MIL is adamant my baby needs cereal

Virginia - posted on 05/14/2010

You are right to wait until his 4 month check-up. You have to go with your insticts and the advice from his pediatrician. Tell your MIL that you appreciate her concern but the doctor has advised you to wait and that you are going to follow that recomendation. Also, babies spit up because their digestive systems are still maturing not because they are too full of milk. If anything, adding cereal to the bottle will make them more full.

My mother insists on thing as well and I simply tell her that the guidelines for children are a bit different now then they were when she had me and that I was going to follow the doctor's instructions. She thinks I'm crazy for waiting to do certain things but then I point out that it was perfectly acceptable for women to smoke and drink during their pregnancies at the time that she was having me - that keeps her quiet!

Ink - posted on 05/14/2010

Almost every facet of baby care has changed over the years. My mother and I have gone round and round about this... on so many different topics. My mother had her last baby 31 years ago and just can not understand why I wouldn't give the baby water, or cereal... or talcum baby powder...or a pacifier... this list goes on and ON.
Doctors and scientists do so much research and study on babies the current acceptable standard is nearly impossible to keep up with.
It wasn't until my mother and I had this revelation that we stopped fighting about the silliest little things and started enjoying the baby more. This also opened my mother's eyes to start over on her 'baby education' and read some of the more current data that I am practicing.

Kristen - posted on 05/14/2010

The best piece of "advice" I have ever gotten about parenting came from my husband. He said, this is our child and we can raise her any way we want. And we have, despite some sometimes less than gentle proddings from family, friends, and even well meaning strangers. Tell your mother in law (gently if she is a sensitive type) that you feel that it is best to wait until __________ before he gets cereal. Tell her that she had her chance to raise kids and now it is your and her son's turn and the both of you agree on how to raise him. Normally if you just stick to your guns people will give you some space.

Jeanette - posted on 05/14/2010

don't worry about the cereal - you may or may not be breastfeeding but currently it is recommended that they only have breastmilk for at least the first 6mos - that is what i did with mine and it worked out just fine - everyone is bound to have their opinion so you have to go with your best judgment for your own baby -

Dana - posted on 05/13/2010

I started my daughter on rice cereal at 4 months and she was very ready. You are the mom...you will know right away if your child is ready for the cereal...he will let you know! I would call your doctor and ask their advice...all babies are different. My daughter is an excellent eater and starting her on cereal at 4 months and then introducing veggies at 5 months. It has been quite the experience!

Amanda - posted on 05/13/2010

just let your mil know the new recommendations. when i had my first child 13 yrs ago they said to start cereal at 3 months. she may be pulling on that old info or something even older. going by what she personally did or was taught. just get her up to date and take it from there. have her talk to your doctor if you need to, it may help.

Dina - posted on 05/13/2010

No are not crazy for waiting. They do eat more often when they are in a growth spurt and it sounds liek that is where he is. My daughter is 8 months old and we didn't start adding cereal to her bottles until 4 months and then to soup consisentcy - she is now at oatmeal consistency and eating jars of food. I would listen to you dr.

Joanne - posted on 05/13/2010

I started my son at 3 months and he did great with a spoon. He didn't push it out with his tongue or anything. He love all of the fruits and Veggies. I always say that Mom knows Best. Michael is my 3rd son, I started my other two boys (who are 16 and 13) on cereal when they were 3 months and they are alive and well. No belly issues and are happy, healthy teenage boys. (I may have added grey hairs, but that's a whole nother issue, lol). Do what your gut is telling you.

Krista - posted on 05/13/2010

I started my son at three months on cereal and he was fine. You are not crazy for wanting to wait, it is totally up to you!

Emma - posted on 05/13/2010

Mums know their babies best.
Babies spit up, thats what they do... and sometimes quite a while after having been fed. I wouldn't recommend cereal yet, and so do the health officials. Babies are perfectly fine until 6 months on milk alone, it has all the nutrition they need. Weaning before then can sometimes be problematic when they're older... don't forget, they're little digestive systems just aren't ready for that yet!!

Shannon - posted on 05/13/2010

no! you're the mom. dont make her think your baby needs things that you dont think he needs. maybe try a different brand of soother. my daughter wouldnt take the ortho pro ones i had for her, but she likes the nuk ones. and all babies spit up, some more than others. it's not because he's too full of liquid. wait for your doc appt and talk to him. just be polite (if you can lol) and tell your MIL that you're going to wait to start him on cereal. good luck, i know it can be hard when people are telling you how to parent, but your instincts are better than anyones!

Marisa - posted on 05/13/2010

i started my daughter @ 31/2 mo. i was eager to feed her from a spoon. she took very well it it she loves all her veggies and oatmeal. my doc said wait till 4mo. but i started early. just do what you feel is right

Simone - posted on 05/06/2010

You are not crazy for waiting at all... although health care professionals say it is ok to give solids from 4months, WHO advocate starting them at 6 months.
All babies "spit up" at times, some more than others... milk, be it formula or breast milk has all the nutrients your baby needs at this age... MIL are great, but tings have changed since they had babies, and she needs to respect your right to decide what is right for you son. Maybe take her along to your doctor's visit if you are comfortable with this.
No doubt you are right about the growth spurt, he will level out again when he needs to.

Ashley - posted on 05/06/2010

your not crazy for waiting as the last post said you should wait til 6 months

Vicki - posted on 05/06/2010

The World Health Organisation recommends waiting until 6 months, just tell your MIL that! Cereal isn't necessary for babies anyway, it's a marketing con.

Babies spit up because the sphincter at the top of their stomach isn't fully developed. When they burp, it often shoots some of their last feed upwards. Nothing to do with overfeeding. Breastmilk or formula isn't just liquid either, it's food, and more calorie dense then bloody cereal. It's just easier to digest so that's why babies require more frequent feeding.

So no, you're not crazy for waiting :)