Because of the possible arsenic exposure with rice cereal experts believe oatmeal is the safer choice.
Baby cereal for reflux.
The american academy of pediatrics recommends oatmeal cereal for babies with acid reflux.
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.
Whilst there is not a huge amount of evidence that this really helps doctors often prefer parents to try this before prescribing any kind of medication.
It s also wheat free so won t irritate your baby s stomach if she is sensitive or allergic to gluten.
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.
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.
One of these modifications includes adding rice cereal to your infant s bottle.