Can my 6 month old baby have Cereal with water?

Kat - posted on 04/24/2009

Cooled boiled water is totally ok. The options are Breast milk, formula or boiled water. I only used water as I also was never going to buy formula & expressing would add another job to my list that I couldn't fit into the schedule.
The cereal is Iron Fortifide which at this stage is essential. Don't skip it. Once you start solids bub's body doesn't absorb the iron in your breast milk as well. Which is why these cereals are made this way. Keep using these cereals until your bub is having a varied diet including all types of minerals, vitamins & nutirents. Go the cereal with water for a few days, then add in a vege. Then a few days later try another one.
The cereal is also low allergenic (though not for every single child of course), it really is a good place to start.
If your breast feeding & your bub is emptying your breast every feed then yeh it is time consuming to express to get enough. Go with the water.

Teresa - posted on 04/23/2009

I always used water to mix it. My son never liked it unless I added fruit as well. :)

Rachel - posted on 04/23/2009

It shouldn't be so time consuming to express if you do a full bottle at a time. Pump like 5 oz., and that lasts for a few days of cereal. That's what I always do. My doctor told me rice cereal first because you are introducing a simple solid, and it has few allergic reactions. I hate the thought of formula but wouldn't it be more beneficial than water in this case? I don't know.

Chelsea - posted on 04/23/2009

Your pediatrician should review the literature it's not recommended to begin with cereal anymore because it has a tendency to constipate. Go with your mommy instincts and introduce the purees.

Angela - posted on 04/23/2009

i mixed water into Bianca's cereal all the time. I did about 3 weeks with breastmilk but then i slowly went to water....no problems there!!!!

Crystal - posted on 04/23/2009

Not sure where you live, but in Canada, Nestle cereals (and possibly Heinz) have 2 different kinds. 1 kind you use formula or breastmilk and the other kind you use water. If your baby is exclusively breastfed then after six months it is very important that they get a proper intake of iron which baby cereals are high in. (Formula fed babies can be given a formula that is higher in iron.) I found out the hard way with my older daughter when she refused to eat cereal after 2 months. I had to give her liquid iron which is disgusting as well as stains clothing badly & teeth. If you are going to go straight to fruits & veggies you can also throw in meats too - chicken, beef, turkey, etc. Just throw it in the blender with the veggies and a little water. When your baby is a little older than he/she can have meat in little chunks.

Sorry for making this a book lol.

Katie - posted on 04/23/2009

I sometimes used water - I don't think it's a problem

Vanessa - posted on 04/23/2009

You should be fine going this route. My daughter was having a hard time feeling full exclusively on breastmilk, so we started her on cereal when she was about 5 months. As you said, pumping was so time consuming, so I just bought Nursery water from the store (we have well water that cant be given to babies). Just start out making it pretty thin and let him get the hang of the spoon and swallowing... then gradually make it thicker. That will help him prepare for fruits and veggies!

Jen - posted on 04/23/2009

My ped. recommended water mixed w/ white grape juice for her cereal if I didn't have enough BM. The cereal has iron in it which EBF babies need after six months.

Jennifer - posted on 04/23/2009

My daughter is EBF as well but I just use lukewarm water that was boiled to put in her cereal and fruits and veggies!!
I fed her just cereal for 2wks then i added veggies with it and now she just eats veggies and fruit and shes fine...pooping everyday and no allergic reactions yet!

Emily - posted on 04/23/2009

Sure - water is fine. the reason they suggest breast milk- besides nutritionally is because he is used to the taste of breast milk. You don't have to pump. You can just put the cereal in the tray and hand squirt some milk on to it.

Kirsten - posted on 04/23/2009

I haven't used just water for the cereal myself. There's not much nutrients in the cereal itself, it's just basically to help fill their tummies. We only did about two days of cereal before we went into fruits and veggies and we didn't have any problems. I would say either bite the bullet and pump some milk or ignore the pediatrician and skip right to fruits and veggies. Good luck!

Krystelle - posted on 04/23/2009

I gave my daughter cereal with water because I found pumping to be way too time consuming as well. I haven't heard anything about it being bad. She has always nursed frequently so I didn't see it as being a problem. I could be wrong but that's what worked for me.