First foods database
🍙 Sticky rice for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat sticky rice? Yes, from about 6 months. Also called glutinous rice (despite the name, it contains no gluten), it clings together when cooked, so it is easy to press into small flat patties that little hands can pick up and squash.
Good source of: Carbohydrate, Manganese
How to serve sticky rice by age
6 to 9 months
Soak the rice for a few hours, then steam or simmer until very soft. Mix with mashed vegetables, flaked salmon or well-cooked egg and press into small flattened patties about the size of a fish finger, which are easier to hold than balls. For spoon feeding, loosen a little with water or breast milk.
9 to 12 months
Offer small flat rice cakes or bite-sized pieces mixed with soft fillings such as egg, avocado, mashed edamame or shredded chicken. Babies with a pincer grip can pick up tiny clumps.
12 months and up
Serve alongside family meals, as rice cakes in lunchboxes, or with mild curries and stir-fries. Ripe mango with plain sticky rice makes a lovely pudding without the sweet coconut sauce.
Choking safety
Sticky rice clumps and can form a dense, gluey mouthful that is hard to clear. Make small, thin, flattened portions rather than big round balls, offer sips of water with the meal, and keep baby sitting upright while eating.
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, so rotate it with other grains such as oats, pasta and quinoa.
- Cool leftover rice within an hour, keep it in the fridge and use within a day; reheat only once until steaming.
Easy ideas
- Flat sticky rice patties with mashed mango
- Sticky rice and scrambled egg cakes
- Sticky rice with flaked salmon and peas
Goes well with
Recipes with sticky rice
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat sticky rice?
Can babies eat sticky rice? Yes, from about 6 months. Also called glutinous rice (despite the name, it contains no gluten), it clings together when cooked, so it is easy to press into small flat patties that little hands can pick up and squash.
Is sticky rice gluten-free?
Yes. 'Glutinous' describes its sticky texture, not gluten, so it is naturally gluten-free.
Is mango sticky rice okay for babies?
The rice and mango are fine, but the coconut sauce is usually sweetened and salted. Serve plain sticky rice with ripe mango instead.
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).