A LOT Of Rice Cereal..

This sounds funny, but mix up a bunch of rice ceral with water, put it in a bucket and just let him play with it for a sensory experience. That way if he gets any in his mouth, it's okay.

mix with non- toxic food coloring for a safe and fun finger paint.

It might sound odd but use it in baking. It can work very well as a thickener in cooking(similar to corn starch.)It can also be used in place of flour in certain recipes.

We use rice/multigrain cereal as the basis for almost every meal for our 10 month old (and our older kids when they were this age). After mixing a bowlful with a couple scoops of formula (he weaned early) and water to get the right consistency, then I add about a half jar of baby food. The baby food lasts longer, and it makes for a more filling meal for baby. Keep in mind that many baby foods in jars are just straight vegetables or fruits, maybe with a little meat, and most don't contain any grain/starch component. That's what really rounds out his meal and helps him feel full.

If it's unopened donate to a food bank, I'm sure a needy mom would really appreciate it

When you say 'a lot' of rice cereal, is this cereal that you have prepared to serve your son and don't know what to do with it OR is it cereal that you have purchased and have too much to use in a timely fashion?

1st question and answer... don't make so much. Your son will eat what you serve. Rice cereal is a good staple breakfast food. Add fruit, good stuff.

2nd question and answer.... if you purchased so much that you'll never use it all, keeping some on hand for those extra hungry nights or when he gets loose bowel movements and you need the rice cereal to make BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) diet to slow it down, donate it to your local food bank. Baby foods are needed at foodbanks, they have baby corners that need filling and the need for these items is increasing as more and more families are suffering job loses and wage decreases.

I was kind of thinking the same thing, only I have a lot of baby oatmeal. I figure, just toss it in to anything that needs thickening...stews, etc...or substituting it for some of the flour in pancakes, banana bread, muffins--any baked good that is reasonably forgiving.

You can always give it to a food bank. Take it to a laundry mat and put a sign on it free. the cereal needs to be unopened.

a great place to give your unopened boxes of baby cereal is at any local WIC office. moms with little babies coming in all the time that could use it.

I've heard of making finger food out of it -- mix it up with water or milk to a thick paste, then roll into little balls. You can serve it like that or coat the balls in something fun like crushed up corn flakes.

If you really have so much that you won't use it before it expires, then consider donsting some unopened packages to the food bank.

Hi J.,

Here are a few thoughts:

Keep a reserve of rice cereal in your pantry. If your little one comes down with a tummy bug, the rice cereal will be something good to eat when he needs bland food.

Try using it instead of bread crumbs and eggs to bind hamburgers, meatloaf or meatballs.

Donate unopened boxes to a local food bank or women's shelter.

I also have a recipe for Baby Cereal Cookies. I've never tried it as my little one is allergic to the wheat flour it calls for, but here you go:

Baby Cereal Cookies (from The Everything Cooking For Baby and Toddler Book)
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. baby cereal
1 c. apple juice
1. Mix to make a sticky dough (add more flour if necessary)
2. Roll dough 1/2" thick and cut into sticks, about 1"x3"
3. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes until dry and hard