Does rice flour make baby gain weight?

Rice flour is typically recommended when transitioning to solid foods (from 6 months) as a thickener, but it's not inherently a "weight-gaining" food. It's not high in calories and has limited nutritional value (mostly carbohydrates, very little protein and fiber, almost no vitamins and minerals). White rice flour has a high glycemic index, meaning it raises and drops blood sugar quickly, which keeps babies feeling full for only a short time. To support weight gain, current pediatric guidance recommends choosing nutrient-dense, calorie-rich options instead of rice flour (such as avocado, yogurt, egg yolk, vegetables with olive oil, lentil soup). Additionally, because of arsenic accumulation risk in rice flour, it's best used only 1-2 times a week, alternating with other grains (oats, buckwheat). The most reliable way to evaluate your baby's weight gain is regular percentile tracking with your pediatrician.