Is 3 months too early to start cereal in milk?

Jodi - posted on 01/08/2010

at 3 months his little digestive system can't digest the food anyways...it just filters through un-used and can cause his little tummy to be upset and how bowel movements to be painful. It is suggested that you don't start any solids (even diluted with milk, formula, breastmilk or water) until they can sit up on their own. I would advise just waiting, at 3 months he's probably going through a growth spurt and he'll be eating solids soon enough!

Amber - posted on 01/08/2010

Quoting adejoke:

Hey, if you have a problem with people expressing their opinion then i think you shouldnt be here!! Obviously, you lack exposure and knowloedge of events and conditions outside your immediate environment, why not ask and be informed or educated, how sad!!

HA HA HA :) Thanks for the suggestion :) 

Adejoke - posted on 01/08/2010

Hey, if you have a problem with people expressing their opinion then i think you shouldnt be here!! Obviously, you lack exposure and knowloedge of events and conditions outside your immediate environment, why not ask and be informed or educated, how sad!!

Adejoke - posted on 01/08/2010

In my experience, i would say this is relative. I have 3 boys ages 7, 4 and 5 months. I usualy breastfeed for the first six months, but at about 4 months i start creal in milk. This is cos of the surge in appetite at about that time, also once baby is satisfied he gets to sleep through the night and i only give warm water if at all he wakes up. My kids start of home made natural food at six months and by 1 year i do away with bottles completely and give regular cereal and milk.

Adejoke - posted on 01/08/2010

No, i dnot think so, though most of the cereals say from 4mths. My son is five months and i had to start cereal in milk when he was 3 and a half cos he has a huge appetite. He took it well and now i dont give milk without cereal. My other two kids were the same as well. I will start with regular food by the end on January.

Deeann - posted on 01/04/2010

I waited til my son was 4 months to introduce rice cereal. I do not think cereal should ever be put into a bottle. If you want to introduce cereal give it to your child with a spoon. That is how I feel solids should be introduced. But this is just my opinion.

Nicole - posted on 01/04/2010

Yeah, it is a bad idea to not only put cereal in a bottle, but to feed it to your baby before the end of 5 months old. My daughter started eating rice cereal out of a bowl with a spoon the last week of her 5th month, and even that was difficult. Took a while for her to get the hang of it. When you put cereal in a bottle the baby can get too full and then have a terrible stomach ache, and even throw up frequently until their tummy isn't so full! Either way it is a bad idea!!

Kat - posted on 01/03/2010

I have been told that 17 weeks is the very earliest that you can start. The stomach & small intestine are then ready but not before.

Layla - posted on 01/02/2010

that is too early. wait until your baby is at least 6 months before introducing solids - for all the same reasons everyone else said - underdeveloped digestive tract, etc.

Nolinda - posted on 01/02/2010

It is ok to give him a little cereal. I always put it in my kids bottles.. I would get a faster flowing bottle nipple. they use to sell cereal nipples, but you don't see them anymore.. Take it slow if he is ready he will let you know... you could also try to give him 6 ounces of formula, and an hour later give him another 4 and put him to bed..

Melody - posted on 01/02/2010

Yes too early but ask your pediatrician. Mine started my daughter on food at our 4 month check up they gave me the amount to start her on and if she couldn't eat and swallow properly to wait and try again but she took right to it a month makes a big diffference though and its not just that you have to think about their intestines. And feeding them solids doesn't help with sleeping or not eating as much its just what the older generations think it took forever to convince my mom. I bet he just needs more milk at each feeding now. Good luck

Amy - posted on 01/02/2010

I would agree that he is showing the cues that he is ready. I know it is not what the doctors or books say but it what are parents did. All of us are pretty health. I honestly can not stand parenting from a book please learn from experience and not from what you read it is not real parenting.

Rebecca - posted on 01/02/2010

it is 3 months is way to early. a baby that young can not digest foods that heavy. they only need breast milk or formula. babys eating all varie. if you are breastfeeding it is beast that a breast feed baby eat every 2-3 hours(also helps spitting up). and if you are putting it in a bottle with milk NEVER DO THAT it is unhealthy and they can choke...do not do it

Courtney - posted on 01/02/2010

Studies have also shown that introducing those iron fortified cereals to early will result in the child being anemic as it damages their system so it is unable to absorb iron properly during the rest of the childs life.

