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What kind of cereal is good for small children?

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From 6 to 9 months, iron-fortified baby cereals like rice cereal. From 9 to 12 months and up, cereals that are easy to grasp, not too crumbly, and easy to swallow.

Children are usually ready for solid food around 6 to 9 months, but the pediatrician will be able to tell for sure. Rice cereal and other baby cereals with iron are great first foods. Around 9 months children start practicing their “pincer” grasp, using two fingers to pick up small objects. They’ve also started to master chewing, and these are just a couple of signs they may be getting ready for bigger-kid foods like toasted bread and ready-to-eat cereal. When they are ready, ready-to-eat cereals that are easy to grasp, not too crumbly, easy to swallow and dissolve well can help with growth and development.

How can we help?

As generations of parents have discovered on their own, the size, shape and texture of original Cheerios® cereal make it a great finger food for toddlers. At all ages, the vitamins, minerals and whole grain oats in original Cheerios can make it an important and fun part of a healthy breakfast.

All Cheerios cereal varieties have at least 14 grams of whole grain per serving. At least 48 grams recommended daily.

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