peoples thoughts on feeding cereal before 6 months.

Andrea - posted on 08/20/2011

If your baby enjoys it, then why not?

Jennifer - posted on 08/15/2011

Thanks guys. I have of course done my crazy researching myself. As I use COM as a research of opinions and not facts. I have found that the average age is between 4 and 6 months for food. My first was not started till 8 months and I think its easy for people who have kids that are content with their milk only. Do I replace food with breastmilk? absolutly not.(my milk supply has not changed.) and when she is not eating anymore I simply put the bowl down. Until 6 months at least I will only give her about a tablespoon of cereal at suppertime and feed her right before. and then at night she feeds again before bed. she has min 6 feedings a day sometimes more and drinks 8 ounces per feeding. she drinks well and caught up weightwise and then passed everyone lol. (now 5 months and 2 weeks and weighing 17 lbs and 7 ounces) I mix her cereal with breastmilk even if its add water so she get the nutrients. I dont agree that they get nothig out of eating. I make my own food and make sure it conserves the most nutrients. Thanks guys for all your opinions you guys are greats and good luck to all you mommies.

Kimrose - posted on 08/15/2011

Quick thoughts - EBF babies do not need anything nutritionally for at least the first year (possibly 24 months/haven't checked those sources) - and breastmilk is the *perfect* nutrition - BETTER than any food they eat - any eating in the first year is for social//developmental reasons, not nutrition. On the flip side - here's where I beg ***do your own research*** - there is research showing babies digestive systems are NOT ready for food until later - and that introducing solids early can cause harm - you may not even see it now - it can be *lifelong* digestive issues such as Chrons or allergies - also, looking for "signs of readiness" is NOT indicative of when-to-start. Babies mimic us and are interesting in most *everything* we do - we wouldn't let them drive the car b/c they stare at us intently while we do it - we are confused b/c we're "looking for signs" - it doesn't mean they're ready. I am not trying to pass on my own opinion - I am trying to encourage doing your *OWN* research - frankly, it doesn't matter one bit to me what a ped. says as frankly they *should* be up on the latest findings, but in my experience are generally NOT - and have their own opinions and biases anyway since they are human. Our babies DESERVE researched decisions. Barring any issues of low weight/nutrition issues, there is NO reason to push starting solids - and several reasons to DELAY/WAIT. For info's sake - my first son was EBF and we started cereal @ 6 months, then pureed veggies and fruits...my younger son is now 7 months and EBF and I have no intention of starting for quite a while (he was also 6 wks. early, so even "younger" digestive system). When we do it will be no cereal, no purees - but soft small chunks of veggies and fruits - there are reasons behind this if you do the research. He has seemed "interested" and watches us eat - just like he watches me watch the kitchen knives - again, no bearing on my decision of what to "let him do". It's tough to keep up on research, I know - but it's part of our job in my opinion.
Good luck to everyone in this hard wonderful job of parenting!

Janice - posted on 08/12/2011

I haven't read previous posts but here's my opinion. If your daughter is showing signs of readiness, such as those Sara D posted just before me then a month early is not a big deal. Nutritionally, your daughter doesn't need anything other than breast milk but for many moms (myself included) feeding solids is a fun milestone and is not harmful for majority of babies. Obviously, if food allergies is a common issue for those in your family or there are other digestive issues going on it would be wise to wait some more.

My personal experience is that I started cereal at 4.5 mo.(didn't know the recommendation had changed) and continued to breastfeed with out any issues. She hated it (rice) and really didn't eat much till we started fruits and veggies 3 weeks later. We very, very slowly weaned BF from 10 till 17 months. She is now 21 mo. eats a great variety of foods and has no allergies.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 08/12/2011

"Apparently the American Academy of Pediatrics and breastfeeding experts worldwide don't agree with your findings."



Jamie, I'm confused. I think it's best to wait until around 6 months as well. Really I think it's best to wait until baby shows signs of readiness. I was responding to the fact that you said formula fed babies should start at 4 months. I don't think it matter what milk they are drinking-you should look for signs of readiness which are: sitting up unsupported, around 6 months old, lost tongue thrust reflex, developed pincer grasp, shows interest in food, etc.

Clair - posted on 08/12/2011

I believe you know your baby best, i have 3 children, each one of them where different, they were weaned under 6 months, they were all breastfed up until 1years old, if you feel your baby is feeding all the time and not satisfied, i believe they are ready for weaning! i started with baby rice! My son is 9years old and at then we were advised to wean at 4months! Now I have a baby at 8months, and it has been changed to 6months! You know your baby best!