Michelle - posted on 01/02/2010

Depends on the baby. My kids were/are aggressive eaters. #1 was up to 60oz of BM a day by 3 months & the pediatrician told me she'd start him on cereal too if she were me b/c he's obviously a very hungry boy. #2 started cereal at 4 months from his birth date (he was 3 weeks early) b/c he was showing the signs of being ready. Use your best judgment. Just don't put the cereal in the bottle. Make it really "watered down" with milk & serve it on a spoon.

Margarette - posted on 01/02/2010

Exactly how often? My son eats every 2-3 hours. If he's having a growth spurt more often. It's definitely too early because his body may not be ready for it yet. i.e. throat reflexes and intestines. She probably just needs to up the ozs. Plus breastfeed babies eat more often as well.

MaShanna - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Lauren:

Is 3 months too early to start cereal in milk?

My 3 month old boy eats frequently and my grandmother who watches him wants to start giving him cereal to tie him over.

My son has been eating cereal since he was 2 1/2 weeks old at his pediatrician's recommendation. He recommended for 2 reasons: 1) to help my son's acid reflux and 2) to help him stay fuller longer. At 2 1/2 weeks my baby was sucking down 5 ounces (he was small but not preemie). At three months I pulled him off of cereal and started with oatmeal because he  eventually became accustomed to cereal and it no longer served it's original function. He is now almost 5 months and although I am still nursing he is eating fruits and veggies off of a spoon and still taking oatmeal in his breastmilk. He is weighing in at a little over 15lbs and is 26in. long. I'm not saying you should do what I did, but find what works best for your baby and go with that. I do however know people who have exclusively breastfed until 6 months and have just as healthy babies on regular eating and sleeping schedules. I hope it works out.

Lise - posted on 01/02/2010

Solids aren't recommended before 6 months. Many older generations (not all of course, but a lot) don't buy in to that. If I were you, I would just tell her that you're keeping her on breast milk until she's ready for solids and you'll let her know when that is...

Monica - posted on 01/01/2010

Don't let family pressure dictate your child's nutrition. I only say that bc i just came off a long trip with family and felt very pressured to start solids before 6 months. (There is no reason to start solids before 6 months per AAPA, WHO and LLL. i didn't do it and now my daughter is 6.5 months. I need to start solids (letting her taste). She has been interested in my food since she was 3 months. Our pediatrician was disgruntled to hear I had not started solids at the 6 month checkup...she is basically telling me how to wean when I never agreed or solicited that I planned to wean. (She literally said, don't breastfeed and by 9 months I want to see 3 square meals a day. What a nut!) People are weird. If your son is hungry he needs more food (breastmilk). I noticed my daughter went through a week long growth spurt at 3,4,5 and 6 months. She would feed often (2-4 hrs) then sleep for long stretches once she was done feeding like crazy for a couple of days. She was born in the 25th %ile and now she is in the 75th %ile. Just goes to show breastmilk does a body good. Sorry if anything I said comes on too strong. I'm still upset about my pediatrician. I'm going to look for a doc. Sounds like your boy just needs more breastmilk not cereal. Read Dr. Sears "Baby Book". I love it and it answers ALL my questions when I'm doubting myself due to previous cultural tradition, family pressure, etc. Good luck!

Mandi - posted on 01/01/2010

From Kelly Mom, *why* three months is too early,

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids...

There are actually spaces between the cells in an infants digestive tract that allow antibodies to pass through. Before these spaces close, (usually around or slightly before 6mo) giving solids, germs and the proteins from foods cal also pass through undigested.

Starting solids too soon can interfere with the absorption of antibodies from breastmilk, and iron as well.

That and at three months, kiddo doesn't have the flora to digest the rice cereal. Like taking a fiber pill, it makes them FEEL full, without offering the fat and caloric content that their bodies are driving them to seek. If kiddos hungry, feed em up with what they are built to digest! Mama milk!

Jen - posted on 01/01/2010

I was told to wait till 4 mos!

Rachael - posted on 01/01/2010

i started by daughter on rice at 3 and a half months, i believe we know whats best for our babies

Erica - posted on 12/31/2009

My pediatrician told me to start at 5 mths. But I started giving it like at 4 1/2 months. She is fine. But three months sounds a little early.

