First foods database
🍘 Rice cakes for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat rice cakes? Yes, from about 6 months, as an occasional snack. Baby rice cakes melt quickly in the mouth, but rice naturally contains some inorganic arsenic, so it is best to vary snacks rather than rely on rice cakes every day.
Good source of: Carbohydrate, Manganese
How to serve rice cakes by age
6 to 9 months
Offer baby rice cakes that dissolve quickly, or spread a thin layer of mashed avocado, smooth nut butter or cream cheese on a plain unsalted rice cake to add protein and fat.
9 to 12 months
Rice cakes with spreads alongside fruit or vegetable sticks.
12 months and up
Rice cakes as one snack among many, alongside fruit, cheese or hummus.
Choking safety
Large adult rice cakes can break into hard, sharp shards. Choose baby versions that melt, or break larger ones into small pieces with a spread.
Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).
Good to know
- Rice contains some inorganic arsenic: vary grains and snacks.
- Choose unsalted, unsweetened rice cakes.
Easy ideas
- Rice cake with mashed avocado
- Rice cake with smooth peanut butter
- Rice cake with cream cheese and cucumber
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat rice cakes?
Can babies eat rice cakes? Yes, from about 6 months, as an occasional snack. Baby rice cakes melt quickly in the mouth, but rice naturally contains some inorganic arsenic, so it is best to vary snacks rather than rely on rice cakes every day.
Are rice cakes safe for babies?
In moderation, yes. Vary snacks so rice is not the main daily grain.
Do rice cakes contain arsenic?
Rice absorbs some arsenic from the soil. Occasional rice cakes are fine; rice drinks are not suitable as a drink for under-5s.
Sources
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).