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Rice vs. Oatmeal baby cereal?

My son has been on rice cereal for about a month now under Dr's orders. We've recently started the rice with bananas and its a bit thicker. He loves it! My question is: Whats the difference between rice and oatmeal for baby? Just the taste? Are you not supposed to give oatmeal until the baby is older because of possible allergy?

Public Comments

1. I asked myself the same question... But really, I've never heard of anybody being alergic to oatmeal. I asked my doctor, and said that it's fine. We tried it and my baby loved it. I feel it's even better than rice cereal because it mixes better with the milk in the bottle. It really helped my son with reflux as well.
2. The difference of the two has to do with nutrition and the type of carbohydates. Multi-Grain or Oatmeal Cereals: Slower burning calories.. These type of calories will allow your baby to expense more energy over a longer period of time at a more even level.. also keeping his blood sugar level more even. More nutritional. Rice Cereal: Fast burning calories.. These type of calories cause your baby to expense a burst of energy, followed by an extreme down, which is why this cereal works before bedtime.. it helps with sleep. It isn't as good for maintaining an even blood sugar level though, and it's basically an "empty" calorie cereal. When choosing a multi-grain cereal, make sure it is Wheat and Gluten Free. Wheat and Gluten (Gluten is in wheat) are allergins and shouldn't be given until age 1 year. Hope this helps.. Best Wishes!
3. We gave our daughter rice, oatmeal and barley in the beginning.. toward the end we used rice and oatmeal because barley just wasn't available at our store enough. You can use any of the cereals that they have in the beginning except for the wheat ones... you want to stick with "single grain" is what its called on the box. You also want to give it 2-3 days the first time you try one, so that you can make sure they do well on it. I liked giving it to our daughter so she had variety, I also gave her the ones with fruit mixed with the rice. The only one I held off on until 6 months was the mixed cereal, because its not single grain.
4. rice is easier to digest
5. Oatmeal is not gluten free. Gluten is an allergen. And then there is celiac disease which means gluten sensitivity. So I would wait with oat just to make sure until 12 month.
6. In addition to what everyone says, it's also a taste issue. My son hated the rice cereal, and loved oatmeal. Whatever works for your son...go with it.
7. Never really had a problem with oatmeal, I did however start off with teh rice, and then the mixed grain of baby ceral from gerber before I started oatmeal. All my children loved it, it's a bit thicker but it doesn't seem to be a problem. Go ahead and try some out! Good luck!
8. I have always heard that you should wait til a baby is older to give it oatmeal, because it harsher on the belly....and can cause constipation......however heard that about bananas as well, so if he's doing ok on bananas then perhaps he will do ok on oatmeal too......all you can do is try....its not like your gonna cause major problems with him if he cant tolerate it, you just stop giving it to him.....your his mommy you know best!
9. Because rice cereal is easier to digest and less allergenic.
10. I was instructed to use Oatmeal instead of Rice by my doctor because of my daughters constipation problem due to her being on soy milk. The rice is easier to digest...but the oatmeal helps her poop.