Pushing Rice Cereal too Early!?

Jodi - posted on 09/22/2010

As a last note, I am locking this thread due to several mothers (some too scared to post on the thread publicly) cannot handle the facts and truth of the matter and I dont' need more ignorant messages filling my inbox everyday from mothers upset that I have an opinion that isn't there's.
Thank you for all the feedback ladies, I'm glad to see there are so many likeminded moms on here! Here's to hoping that at least some new mom has at least been given the incentive to educate herself on the matter and come to her own educated conclusions!

Jodi - posted on 09/22/2010

Pagie, ignorance implies a lack of knowledge, I have thuroughly educated myself on the matter seeing as how it could seriously effect the health of my child. Obviously there are always non-average children that don't apply to any given situation. If someone's child has acid reflux I hope they are talking to their doctor for a cure, not relying solely on strangers from circle of moms, and hopefully educating themselves on the issue. The average mom, with the average child is not being advised to start cereal for their 2 or 3 month old for acid reflux, but for bowel issues, weight issues (that most often can be "cured" without cereal) or sleep issues. Most often the mother doing the advising does not have a child with reflux and does not know the possible ramifications of feeding an infant cereal or other solids. It is to these mothers that my frustrations are directed and to these mothers that I ask, please don't adivse other mothers to give them rice cereal unneccesarily at too young of an age based solely on their words, which may or may not be educated one iota.

Paige - posted on 09/22/2010

Suggesting the baby cereal is harmful is just as ignorant as suggesting it is right for all babies. We are all individuals with different needs. I had a baby in the NICU with the best Neonatal Doctors in the country and they suggested rice cereal for her while she was still in the NICU, for reflux. I brought up the studies for later obesity as well as a study suggesting Diabetes tries to too early feedings, they said that those finding when "dugged"into they found to be more environmental as many parents just continued to "over" feed. So beware, ANY general statement is false...every child needs to be asset as an individual.

Leslie - posted on 09/22/2010

@ Tatiana. To be clear I never gave anyone advice on what to do for their child. What I said was that every child develops slightly differently and that we as parents should work with our paediatrician to ensure we are meeting our child's needs at the right time. I started my child on rice cereal two weeks before her 6 month b-day, this was with in full dialog from my doctor. 6 months of exclusive breast feeding had been my goal, but I found my personal goal needed to be adjusted to mach my childs needs. My daughter has met all the developmental steps necessary to begin foods solids and we are ensuring that she still meets all her nutritional requirements through a combination of breast milk and formula. My only advice to parents is to do their best to inform themselves with all the information, to consult with a respectable paediatrition, and then to make choices that best fit their child. We should be supportive of each other as each of us works hard to navigate the hard road of parenting. I encourage each mother to strive for the 6 month milestone, and will do so myself with my next child. However we cannot be blinded by a number and must look for the signs that our child is ready for the next step.



All the best,

Tanya - posted on 09/22/2010

I knew he wanted it because when it came to mine and my husbands meal times Shia would cry, so obviously I would try him on the breast first but he just kept pulling away and crying more. So i got a tiny tiny tiny bit of my mash potato on my little finger and tried him with it and he stoped crying and he actually had a grin as he wiggled his tounge around his mouth, so the next day we bought some baby rice and I mixed it up with my breast milk (we made it a little more runny so he could handle it) and he loved it. He olny had about half an ounce of baby rice though. Breast milk was my main source of nourishment for him. =)

Sarah-Jayne - posted on 09/22/2010

Although...I do have to agree with Jess Seymore. I do NOT agree with putting it in a bottle, but I put my LO on rice and porrige at 4 months old and she was smiley, less cry-y, poo'd more often than before (she was only going every few days) and came along brilliantly. Once she started them she rolled, grew teeth (which probably would have happened anyway) sat better, started standing up when we held her up etc.

I think that when giving people advice, people need to make sure they stress that this worked FOR THEM, and may be different for other babies.

Sarah-Jayne - posted on 09/22/2010

I kept hearing this, and being a (braindead) new mum I didn't know if this was normal! I was asking loads of people on a different site and getting "yeah that's okay, everyone does it" and I was thinking "Mm, still not convinced" then talked to one girl who's aby girl choked on it, and ended up in hospital.
So glad I spoke to her. That could have been me. It's even worse when it's told to new mothers. I believe absolutely everything unless proved wrong. I used to think "Who am I to disagree when their kid is 5 and healthy and mines 2 months and I'm new to it?"

