when i can start give food for my baby like cereal

Crystal - posted on 08/16/2009

my daughter's ped says between 4-6 months or when the child is showing signs that they are ready for a little more thank just formula...

Natalie - posted on 08/15/2009

I gave my son cereal at 2 months just a tablespoon and went up from there very gradual. You just need to make sure their bellies can handle it.(pooping)

Jennifer - posted on 08/14/2009

mine was on cereal at one month. he has the reflux problems. he still spits but not as bad. he has slept through the night since. but it does make them chubby! mine is already 20 pounds and like 26 inches long! most everything says 4 months though.

Jennifer - posted on 08/14/2009

i satrted my daughter at about 2 1/2 months but i tried it with her formula in her bottle but it made her contipated and she was in so much pain so at 3 months i started her with cereal (rice) mixed with formula and a lil bit juice and i was lucky enough that she took it from a spoon, if they dont just put it in a bottle just make sure the hole in the nipple is bigg enough. ahe is now almost 4 months and eats rice with stage one fruit in the mornings and for dinner , my doctor said it was ok as long as she eats her regular amount of formula every day and she does

Melanie - posted on 08/14/2009

Quoting Mikkii:

Quoting Sharon:

As the others have said babies normally don't need anything other than breastmilk or formula until 6 months. This leaflet might help - http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsands...

the key word in there being "normally"

at 4 weeks old, my son was taking in 10 to 12 eight ounce bottles a day, with a few 4 ounce bottles several times during the night when he would wake up.

once i started giving him food and cereal, he began to eat a lot less and now actually sleeps through the night

I'm with you there!! My nephew is always hungry but the clinic sister is telling my sister in law not to up his feeds even though he finishes every bottle and cries for more and is rather thin. But because the clinic sister says no my sister in law wont do it. so after many weeks of screaming she put more in his bottle and he finishes all that too!  He now has about 10 ounces every two hours. I think he just needs some food - But the clinic sister says no.

Putting my baby on food was the best thing I've done for her. Her clinic sister doesn't know she is on it but said to me at her last check up "well whatever she is having it's the right amount because she is the perfect weight for her height".

Mikkii - posted on 08/13/2009

Quoting Sharon:

As the others have said babies normally don't need anything other than breastmilk or formula until 6 months. This leaflet might help - http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsands...

the key word in there being "normally"

at 4 weeks old, my son was taking in 10 to 12 eight ounce bottles a day, with a few 4 ounce bottles several times during the night when he would wake up.

once i started giving him food and cereal, he began to eat a lot less and now actually sleeps through the night.

Sharon - posted on 08/13/2009

As the others have said babies normally don't need anything other than breastmilk or formula until 6 months. This leaflet might help - http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsands...

Melanie - posted on 08/12/2009

Quoting Katie:

By the way, another poster talked about giving baby a bottle with rice cereal in it- don't, don't don't do that! Not at any age. This practice is discouraged by doctors, and while I am very hesitant to take a doctor's word without any thought, this one is right on. Studies have shown that this practice can predispose babies to growing up and having overeating issues, because with the cereal in the bottle thing they don't realize how much they are eating. You should be offering them separately, cereal after breast/bottle, and still not for another 2, preferably 4, months.

No, not all doctors discouage this its one of the things you do to help a baby suffering reflux, as my baby was. It was recomended to me by many paeds to do this or put her on medication. My baby was little to start with then lost 16% of her body weight and then at 8wks old should be having 120mls was only having 60 and it would take me 2hrs to get it down her just to have her throw it back up again. I put rice cereal in her bottle at 9 weeks and now at 4 months she eats three meals a day plus a morning bottle a bottle before bed and one night feed and she is now the perfect weight and in perfect health. Every baby is different no one but you can say when you should start feeding solids.

