little fingers to help with development of fine motor skills, encourage self-feeding independence and learning the pincer grip technique. The unique O shape of Cheerios may reduce the risk of choking and it dissolves easily in the mouth. Considered a favorite first finger food by moms, ensure your child has a nutritious start ...
What are some examples of complementary foods?
For the child’s safety, be watchful while he or she eats solid foods. Examples of appropriate complementary foods: Iron fortified, single-grain infant cereal. Mashed banana.
When should a baby start eating solids?
What should be your baby’s first solid food? Most medical experts suggest the best time to introduce solid foods is around 6 months old. Always check with your child’s pediatrician before starting your baby on any solid foods.
How to help a child with food allergies?
Cooked, mashed vegetables like carrots, peas or sweet potatoes. Begin by introducing one new food at a time every several days offering a few spoonfuls each day, to monitor for food sensitivities, before moving on to a new food. Parents with food allergies should discuss concerns with their pediatrician. Back to top.
Are Cheerios Safe for My Baby?
Of all the foods you can feed your baby, Cheerios are one of the safest when served to babies who are developmentally ready—more on that later. Read on to find out why.
Benefits of Giving Your Baby Cheerios
While Cheerios are far from the only breakfast food or snack you can feed a baby, there are lots of reasons parents of young children consider the cereal a pantry staple.
When and How to Introduce Cheerios
Per the CDC, you can start introducing solid foods to your child at around 6 months old, or once they show developmental signs of readiness for solids. Some such signs include: moving objects toward their mouth, showing head and neck control, sitting up all by themselves or with minimal support, and opening their mouth when they are offered food.
A Word From Verywell
Babies can enjoy Cheerios after they can sit without assistance and bring food to their mouths. Expect your baby to be ready no earlier than 8 months of age, though all babies develop at different paces. As usual, ask your baby’s pediatrician if you have any questions about when or what to feed your child.