Well apparently they dont' know everything!

Melanie - posted on 09/22/2010

@Tatiana Sibley: I think you should be talking to your friend! That is drugging her child and it can cause SEVERE health problems later on. If she wants her child to go to bed, she should work with her on getting her on a schedule. That is just plain LAZY! I apologize if I am out of line, but I think that's really bad. I don't think it should even be used in comparison to giving a baby rice cereal before 6 months. Doctors will tell you to give a baby with GERD, or reflux, rice cereal to help them keep it down better. I do think it is wrong to just use it as a filler, but if your baby is underweight, it might be necessary. I don't think a parent alone should make the decision to give their baby cereal or anything else. (If I were you, I would be talking to my friend about the NyQuil and unsafe side effects it has for continual use. If it's not needed, DON'T USE IT!)

Julie - posted on 09/22/2010

I completely agree....well said! I will never understand the thought behind this idea. :)

Jodi - posted on 09/22/2010

Tanya, I love your honesty and that is exactly what I have been trying to say! (The whole not telling other mothers to do it part!) Just out curiosity...how did you know your 3 month old "wanted" rice cereal? I could tell when my 3 month old wanted to nurse or sleep or have a diaper change, but that was about it! I never got any meal requests! lol

Tanya - posted on 09/22/2010

Just to add, I never ever gave it in a bottle. xD

Tanya - posted on 09/22/2010

I breastfeed my baby and when he got to 3 months old I did feed him baby rice because HE wanted it. I would never try and force this on other parents though, every child is different and every parent has theire own ways of doing things. Giving baby rice to your child is not right or wrong, but telling other to do the same is deffinatly wrong. Just because it worked for me, this doesn't mean it would work for someone else. The best thing to do is what YOU feel is right. xD My little boy Shia is now 13 months old and is as healthy as ever. He was walking at 10 months. I don't put this down to baby rice, I just put it down to doing what felt right. xD
xoxo

Melissa - posted on 09/22/2010

It depends on your reasen to give your little 1 rice cereal, for example my daughter is 2months old n im about to give her rice cereal because she suffors with bad reflux and colic and no medication is working, its cruel to her to keep giving her only milk. i think as long as you have a good reasen and have oked it with ur gp and they think is fine, its ok to do so.

Leslie - posted on 09/22/2010

Absolutely! I totally agree with the reading your baby! I am not a believer in the rice cereal in a bottle to get them to sleep, but if your baby is ready to learn about solids (as mine is right now at 5.5. months) then go for it (after checking with your Paediatrician). If you get whole grane rice cereal and mix it with BM or formula it is not void of nutrition. Wheat and Oat cereals are great, but need to be introduced later if you baby has a chance of allergies (as they have gluten). Its all a matter of weeks and soon enough all our wee ones will be enjoying all the fruits and veggies we can find!



Cheers

Wendy - posted on 09/21/2010

One if the best posts ever someone willing to write what we all wanted to.

Brooke - posted on 09/21/2010

AMEN SISTER!!!!

Tatiana - posted on 09/21/2010

To Leslie: Just because you haven't seen any ill affects in your own children, doesn't make it appropriate to give bad advice to other mothers. It's both unhealthy and unsafe to introduce solids to babies younger than 6 months. It's backed by scientific evidence. Take a look at the WHO and AAP websites and familiarize yourself with their guidelines if you haven't. I have a friend who gives her daughter Nyquil at bedtime, every night, the little girl is alive and kicking but is it healthy? Should it be done? NO, and luckily for her all is well, because not everyone has been so lucky.



Jodi, this is a great post. Some people are so ignorant to the dangers of introducing solids early and especially in a bottle. Hopefully there are some uneducated mothers who will be grateful for this post and actually heed your advice.

Marie - posted on 09/21/2010

I agree!

Micky - posted on 09/21/2010

I've been trying Barley cereal on my five month old... Or I will once we've moved.

Jennifer Ann Saunders - posted on 09/21/2010

Great post. I recently had this conversation with a close friend b/c her mom and DOCTOR told her to start with her SEVEN week old. That's CRAZY!

Jodi - posted on 09/21/2010

Stacey, I do feel that it is too early for solids. But, I suggest you do your own resaerch on the effects of solids before 6 months/infant digest tracts and make your own, educated decision from the information you gather. Best of luck!

