Are you aware that your child’s diet can actually cause itching and inflammation?
Symptoms of diaper rash include bright red, inflamed skin on the baby’s bottom (usually around the anus). Frequently changed diapers, dye sensitivity, and chafing are among the factors attributed to it by parents.
In this article, we will explore the possible link between rice cereals and a bad diaper rash.
What is rice cereal?
Rice cereal is food with rice as its primary ingredient that is commonly used as baby food. Usually made from white or brown rice, it can be cooked hot or cold and can be mixed with other foods. It is made from precooked and processed rice mixed with either milk (whole milk can also cause diaper rash) or water into a smooth consistency.
Infants who are starting solid food traditionally start with rice cereal. Usually, you buy a dry powdered rice cereal that you mix with liquid to make an oatmeal-like consistency, but you can also buy it premixed. When kids are starting solids, this is one of the single-grain cereals they should eat.
Is rice cereal healthy for babies?
Rice cereal is popular for a few reasons: it’s easy to digest, doesn’t trigger allergies like wheat will, and can be used by infants who are transitioning from breastmilk or formula to solid food. When it is consumed in an appropriate quantity, it is still good food to feed your baby with.
Rice cereals and other rice-based foods can be healthy foods. Their healthfulness depends on their variety and where they come from. There are traces of arsenic in all rice and other rice-based foods. Brown rice and organic rice can both contain arsenic.
When can babies eat rice cereals?
When your baby is ready to begin solid foods, usually around 6-8 months of age, rice and rice products may be introduced. At around this time, a baby’s digestive system can digest these foods.
Rice cereal does not necessarily have to be the first food given to a baby, though it often is.
Does my baby need rice cereal at every feeding?
A baby’s diet has an impact on the development of the brain in the first year of life, as that is the period when the brain develops the most. You shouldn’t give your baby rice cereal every day or make it the only food in your baby’s meal.
Does rice cereal cause an allergic diaper rash?
While it’s not common, it’s not unheard of either. Some babies of all ages may have food sensitivities or food allergies to certain foods like cow’s milk or other dairy products and especially new foods added to the diet of the baby.
When a baby develops allergic reactions to baby cereal after eating it, it may be an allergic reaction to rice. Young children are relatively rarely experiencing a negative reaction to rice and usually develop the allergy in their infancy.
The eczema of people with rice allergies may worsen for several hours or days after ingesting rice products. Rice cereal can aggravate diaper rashes in your little one already suffering from a diaper rash.
Symptoms of rice allergy or reaction usually include a red, itchy rash called hives on the skin that appears shortly after ingesting rice-containing foods. Occasionally, hives develop into or become part of a more serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Symptoms of Allergy
The symptoms of anaphylaxis include any of the following:
- Breathing problems such as wheezing
- Throat swelling
- Vomiting
- Loose stools, diarrhea, or stomach cramp
- Swelling of the face and mouth
- Diaper rash that does not heal after 3 days
- Diaper rash that is spreading to other parts of the body
- Any signs of shock include low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and dizziness
If you notice any of these symptoms, please contact emergency services right away because they could be life-threatening.
Foods to Avoid
You should also avoid giving your baby acidic foods such as citrus fruits which can cause rash. Acidic foods change the pH balance of a baby’s stool so it may make the diaper rash even worse. These foods could also cause diarrhea which could potentially irritate the skin even further.
When you notice that a diaper rash has appeared, make sure to treat it right away. The rash should go away on its own if it is mild. Frequent diaper changes, as well as applying ointment, can help with the rash. If you are interested in using natural remedies for diaper rashes, check out our series.
It is important to consult your doctor if your child has a rice allergy about when and how to reintroduce rice and other grains into their diet. A doctor can determine whether it is safe for you to reintroduce rice or other grains to your diet by using skin or blood tests.
The Bottom Line on Does eating rice cereal cause diaper rash?
When introducing new foods which rice cereals to your baby, make sure to give them in small amounts. Her diet should consist of nutritious fruits and the occasional rice cereals.
Rice cereal can cause allergies or worsen existing diaper rash in infants. Learn how to identify symptoms of rice allergy, why babies develop a diaper rash if they have a rice allergy, the severity of the diaper rash, and what you can do about the diaper rash if it appears.
