Baby Cereal For Reflux

In the past rice cereal was the most frequently recommended option for helping babies to deal with reflux since it has always been viewed as milder and less allergenic.

Baby cereal for reflux.

However some doctors recommend using cereal to thicken the formula or expressed breastmilk of a baby with reflux before the age of 6 months in an attempt to keep the milk down. In response to concerns over arsenic in rice the american academy of pediatrics aap now recommends parents of children with these conditions use oatmeal instead of rice cereal. The thickened formula will make the stomach contents. Your baby s pediatrician may also offer their thoughts regarding the benefits and drawbacks of oatmeal vs rice cereal for babies with reflux.

Babies with severe reflux may require medication or other medical intervention but simple dietary or lifestyle modifications can reduce many acid reflux symptoms. Children with dysphagia or gastroesophageal reflux for example may need their food to be thicker in order to swallow safely or reduce reflux. Your doctor may recommend adding one to two teaspoons of rice cereal to the formula if your infant has mild recurring episodes of acid reflux. One of these modifications includes adding rice cereal to your infant s bottle.

Because of the possible arsenic exposure with rice cereal experts believe oatmeal is the safer choice.