Heidi - posted on 12/31/2009

they say that a breast fed baby should get nothing but breastmilk until 6 months, and a formula fed baby can start as early as 4 months. This is to avoid food allergies. Its a developmental thing...they have to be able to eat the cereal off the spoon. If they can't, then its too early. Also, cereal should never be given in a bottle with milk. It can increase your baby's risk for SIDS, as well as a handful of other complications. Keep up the good work feeding, and good luck with your grandmother! :)

Francesca - posted on 12/31/2009

Babies will eat less frequently when they are developmentally ready too. Cereal isn't going to help the issue. And most professionals advice agaisnt it for numerous reasons. My little Ella used to eat every hour for the first several months. Now, she feeds three times during the daytime with several cluster feeds before bedtime.



Some people will argue they prefer the old rules. And insist that rules change too often. Back in the day I am sure people prefered the cocaine teething drops when those were sold in general stores. But we know better now...



I am not saying you shouldnt do it. But you should consider why health professionals advice against it before doing this for your grandmothers convenience. But at the same time, you have to do what is best for you and the baby.



Good luck whatever you choose.

Amie-lee - posted on 12/31/2009

The rules used to be start feeding from 3 months of age and have now changed to 6 months. Myself i still use the original rules and have done so with all my children. Started feeding rice cereal to my 12 week old son this week in the evening. He's been watching us eat and mimicking for a couple of weeks now. He still breastfeeds every couple of hours. Has his rice cereal then his breastfeed. Had no problems with my other 3 children so have continued what previously done. It's up to your discretion what you decide let your baby be your guide and do what feels right for you.

Dawn - posted on 12/31/2009

Yes it's too early - your child cannot digest solids until at least 6 months and should (if you can) be exclusively breastfed until then - or formula fed if mixed feeding.

dxx

Karen - posted on 12/30/2009

What keeps me sane (lol) with the rollercoaster feeding cycles is to remind myself even as grown people we sometimes eat more/less depending on the day. Why not them? :)

Nicole - posted on 12/30/2009

What Lisa said! All he needs is your milk whether straight from your breast or expressed.

Ashley - posted on 12/30/2009

Just increase the amount of milk per feeding. That is all he needs. Cereal won't do any good. He doesn't need it. Gramma is just gonna have to deal with either more frequent feedings or offering more milk in a feeding.

Minnie - posted on 12/30/2009

Yes, it is most definitely too early for solids- cereal in a bottle is not recommended at all.



All major health organizations recommend nothing but breastmilk prior to six months. According to LLLI, signs that baby is ready for solids include:



Ability to sit unsupported

Has developed the pincer grasp

Able to pick up food, put it in mouth, chew it, and then swallow it



Cereal is nutritionally deficient and would offer no benefit to your baby whatsoever. He does not need cereal or any other solid, just more of your milk.

Teresa - posted on 12/30/2009

If it is just cuz he is hungry then more breastmilk would be the best answer.



I did start my twins on cereal at 3.5 months, but it wasn't their appetite that started it... it was their interest and readiness cues. That was almost 8 years ago though. We had no issues whatsoever, but I probably wouldn't start another child that early again. There's really no need. :)

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 12/30/2009

Probably is a growth spurt. Look for signs of readiness before starting solids (6 months, sitting up unsupported, lost tongue thrust reflux...etc) and always feed solids from a spoon.

Tamika - posted on 12/30/2009

I have a 3mo and she started eating more frequently and the Pediatrician said that it was normal for infants up to 6 months to have varying eating habits. Just feed him when he wants to eat. He's a growing boy.

Kayliecia - posted on 12/30/2009

Maybe just boost his milk up, my son started drinking 6 ounces around then...hes 4 months now.

Jennifer - posted on 12/30/2009

Baby only needs breastmilk (or formula) until they are six months old. Babies normally eat every two to three hours - sometimes they want to eat more frequently and sometimes not as often. How much is he eating at each feed?

Stephanie - posted on 12/30/2009

Kinda thinking too early. When my daughter was older than 3 months (I forget how old exactly) I was desperate to get her to sleep better so I did try that, and it didn't work. I didn't notice any difference.

Eating frequently is probably normal for his age anyways, maybe he's having a growth spurt. :)