Is it wrong to start on cereal without Pediatricians approval?

Steph - posted on 02/04/2009

Quoting Paige:

Is it wrong to start on cereal without Pediatricians approval?

My daughter just turned 5 months last week. She was breast feed until about 8 weeks ago when she slowly started loosing interest. So we made the transition to formula. She now eats 6-7 ounces every 2 hours during the day and wakes up atleast once through out the night. It adds up to about 48 ounces a day. Maybe a little more depending on the day. She has been eating this much for a while now. I talked to her pediatrician a few weeks ago on the phone and he said that is more than the normal amount of formula for a baby her age to be eating. But he wanted to wait on the cereal for a while. Now Sophia is not satified with the amount she is eating again. So i started cereal about a week ago. She is just now getting the hang of it and seems to love it. Is it wrong to go against what her doctor says. I just went with my mother instinct! Has anyone else had this problem. When should i add in actual jar baby food?

i had that problem with my little boy i got told to stop breastfeeding him when he was only 3 week old because he was suck a hungry baby he couldnt be parted from me for more than 5 minutes but when he was only 3/4 month old milk wasnt enough for him so i started using baby cereal and he loved it he still does now n when he got the hang of that i started to give him baby food hes now 6 month old and has a bottle first thing, baby cereal around breakfast time, for dinner half jar of baby food and half puddin and same for tea then a bottle for bed and a bottle through the night, stick to your instincts my health visitor is proud of me for sticking to mine and im not doing anything wrong they tell you to wait til their 6 month old before putting them on baby foodnow but sometimes a baby just cant wait and in the long run it better for you and your baby  if you do what you think is best

Venus - posted on 02/04/2009

I don't see anything wrong with giving her cereal.  My son has been getting it in his bottle since he was about 3 weeks old.  I now strictly pump and give him the breastmilk in the bottle.  I started with cereal at night when he was about 3 1/2 months old.  When we went for his four month checkup the doctor had us start giving it to him in the morning with fruit and with a yellow veggie at night.  I started making my own food to mix into his cereal about a month ago.  And he just started having cereal for lunch also.  I give him oatmeal cereal with a fruit in the morning.  And for lunch and dinner he gets oatmeal with the veggies that I puried myself with some fruit.  He loves it and I have no problems with him eating it.  He is now only 5 months and 2 weeks.  Remember when we were growing up our parents didn't always listen to a doctor and I think I turned out good.

Jennifer - posted on 02/04/2009

You are the mom! Trust your instincts and do what you feel is best for your baby! This is a good mantra to follow throughout your motherhood....

Katie - posted on 02/04/2009

My pediatrition had us start on rice cereal at 2 months because my son was so big and always so hungry.  The ped told us not to start on vegetables or fruits until my son was 6 months old though because apparently babies can aquire allergies to foods if they are started on them too soon.  I think your daughter is ready for solids and I agree with Alisha's post.  I was told to start the cereal only at night time for a week or two before I added it to other periods of the day.  Just make a point of being consistant at the times of day or at which points in your routine that you give her the solids.

I hope it goes well :)

Chasity - posted on 02/03/2009

Nawl ii had started giving mii babi cereals when she was a month old cus she was drinkn up to much milk...Now we have alot of milk!!!!!!

Alisha - posted on 02/03/2009

That is heaps of milk! Sounds like she definately needs solids. I would start one meal a day for 3 days, then go to two for 3 days, and then put her on 3 meals. I would start first with lunch, then dinner, then breakfast. At this age she should be going 3.5-4hrs between feeds. The solids will keep her sustained longer. I started on fruit and vegies because my bub wouldn't eat cereal at first. But if you mix some pureed pears or apple with the cereal she will love it. Nothing wrong with starting solids at this age. My daughter started at 16 weeks, because all of a sudden she wanted to be fed every 2 hours, and was waking during the night. My GP said to start her on solids, and then she was fine. She went back to sleeping 12hrs most nights. I would start with some pureed yellow vegies like sweet potato and pumpkin first. Nothing wrong with jar food either, as long as it doesn't have any additives. Let us know how you go :-)