Grains Food Library
When can babies have brown rice?
Can babies have brown rice?
Babies can have brown rice from about 6 months, cooked very soft and blended into a smooth porridge, then served as soft sticky rice balls from 7–8 months. Brown rice contains more arsenic than many other grains, so offer it a few times a week rather than every day and rotate it with oats, barley and quinoa. Brown rice is not a common allergen.
How to serve brown rice by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Cook brown rice until very soft, then blend it with water, breast milk or formula into a smooth porridge, or blend it into lentils, mashed vegetables or plain yogurt. Offer it on a spoon or a preloaded spoon.
7–8 months
Cook brown rice very soft and mash it lightly so it is thick and slightly lumpy, mixed into lentils, mashed vegetables or yogurt. You can also press sticky rice into soft balls about the size of a ping pong ball for your baby to grab.
9–12 months
Offer soft cooked brown rice loose on the tray for pincer practice, or in fritters, soft rice cakes made at home, or mixed with beans and veggies.
12 months +
Toddlers can eat brown rice in stir fries, burrito bowls, soups and rice and bean dishes. Keep it soft and moist, and keep rotating grains through the week.
Why it’s good
Brown rice gives babies complex carbohydrates for energy, fiber, magnesium, manganese, B vitamins and a little protein. It keeps the bran, so it has more fiber and minerals than white rice. Pair it with beans, meat or vegetables for a fuller meal.
Safety notes
- Rice takes up more arsenic from soil than other grains, and brown rice has more than white. Offer rice in rotation with other grains, not at every meal.
- Cook rice in plenty of water, like pasta, then drain the extra water. This can lower arsenic levels.
- Cook brown rice until very soft. Undercooked grains are hard and can be a gagging and choking risk.
- Cool leftover rice quickly and refrigerate it within an hour or two. Cooked rice left at room temperature can grow bacteria that cause food poisoning.
- Skip boxed or seasoned rice mixes, which are often high in sodium.
A low-allergy food, still worth watching
Brown rice is not a common allergen, and true rice allergy is rare. Rice is a known trigger of FPIES in some babies, a delayed reaction with repeated vomiting a few hours after eating, so call your doctor if that happens.
Brown rice for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about brown rice for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have brown rice?
Babies can have brown rice from about 6 months, as long as it is cooked very soft. Start with brown rice blended into a smooth porridge or mixed into purees, then offer lumpier mashes and small sticky balls from 7–8 months.
Can babies have brown rice?
Yes, babies can eat brown rice as part of a varied diet. Because of arsenic, brown rice is best offered a few times a week and rotated with other grains.
Is brown rice a choking hazard for babies?
Brown rice is a low choking risk when cooked soft, but loose grains can cause gagging. Cook brown rice well and blend or mash it for young babies, then shape it into soft balls or mix it with moist foods as your baby grows.
Is brown rice a common allergen?
No, brown rice is not a common allergen. Rice can trigger FPIES in a small number of babies, which shows up as repeated vomiting a few hours after eating.
How do I serve brown rice to a 6 month old?
To serve brown rice to a 6 month old, cook it until very soft and blend it with water, breast milk or formula into a smooth porridge, or blend it into lentils, sweet potato or yogurt. Offer it on a spoon. Soft rice balls your baby can hold can follow at 7–8 months.
Is there arsenic in brown rice?
Yes, brown rice contains more inorganic arsenic than white rice and most other grains. Cooking brown rice in extra water and draining it, and serving a mix of grains like oats, barley and quinoa, helps lower your baby's exposure.
Is brown rice or white rice better for babies?
Brown rice has more fiber and minerals, while white rice has less arsenic. Both are fine for babies in moderation, so many parents use both and rotate them with other grains.
Can brown rice cause constipation in babies?
Brown rice is less likely to cause constipation than white rice because it has more fiber. If your baby has firm stools, serve brown rice with fruits like pears or prunes and offer sips of water.
Can I use leftover brown rice for my baby?
Leftover brown rice is fine for a baby if it was cooled quickly and stored in the fridge for no more than a day. Reheat brown rice until steaming hot all the way through, then cool before serving.
The takeaway
- Babies can have brown rice from about 6 months, cooked very soft and blended into a smooth porridge, then served as soft sticky rice balls from 7–8 months.
- Cook brown rice until very soft, then blend it with water, breast milk or formula into a smooth porridge, or blend it into lentils, mashed vegetables or plain yogurt.
- Choking risk is low. Not a Top 9 allergen, but offer a small amount first and watch for any reaction.
Read next
Sources
This guide follows current advice from these organizations.
- Starting Solid Foods American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Hazards Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- What You Can Do to Limit Exposure to Arsenic U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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Updated November 2026. Reviewed by our dietitians. Based on AAP, CDC and NIAID guidance. Written for healthy, full-term babies; not a substitute for your pediatrician. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, feeding difficulties or a known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer). Always stay with your baby while they eat.