Jennifer - posted on 08/12/2009

My daughter is 4 months 1 week. I started her on cereal 1 week before she was 4 months because although she was gaining weight properly she seemed to be very very hungry for several weeks. I was nursing constantly and pumping her bottles and she was still hungry. And she started waking up every 2 hours at night again. So I started it once at night 2 hours before bed time. And it helped at night. Then after 2 weeks I started it in the morning as well. I still nurse every 2 hours and I think I my milk supply is drying up. She always seems hungry and cries after feedings for more, but I'm dry. So recently started once or twice a day giving her a bottle of formula, and now she's a happy camper!!! Not sure if I should switch to bottles, I do enjoy nursing and I love the benefits, but if she's not getting enough...

Athina - posted on 08/12/2009

4 months, i started my 4 month old on rice cerial and some carrots when she was 3 1/2 months the pediatrician said that was fine, usually you start giving them solids when they can hold their head by them selfs.

Michelle - posted on 08/11/2009

Every child is different, my with my son who is now 8 metabolism was so fast that he was burning through the formula like it was going out of style, so he pediatrician flat out told me to start feeding him cereal we did that and he started sleeping through the night and was a much happier child he was two weeks old when we did this. As for the obesiety issue when they get older it is just an old wives tale my son who is not a picky eater and eats us out of house and home is 4'3" tall and is still 47lbs. My newest addition is now 4 months old and has been eating solids since she was 2 1/2 months old talk to your doctor and see what they recommend, but you know your child best if they are satisfied with the formula don't worry about it before 4 months if not try a little bit if they take it and are not getting constapated then their systems can handle it.

Mikkii - posted on 08/10/2009

my baby started cereal at 4 weeks...but, he was drinking about 10 bottles a day on average. now he eats a rice cereal/baby food feeder three times a day and 2 eight ounce bottles at three months

Jenny - posted on 08/10/2009

I started my daughter on solids when she was three months.
She is now four months old, and she is a fully breast feed baby also.
Plunket say at four to five months, but if ur baby is hungry i say give them solids,
and my daughter is just so contented after the extra top up.

Jessica - posted on 08/10/2009

I don't think you can really put a time line on it. I believe every baby is different and its completely up to you as the mother to decide when you feel your baby is ready. I've had to put have a scoop to a full scoop ( using the formula scoop ) in my son's bottle because of reflux. Some ppl say it helps them sleep better but it honestly hasn't helped my son sleep but it has helped him be happier and more content through the day. hope this helps. Just follow your own instincts and you can't go wrong.

Rachael - posted on 08/10/2009

My pediatrician said that 6 months is best, but you can introduce food a little ealier if they are really interested in it (like grabing for your food). I've read that 4 months is the absolute earliest, but that was not coming from a doctor. I got a handout from our doctor when my girl was 12 weeks on what I could start her on.

Paige - posted on 08/10/2009

You must wait until your 4 months appointment. You're doctor will then tell you that it is ok to feed your child rice cereal. Wait for your doctor's ok.

Rachel - posted on 08/03/2009

I just went to the Dr and asked this! He said 4 months. I had actually already started on the rice at night, but he said their stomachs cant digest it as easy until after 4 months. And one of mine was having severe constipation! I stopped and my girls are still sleeping through the night! I would talk to your Dr, but at least 4 months for rice sounds safe. If anything, up your ounces!

Coralyn - posted on 07/30/2009

i get WIC and i have juststarted getting rice cereal through that and my baby is 3 1/2 months old. i have recently starteds on it but i am only giving it to her at night so that it helps her sleep longer. i still only give her formula during the day. therre is really no way to put an age on it though you will know when your baby is ready. :)

Katie - posted on 07/30/2009

By the way, another poster talked about giving baby a bottle with rice cereal in it- don't, don't don't do that! Not at any age. This practice is discouraged by doctors, and while I am very hesitant to take a doctor's word without any thought, this one is right on. Studies have shown that this practice can predispose babies to growing up and having overeating issues, because with the cereal in the bottle thing they don't realize how much they are eating. You should be offering them separately, cereal after breast/bottle, and still not for another 2, preferably 4, months.

Katie - posted on 07/30/2009

You need to wait AT LEAST until 4 months, but really you're supposed to wait until 6 months to introduce anything besides breastmilk or formula. Baby's tummy is not developed enough to properly digest anything else, and it keeps them from getting the nutrition they need from milk/formula. My advice is to wait until 6 months. If you're hoping solids will make them sleep longer... let that one go! It doesn't work.