Jodi - posted on 09/21/2010

Becky, just something to keep in mind, your son is at the age where he could be going through a growth spurt, nursing constantly to increase your milk supply. Once a child has nursed enough to tell your body to make more milk, the feedings will spread back out. It's just something to consider.

Becky - posted on 09/21/2010

my son is 2 1/2 months and already weighs 15lbs. my daughter was also this way. because my daughter was such a healthy eater and hungry all the time i just could not keep up. she handled cereal at 3 monthe perfectly fine and was finally happy!!!! i am considering doing this with my son as well. He is soo hungry he is just not happy and neither of us are getting any sleep. Babies are all different and i think we need to keep this in mind when we a venting and giving advice.

Stacey - posted on 09/21/2010

My ped suggested starting my daughter around 4-5 months old on solids, is this too early?

Melanie - posted on 09/21/2010

I actually brought this issue up at my daughter's doctor's appointment---how other moms are already offering their babies, who are 2-3 months, rice cereal. She told me the ONLY reason she would even consider it at that stage is to assist with reflux issues... I think a lot of moms get confused with reflux vs. overeating spit-up. I had some concern because my daughter spit up after EVERY feeding. I'm not talking a little, I'm talking an ounce or so... I brought it up, and asked if there was a chance it was reflux and the doctor told me that if my daughter is gaining weight well, and not seeming fussy throughout the day, she is FINE. I'm not 100% sure why moms do give their babies rice cereal, but my daughter's doctor (every doctor will tell you something different with every child, so don't expect the same advice from yours) said to skip it completely. She told me it is added calories for an underweight baby or a baby with reflux issues.

Erin - posted on 09/21/2010

As mothers we need to stop judging each other. Full stop.

Jodi: by posting this discussion board topic you achieved exactly the opposite effect of what you had wanted ( I presume). Your antagonistic tone and judgment of mothers who are only trying to do what is best for their babies is exactly what we don't need. Your advice would have been gladly received if you had taken a different approach.

I BF my son for 9 months and wished I could have done it longer but with working full time ( pumping never worked for me) he was introduced to solids and rice cereal at 4 months and he is now 16 months. He loves all types of foods, especially spinach.

Lets all just take a step back and realize that we are ALL trying to do the best for our children and all children are different.

Cassie - posted on 09/20/2010

My son had no food until he was 7 months!

Rhionna - posted on 09/20/2010

OK, I'm gonna be completely honest and say that I have put cereal inmy son's bottle. He is now almost 4 and has been diagnosed as autistic. He was unable to take solid food for a long time and by the time he was 9 months old he was iron deficient and losing weight. Putting cereal in a bottle is not something that I would normally do but as he has sensory problems it was the only way to introduce new tastes and to get any calories into him.
Having had 3 kids I always did the banana test to see if my kids were ready for weaning, are they able to sit unaided, hold a banana and "take a bite"?! If they can that shows they are about ready for weaning, but take it slowly, there's no rush! My eldest son weaned at 6 months, my second at 9-10 months and my 3rd at 4 1/2 months. I just did it at a time that was right for them!

Margaret - posted on 09/20/2010

rice cereal = no good. rice, on the other hand has so much more to it, as does oatmeat or other cereals like that. don't buy the stuff, make it yourself! and don't feed them before they are 6 months old. there is just no reason to, even if they can sit up. My Levi could sit up, grab things, turn his head and wasn't thrusting but we waited unti lhe was older than 6 months to feed him and he's doing just fine. All homemade foods with 100% nutrition in them

Kathleen - posted on 09/20/2010

WOW! That is a GREAT Post.. Thank you so much for sharing as I am a new mom who has heard this tid bit of advice from MANY "experienced" moms.. I absolutely agree with your thoughts.

