question about cereal safety :)

[is it puppies?]

I was looking around the biggest "organic" grocery store in town hoping to find some finger food type "O" shaped cereals and dissolving type biscuits for DD (almost 10 months) as lately she has just been digging my toast crust and that's probably not optimal for a baby (well, in my opinion lol- I didn't want to even try grains till after 1yo). She LOVES eating those hard crunchy things (and I think she swallows more than she does of her vegges etc).

So anyways, I couldn't find much that was actually organic or that healthy!

I chose an organic puffed rice (nothing else added) but I am not sure if it's a safe size/shape/texture? Am I worrying too much? It looks like puffed wheat pretty much.

I also chose a cereal- sort of like shreddies- but organic, brand name Barbara's, it's sweetened with molasses and has a variety of flours in it and not much for additives. Is this texture okay? I think molasses is probably okay. I am not too worried about the grains after she got my garlic bread crust last night at dinner!

I also got some of those rice crisps, brand name "hot kid" who also makes the baby mum mums but the baby mum mums have sugar, salt, milk added and the rice crisps are just the rice and oil. Hmmm, and also twice the size of package for less $$. I bought some mum mums to compare but I think the mummums are the safest to give to DD in the car (she hates car rides so I need distractions).

Any thoughts or opinions?

thanks

[Knitting Mama]

We do the organic puffed rice cereal too (code name: puffies), with no problem. She's been getting them since around 8-9 months old. Haven't tried the other cereals, but I would just see how your babe does with them. One thing about the "Hot Kids" stuff is that it's all made in China. Not sure if that bothers you or not, but if it does, there it is. :)

[is it puppies?]

Unfortunately, as much as the whole made in China thing gives me the skeeves since the melamine thing, we eat way WAY too much stuff from China ourselves (we crave it since we lived there for a few years!) so I've kind of given up on it lol. Mind you I usually avoid it for my dogs!

[lifeguard]

We did the puffed organic kamut as a first finger food for ds. Nothing in there but the kamut.

[SeattleRain]

We also like puffed kamut and puffed corn. The puffed corn is a big favorite. They're easy for him to pick up and they dissolve nicely in his mouth. They also don't contain anything really, and they're like $1 for a bag.

[Amanda1]

We do the same puffed rice, he's probaly got them since 7 months old. I think they've really helped with his abitliy to pick little things up!!! He is 10 months now and loves them!!!

[P.J.]

My only reply is to the molasses. I consider that almost exactly the same as sugar...it's a step or two less refined, but it has about the same effect. In fact, at this stage I am avoiding giving DS anything with added sweetener. I almost bought these cookie thingys the other day that had rice syrup...but on second thought I reminded myself that just about all those sweeteners have the same negative effects on the body and mind.
We're not a no-sugar family, but for us it's a once-a-week treat, and I am holding off as long as possible giving DS his first taste of sugar or added-sweetener treats.

Just my $.02