Annalyn - posted on 07/30/2009

6 months old is a good time to begin.

Some signs of readiness are:
Loss of the tongue-thrust reflex which gradually goes away between 4 and 6 months.

The ability to let you know know they are full from a meal, such as turning away from the bottle or breast.

The ability to sit up and hold head up without help.

Interest in your food (but then, babies want to put EVERYTHING in their mouths, haha).

They should be at least double their birth-weight.

And also frequently waking int he middle of a night when a solid sleeping pattern has already been established. However you should remember that growth spurts can occur between 3-4 months of age, 6-7 months of age and also 9-10 months of age so this isn't the best indicator of readiness. Also keep in mind that some babies wake from illness or teething or passing a new milestone (such as finding feet!)

Good luck!

Bethany - posted on 07/24/2009

My babies doctor says you can give them cereal at 4 months. I started at 3 months but just 1 kind of cereal. He's doing well on it.

Laura - posted on 07/17/2009

Quoting louise:

Most foods say from 4 months, but introducing solid food too early can lead to the baby suffering from obesity later on, so its best to hold off until 6 months.
I would advise something more like pureed fruit for first taster, as cereal is high in carbohydrates which could make your baby feel bloated & full & could cause some constiption! Hope that helps you :)

starting solids early on has nothing to do with obesity, if anything it can upset their digestive system, if started too early. The size of a baby has nothing to do with their eventual size as an adult. Baby rice, and other products you can purchase off the shelf, say from 4 months onwards. At the end of the day, a mother always knows their baby best.

Michele - posted on 07/15/2009

I wouldn't introduce cereal at all, actually. There is very little nutritional value and can cause GI issues. I'd wait until closer to 8-9months and then just start with pureed/mashed fresh foods. we started with avocado, sweet potato, and bananas for our 3.5yo at around 11mos.

Debbie - posted on 07/15/2009

I managed to wait till 6months when my 4 year old was a baby and this suited us fine! As the health department reccomends.

Valerie - posted on 07/14/2009

My pediatrician said to start at 4 months of age. According to research starting foods earlier than the recommendations may lead to a greater increase of food allergies in children.

Britany - posted on 07/08/2009

We recently started my 2 month old on cereal only at night to help him sleep. he was having problems sleeping more than 2, maybe 3 hrs at a time at night, so we started putting a little cereal in his bottle (with fast flow nipples it works through a bottle) and feed it to him at night. it helps him sleep longer, but doesn't make him too full to get enough milk. just in one bottle a day we were told was fine at this age.

Nathalie - posted on 07/08/2009

Everything I have read has said that you can start feeding your child plain rice/oatmeal cereal when they are 4 months old. It all really depends on your childs needs. I am of hispanic background and honestly we don't really follow all doctors orders. My 2 1/2 month old has already tried the gerber stage one prunes and bananas and loves it. I don't see there being a problem with introducing your kids to cereal if you really feel they may like or want it. it actually helps out if you are going on a long trip or something as far as keeping them full a little longer.

Taylor - posted on 07/08/2009

The doctor started my son on cereal at 1 1/2 months. He had acid reflux. But they say cereal makes them sleep all night, but it sure didnt Rylan.

Kelli - posted on 07/08/2009

Everything I've ever read says to start cereal at 4 mos, and other foods at 6 mos. (I know its repetitive lol) But my doc said that with my son we could start the cereal at 2 mos if he needed it... he's almost 11 weeks now, and was 13.1 and 24.5 inches at our last appt. He's a big boy. I do not give him the cereal, although I have tried it, I've found that it messes up his tummy, he doesn't want to take as much milk, or poop for the full 24 hrs after I've given him cereal. I decided to wait till he's a little older. He takes probably 6 or 7 6oz. bottles in a 24 hr period, and he sleeps great so I'm not worried about it right now. Point I was trying to make is I think it depends on your baby's size and development more than their age, since all babies are different...