RACHAEL - posted on 09/18/2010

@Jodi...you can google BLW, and will find a lot of UK and Australian websites advocating it, with a lot of helpful links. I DO recommend the book, Baby-led Weaning by Gill Rapley & Tracey Murkett. The same authors have a cookbook, and there is another book called Finger Foods, which I have and like. BLW is pretty much geared towards letting your child decide what and when he eats solids and when he breast/bottle feeds. I introduced my daughter to the steamed veggies and yoghurt at 6 mos while still BF most of the time. She gradually wanted more table foods, and weaned herself at ~15 mos (I was also ~8 weeks preggers with bb#2). Mealtime is pretty much hassle-free. She generally eats what is on my plate, and if that doesn't agree with her toddler's palate, then I offer foods I KNOW she will eat, but the best part is that she has always eaten WITH the family, rather than apart from us and I have never forced food into her mouth. By nine months, she was learning to feed herself with a spoon. I believe that eating should be enjoyable for both baby and family, instead of a hassle or a time of anxiety. One neat thing you will learn in your research on BLW is how natural a process it is, and that somehow our "modern" society has the whole baby-feeding thing a little backwards...logically, babies and toddlers were never fed purees and such back in the day (actually pre-WWI). Mothers have been using BLW since the dawn of mankind, and it is only within the past century formula and baby foods were introduced.

Jodi - posted on 09/18/2010

Rachel, I didn't hear about baby led weaning until after my daughter had passed the "baby food stage" and was eating table food, per american standards. I wish I had done it with my daughter and I plan on doing it with my twins when they come! I would LOVE to hear some more information about baby led weaning!!!

Cassandra - posted on 09/18/2010

my baby is 8 and half and all he wants is breastmilk. doesn't like baby food. somebody told me to try giving him cereal in a bottle. i would never try that. i didn't with my older 2 i'm not with my youngest.

RACHAEL - posted on 09/18/2010

Has anyone on here ever heard of Baby Led Weaning? I did it with my daughter, and it was the best experience for both my daughter and I, as I didn't bother with formula, cereals, purees, or jars of baby food. She was eating steamed broccoli and sweet potatoes between 6 and 8 mos. It had saved me tons of money, mess and my daughter's digestive tract. BLW is very popular in many other countries where baby foods and formula are not pushed onto moms and babes by well-intentioned doctors. Just some food for thought.

Donna - posted on 09/16/2010

i tried spoon feeding rice cerial mixed with breast milk and my daughter gagged. i think she just didnt like the taste. so i gave up. she was abou 4 months at the time. I had been advised the whole cerial in the bottle but was too uncomfortable with it so i didnt even try that.

Charity - posted on 09/16/2010

I definatly agree about not starting solids until 6 months, my LO is 7.5 mo and was BF only until 6 mo, he is doing great!!! I do find however, that when making my own baby food, the summer squash and zuchinni are much too thin to keep on the spoon and rice cereal does thicken it well. According to the research I did, rice is suggested as a first food because it is waaaay down on the allergy causing list, so great for a large number of babes. I used rice cereal mixed with breast milk as his first food. Also the fact that infant cereals are fortified with iron is good for BF babes, who don't get that from breast milk, and have used up their stores from the womb by around 6 mo.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 09/15/2010

Hi Ladies,

This is a hot topic and discussion is great. You're going to get many opinions on a topic like this. Please remember to respect the opinions of others. Also, the recommendation of solids before 6 months is against the guidelines of this community. You can discuss what you've done with your own children, but please don't recommend it others.

Thank you,

Sara

Admin

Stephanie - posted on 09/15/2010

I did try her with cereal but it never filled her and i regret it now shes 3months i think i tried far to early. It made her really uncomfortable and stressed.
My first baby too and i was advised to put in her bottle never did tho. and alot of people told me to try it with her but never worked.
x

Daniela - posted on 09/15/2010

Jess and Leslie: I think sometimes we all just need an outlet where we know we are among like-minded people who understand why we choose certain options for our babies and who agree with us. While I agree with Jodi and the others, I can see how the post must look offensive for those who chose differently. Just bear in mind that we too have to deal with that kind of attitude towards us all the time ('you should really start feeding her, she looks hungry, you know'), which is exactly why I enjoyed this post and all the replies so much.

Jodi - posted on 09/15/2010

Leslie, there is actually loads of research and studies showing the negative effects that feeding solids early can cause. Which is why the AAP, LLLI and the WHO all reccomend waiting until 6 months to introduce solids, not 2 or 3 or 4 months. If you chose to take the risk and feed your children solids early that is entirely your choice, what I am sick of is mothers who advise other moms having eany kind of issue with their children, be it bowel issues, sleep issues or weight issues, to put them immediately on rice cereal as a cure all without ever warning them of any of the proven health risks. Your claim that you're right? "Well, MY kids are fine." And some moms who drank a little during pregnancy have fne children, some have mentally impaired or physically disabled children, one child is not like the rest.
Also, this specific community does not advise or wanting anyone else to advocate pushing solids too early. My issue isn't with mothers who feed their children solids too early, it's with mothers like yourself who tell every tom dick and harry that it's good for their children and to try it out of, what I assume is, ignorance or denial. Harsh? Perhaps. But at least I don't tell mothers to do something that is ill advised by 3 recognized pediatric groups and potentially harmful to their children.