Teresa - posted on 08/12/2011

My thoughts are that it depends on the kid and what they are ready for.

My girls started at 3.5 months (and no, I'd never recommend it that early to anyone else) and never had any food related issues whatsoever and nursed w/ no milk supply issues til I weaned them at 15 months.

My son took his first bite of solid food at 6 months, but his interest was so random that he wasn't eating them on a regular, daily basis til around a year.... and nursed til 3.25 years and only stopped cuz he had to go spend 4 weeks w/ his father.

Emily - posted on 08/12/2011

I think as long as it's not before 17 weeks, it's probably okay. Every child is different. If the child is ready, weaning will be a breeze. Good luck! :)

Sarah - posted on 08/12/2011

Normal is a bell curve. Six months is the middle of the bell curve on when they're ready to start solids. If they're sitting up well at the table in their high chair and begging worse than the dog when they watch you eat, they're ready.

Mia - posted on 08/12/2011

I am all for it if the baby is ready & that's what our paed says. Anytime from 4 months if the baby is watching you eat, can hold their head up, is able to swallow & is hungry/interested in food then start them on solids. The world health organisation's research says 6 months still but my paed had the latest research to say that at 4 months is a good time to start & won't increase chances of allergies etc. Also once you start, there's no going back. Both of my last two babies were prems, the middle one was 34.5weeks & he was on solids at 4months corrected on the advice of our paed, gestation doesn't matter it's the baby's signs that do. Hope that helps!

Lise - posted on 08/11/2011

I believe it's best to wait until 6 months.

Aurelia - posted on 08/11/2011

My son was drinking 40 ounces of milk in an 8 hour period at three months. I started supplementing at that point because he was still hungry. He's perfectly healthy at three.

Jamie - posted on 08/11/2011

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



http://www.aap.org/breastfeeding/faqsBre...



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



Apparently the American Academy of Pediatrics and breastfeeding experts worldwide don't agree with your findings.



In the end it's up to the poster and what her plans for weaning are. Once solids are introduced breast milk demands decrease which results in a decrease of supply.



I did find this link also but they still prefer 6 months. So it really depends on what the mother's choice is.

The AAP said in another article: "The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends mothers breastfeed exclusively for at least 4 months but preferably 6 months and continue breastfeeding after introduction of solid foods until 12 months of age"



http://www.healthychildren.org/english/a...

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 08/10/2011

The recommendation from the AAP is between 4-6 months. Regardless of if they're on breast milk or formula you want to make sure their tummies are ready instead of starting just because they reach a certain number of months.

Jamie - posted on 08/10/2011

Sorry I had to put this out there- I'm 100% sure it's recommended to introduce solid foods to formula fed babies at 4 months and it's 6 months for breastfed babies. Solids will decrease your milk supply.

Jamie

Ronda - posted on 08/10/2011

I am not giving my LO solids until she is at least 6 months. She is three months right now. If your baby is doing well though, that's great!! Everyone is different and it sure won't hurt her (but it can hurt your milk supply). I have older children and they recommended solids at 4 months when they were small, so it should be fine. Good luck :)

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 08/09/2011

My thought is that babies are usually ready for solids around the middle of the first year. So some may be ready a little before 6 months, some may not be ready until months later. Being ready for solids means: being able to sit unsupported, lost tongue thrust reflex, developed pincer grasp, showing interest in food...
Rice cereal can be very constipating. I was pressured into trying it with my first and after only a few tries she had severe constipation. We quit the cereal and did baby led weaning. You give them soft, small peices of steamed fruits/veggies and let them explore (or large peices that they can suck and gum on, but won't be able to choke on). Baby led weaning is so much easier than spoon feeding and by letting them be in charge you know that they will eat when they're ready. And as Amy mentioned, always nurse before solids.

Amy - posted on 08/09/2011

My daughter never had cereal it serves no value really and can cause constipation so we started with veggies and fruit. However we started at 5 months only one ounce once a day and only after she was breastfed. Even then we weren't consistent about it so some days she didn't get any solids.

Jamie - posted on 08/09/2011

It all depends on what your plans are. How long do you plan on nursing for?



I personally stayed away from solids until 6 months. Solid foods keep them fuller longer and that means less nursing and milk supply with decrease.



Jamie

Amy - posted on 08/09/2011

My kids never liked it. Sorry. No real advice here for it. I know they don't really NEED it. Mine went through growth spurts and after nursing one side, i did the other while drinking huge glass of water, then nursed other side again and they slept better and seemed more content. Rice/multigrain/oatmeal....all upset tummies before about 10 months here. And by then, they'd rather have real food from the baby food grinder. It was tastier than cereals, i guess