Elena - posted on 07/07/2009

My ped says between 4-6 months

Lori - posted on 07/02/2009

I went to the Dr. yesterday and she said not until 6 months of age. This helps prevent future food allergies. She said all I would be doing is giving her extra carbs and there is no reason for it.

Louise - posted on 07/02/2009

Most foods say from 4 months, but introducing solid food too early can lead to the baby suffering from obesity later on, so its best to hold off until 6 months.
I would advise something more like pureed fruit for first taster, as cereal is high in carbohydrates which could make your baby feel bloated & full & could cause some constiption! Hope that helps you :)

Jessica - posted on 06/29/2009

My son was born on April 12th. He eats five 8 oz bottles a day. I asked the dr about him eating so much and she told me to feed him as much as he wants. She said to wait until he is about 4 months old to feed him cereal. I also have a little girl that is 14 months old and I started feeding her food a little after she turned 3 months old. It all depends on your specific baby and situation. Every baby is different and only you as mom know what is best!!

Chasidi - posted on 06/28/2009

I have never been a "By-the-book" kind of mom. I have a 7 year old and a 10 week old. When my 7 year old was a baby, she could eat and eat and not gain weight (she was 15 pounds at age one)...We started her on cereal when she was big enough to sit in the high chair without falling over (about 3 months). She wouldn't eat the baby cereal so we used plain Quaker oatmeal. With my 10 week old, it's totally different. She sleeps well during the night only getting up twice to feed(has since birth) but during the day she can eat 4 ounces every hour. I tried waiting longer between feedings and giving 6 ounces of milk. She would scream if I waited and wouldn't drink more than 4 ounces. A couple of weeks ago, she started sleeping better and only getting up once during the night to eat but still was eating constantly during the day. I started putting rice cereal in her formula bottle at night before she went to bed (but I ONLY give her cereal at night). I used the scoop from the formula and put 1 1/4 scoops of cereal to 4 ounces of milk. This helps her sleep through the night and she's now eating less frequently during the day. She's eating 6-8 ounces every 2-3 hours instead of 4 ounces every hour. She's much more content now and an overall happier baby.

Kate - posted on 06/27/2009

My boy is 10 weeks and I have just started him in milk cereal! It was the best thing ive done it fills him up a little more and he sleeps more during the nite and day!

Cyrilla - posted on 06/25/2009

My baby boy's doctor mentioned that we would start talking about cereal at the 4 month well check and that he doesn't want it in a bottle but to make as a food with a spoon. It all depends on how you feel and what your doctor recomends. You are the mother, you know best.

Tiffany - posted on 06/24/2009

you should just talk to your babys doc cause with both of mine they had me put them on cereal for issues like my first child she had issues with her belly she could not keep her milk down so i had to add the cereal and like now my son is only 2 months old and is 13 and half pds (he was a big baby when i had him) and he just stays hungery with just the milk so the best thing would be to talk to your dr

Mandi - posted on 06/24/2009

4 months if there's a pressing need for it. Otherwise 6 months/ when babies sit on their own without a support and grab things and put them in their mouths. Why would you want to give cereal? It'd be better to give something "natural" and soft, like start with banana or boiled cauliflower. And remember, introduce one ingredient at a time, like for a week and then the next one.

Alison - posted on 06/23/2009

Everything I've read says 4 months and not before then on the cereal and then more solids at 6 months. I read that in What to Expect The First Year.

Kris - posted on 06/23/2009

around 5-6 months u can start them on cereal you dont want to do it to soon though, so you can start by using formula or bm making it more liquid than cereal at first. congrats on 2 babies...good luck

Lisa - posted on 06/23/2009

My pediatrician said it was extremely important not to give anything but breast milk or formula until my baby is 6 months old. She said that cereal makes the baby feel full so she doesn't eat enough. She must have said it 3 times... so it must be important.



Oh and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) gave me all sorts of reading material on how and when to introduce solid foods.



This website had some interesting information on the dangers of doing it too soon but also knowing how to read your baby and know when it's the right time for your baby. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/a...



Hope that helps.