Jessica - posted on 09/15/2010

I don't believe in giving baby cereal just so they will sleep at night. My son still eats all his formula as well as his cereal he only gets it once a day.I made sure that all the signs were there. My son still wakes up once in the night and he will sleep through when he is ready. I think that every baby is different and will tell you when they are ready. I don't think that problems are caused by the cereal maybe because they weren't ready and were not showing signs of readiness. Also, Baby cereal has been around for centuries and I honestly doubt that they would keep something that is sooo unhealthy on the market and i doubt that doctors and peds would be recommending it. Like do you honestly think that they would recommend something harmful to our children.... I don't think so... I am still not trying to offend anyone but just letting my opinion be heard just like the rest of you. Oh, and about people telling others not to advise others to feed their baby cereal, I think that it doesn't matter who and what people advise others to do, they are going to do what they think is right for their child. I don't see what is so wrong about feeding your child baby cereal and so what if it doesn't have all the nutrients it's not like your baby isn't formula or breastfeeding anymore... right?!!?





Leslie Giles: I completely agree with you! I hate it how everyone is so judgmental. Like a lot of people judge others when they really have no right to. What matters the most is that our children are taken care of and loved.

Laura Zoey - posted on 09/15/2010

Yup, I have to agree too! There's so much proof of early solids causing bad reactions, babies can be forever damaged by early solids, and cereal is just useless! I gave it to Eric, thinking it was best at 6 months but I'll be darned if my next baby tastes a lick of that stuff! It sucks cuz WIC gives moms two big boxes of free cereal every month!!!! And 36 jars of fruits and veggies, and 36 jars of baby meats. All at 6 months, every month! Made me think he should be eating all that every month! It was bad, now I think I don't want to even use that gerber food, but it's so hard with it being free..........oh America, you try so hard and fail so often :(

Jeannette - posted on 09/15/2010

I agree Jodi. My ped. said it was okay to start my son at 4 months, but I wanted until he was 6 months. He was showing signs of "readiness" at 5 months, but he was gaining weight and quite healthy with just breastfeeding. No that he is 10 months and has been on solids for 4 months, it is kind of funny, because his weight (which was always in the 50%) was down to 30%, because his breastfeeding have dropped somewhat, due to eating solids and him sleeping 12 hours a night.
But I would def. never put it in a bottle and I wouldn't recommend it to any baby under, at the very least, 4 months.

Leslie - posted on 09/15/2010

FOR ALL THE MOMS WHO GAVE THEIR BABIES SOLIDS BEFORE 6MTHS.... It's not a big deal. I gave both my boys rice cereal, cream of wheat and Red River mixed cereal at 3-4 mths. They did great on it. The cream of wheat and red river cereal is loaded with Omegas, Fiber and Iron.

Don't feel bad because of this womans and others ideas on this. Giving cereal early is NOT bad. As long as you give it to them after they BF or have formula. So they still get what they need from that.

I HATE it when a mother has to come on and go on about one mothers choice and how they chose wrong by doing something they didn't do.

There is NO prof, no real comments from DRs that giving cereal early is bad.

Tracy - posted on 09/15/2010

Hi Jodi. I was so glad to find your post. I will say that I plan to try my daughter on some rice cereal after she is 6 months old (along with other solids), but I have gotten so tired of (usually) well-meaning friends and relatives telling me I should already be feeding her rice cereal. This advice has even come from people who are doctors, and I have found it very intrusive and off-putting. I have talked with my daughter's pediatrician who is a pretty conservative guy, and he has strongly encouraged me to wait until at least 6 months to start cereals and solids of any kind as he believes exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months (as endorsed by many medical and breastfeeding groups) is ideal for babies. I asked him about the advice I was getting to feed her rice cereal in a bottle or in a bowl at 2-3 months old, and he said he would never recommend this to any mom and told me all the reasons why. I hear you!

