I want to wean my 4-month-old to rice milk, but my doctor says formula is the right choice.  What should I do?

Your doctor is right.  Fortified rice milk can be an acceptable alternative beverage for older children.  But using it now as your daughter's only source of nourishment could lead to serious and potentially irreversible nutritional deficiencies, says Dr. Judy Hopkinson, a lactation physiologist with the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine.

To understand why rice milk is not recommended for infants, compare its ingredient list and Nutrition Facts label to that of infant formula.  Rice milk contains only water, rice, oil and salt.  It has no iron or other added minerals except calcium and the only added vitamins are D, A and B-12.  It is also low in protein and essential fats.

On the other hand, FDA regulations require that infant formulas contain the full nutritional banquet known to be essential for infant health.  So, if you need to wean, go with formula.  It is the only healthy alternative to breast milk for infants under one year of age.

Weaning