I guess feeding is only one of the many areas where we get unwanted advice from people, but oh well. I just smile and nod, knowing I'm the mommy and I control what actually happens with my daughter's feeding. While I wouldn't judge another mom for deciding to formula feed or offer cereals early (I know everyone has their own experience and circumstances), I am totally confident and proud about my decision to continue exclusive breastfeeding through 6 months and the reasoning behind it.

Michelle - posted on 09/15/2010

Love your post. Here in Canada the national advice is to wait until 6mths and nurse for 6mths and beyond however my kids pediatrician said at 3mths to try prune juice and at 4mths my kids should be having at least 2 small servings of cereal a day. Luckly I am confident (and have and husband and mother that support me) enough that my children have not eaten anything other then breast milk. My kids dr, my mil and sister in law all think I am crazy! And I started # 2 on meat to get the iron never even tasting the regular baby cereals. #3 is 5 1/2mths and I am leary about my mil giving him solids off her plate while holding him so everytime we go over I give her the count down x# of weeks left.... It is funny how people have it stuck in their heads that cereal is a cure all, my kids would sleep through the night, nurse less, not cosleep if I would only give them cereal - I am not willing to chance their future health by trying out solids to early. With still developing anus muscles the kids could get consitpated or in the future have an increase risk for crones disease yikes!

Sara - posted on 09/14/2010

@Jess Seymour: I think the problem is not that it could be okay to give an infant rice cereal, but that it's being recommended often to help the baby sleep through the night, give them a full tummy, etc. :)

Although, you might want to re-check your research. There are better things to give your baby than rice cereal, if you want him/her started on solids.

*********

My son's pedi encouraged me to start him on baby foods around 6 months... I told him I didn't want to, and he said I can continue to breastfeed but it'll get Eric used to different tastes. Well, I would like to EBF but I don't get as much time at work as I would like in order to pump, so I've had to supplement... unfortunately :( However, first and foremost my son needs his bottle, regardless of whether it's formula or breastmilk. When he's done with his bottle, he doesn't have room for baby food and won't eat more than a few bites. When he's ready for it, he'll let me know. I've only done rice cereal once or twice, and I've had the box for about 6 months now. Rice is nutrient-deficient, unless you count all the simple carbohydrates. Not to mention, as someone already has, babies' tummies are very sensitive and the earlier you introduce "normal" foods, the more likely your child is to develop food allergies.

Thanks for posting this. :)

Hannah - posted on 09/14/2010

My doctor told me to start introducing my 4 month old to baby food and suggested cereal as a starter food..shes showing all the "ready for solid food" signs so I tried it the last few nights mixed with breast milk but my daughter seems disinterested. I decided to skip it for a few more weeks a try again.. I think people just need to react to there babies reactions.

Jodi - posted on 09/13/2010

To Jess, I don't neccessarily believe in the whole 6 months thing myself. IF your baby is showing all the signs of readiness, which are able to sit up on their own with minimal support, no tongue thrusting, can hold objects in their hands (although this one is dependant on physical handicapps obviously). I have absolutely never seen or heard of a 2 month old who can sit up on their own, but super babies do happen I suppose.
Part of my problem is that rice cereal is so lacking nutrients, baby oatmeal is nutrient dense and there's nothing wrong with going straight to veggies and fruits. If your child is not showing all the signs of readiness, they should not be having solids that their digestive systems cannot properly digest, whether they are 2 months or 8 months. If they can't properly digest what little nutrients rice cereal has to offer (or any nutrient dense food) you might as well fill their little tummies with air or water for as much as it does them nutritionally.
I'm not trying to sound like a bi*ch, but so many people have so many excuses as to why their child "needed" rice cereal or how nothing bad happened to their child. Lots of moms smoke during pregnancy with children who turn out fine, but I hope to never see a mom encouraging another mom to light up because of this. A little drastic, but same idea.
It's your choice to do with your child as you wish, but PLEASE don't advise early solids to other moms, their baby might not be as lucky as yours. I have heard of babies suffering from intestinal blockage from rice cereal and other solids introduced too early.

Johanne - posted on 09/13/2010

Introducing too early can lead to allergies and food sensitivities, too. Yet many pediatricians still recommend feeding rice cereal, or feeding when you feel like the baby is ready way before the allotted time. Sigh. Just one of the reasons why doctors need to take up more nutrition credits in school...