cereal?

Rachael - posted on 01/17/2009

my daughter was hungry very VERY often, she just turned 14 wks on friday, i starting trying to give her cereal about 3 weeks ago like every 2 days or so i would try for a few minutes. She wouldnt eat off a spoon until last weekend, and then now i give her a few bites (like 4) of cereal after she wakes up from her nap arund 5pm.  It seems to help tied her over better through dinner until bedtime. I have also heard to wait until 4-6 months too. If you do start i would only do it once a day and just a little bit as i do until 4-6 months. Dont be suprised if you child doesnt eat from a spoon tho i heard it can take a while. I hope i helped good luck!

Kimberley - posted on 01/17/2009

i stared my daughter on ceral at about 4 weeks.....she wouldnt get full from the milk....i wouldnt recommend it. but every baby is different. my daughter digestive system just couldnt handle it and it would make her constipated. but like everyone else said you are the only that knows your baby ...it could work for yours!

Lynnett - posted on 01/17/2009

Its your baby and you do know her best. I've put all 3 of my girls on cereal early and I've no NO problems with any of them. The first 2 the docorts told me to because they were spitting up every thing all the time. So when my 2 1/2 month old started spitting up alot at 1month I put in a scoop and a half (1 tbs 1tsp) in her bottle at night and we have had NO problems.



Remember that doctors are great, but they don't know everything and you more than anyone else knows your baby best.



Solid foods should not be started before 4months of age... but a little rice cereal in a night bottle won't hurt anything. If your child does start to have problems pooping try oatmeal baby cereal ( it has fiber). And until they are much older use single grain.

Kayla - posted on 01/13/2009

I have started a little bit of cereal with my 2 month 1 week old. Just a little. I put a teaspoon in 4 oz. before bed. It helps her sleep better, and she isn't constipated yet, but she is starting to get a little gassy. note that when we first started it we only put the cereal in every other nite so that we could see if it would constipate her. it didn't though. she sleep all nite now and is doing better. every baby is different though, if you do try it i would start out just a tiny bit...or you could just ask your ped. to see what he thinks about it first.

Carolyn - posted on 01/12/2009

Please keep in mind that they usually go thru a growth spurt at around 3 months; it may seem like they're ready for solids because of increased hunger, but really they're not. If you give it a week or two, chances are they'll settle back down to their old pattern.

Question: I've always just breastfed, no bottles, etc... when you say that your child is hungry before the next feeding, doesn't that mean that it's just time for the next feeding? I don't understand why you just wouldn't feed them again if they're hungry? For breastfeeding, that's how it works, which means you are sometimes feeding every hour, then might go 2-3 hours until the next feed. Aren't you supposed to feed "on demand" for bottles too? Or am I mistaken?

Ayanna - posted on 01/12/2009

my doc says 4 mnths and start with veggies which is when I will prob introduce it, however if you think ur baby is ready by all means....

Deadra - posted on 01/12/2009

I havent made solid rice cereal for my 3 month just some cereal in his milk.  I sub some milk scoops for cereal in his bottle.  You will need a bigger hole in the nipple this way, so I use the Avent step 2 nipples.  Next, month I will just start him on solid cereal at night and apple sauce in the morning because he is still a little hungry before its time for his next feeding.  I sometimes hear his belly growlling when I dont giv him rice cereal in his bottles, which is usually when I am out and about taking care of business...

Patricia - posted on 01/12/2009

Quoting Krissy:

cereal?

has anyone started cereal? do you wait for the pediatrician or do you decide on your own? very confused!

I decided on my own, My daighter is 3 months today, but she is staving!!! so started her on a little bit of baby rice only at lunch time, she is so much more content!!!! It was the right think for her and me. But the do say not to start feeding solids until their at least 4 months old sometimes 6 months old.

Jennifer - posted on 01/12/2009

My son has been eating cereal since 2 months because his 8oz bottle was not holding him for 5 hours. I went to the ped last week because he was spitting up so much every time he ate and he told me to start adding 4 tablespoons to his 8oz bottles and now he doesnt even spit up. I didnt even tell the ped that I was spoon feeding him cereal because you are the only person that knows what is best for your child if you think he or she needs cereal then go ahead and give it to them.

Carolyn - posted on 01/12/2009

Quoting Rachelle:

Hi Krissy,

They recommend your child being six months of age ideally before starting infant cereal. They would rather have your child take in breastmilk/formula to fullfill his/her daily calorie intake than infant cereal.

I agree with Rachael. The American and Canadian pediatric associations, as well as the World Health Organization, recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, and current recommendations are that solid foods are not started until 6 to 8 months of age, or when the child is ready.

According to La Leche League, a child is ready for solids when they can sit on their own, or with minimal assistance; they tongue thrust reflex is gone; they are interested in what you're eating, and they are able to turn their head away to indicate that they have had enough.

The current theory is that you shouldn't start solids prior to 6 months as there is a process that infants must undergo called "gut closure". An infant's digestive system is immature and very porus; if you give solids too soon, they are unable to break it down sufficiently and too large of molecules enter the bloodstream. This sets them up for allergies later in life as it throws the immune system out of whack.

Hope that helps!

Deadra - posted on 01/11/2009

I started my baby on cereal about the 7th-8th week cause he was crying alot about a hour after feedings even with me increasing the milk, but he wasn't holding the milk down too well (breastmilk or formula).  He was throwing up too much of the milk or poopooing it all out too quick.  I started off with a half of enfamil scoop of rice cereal as a sub for the same amount of emfamil milk.  My mom said we (my siblings and I) started about a month because of the same reasons, so it depends on your child.  Try to enfamil A.R. its for babies that spit up a lot but it also help me hold off on the cereal for a little longer because it has rice starch that expands in the baby's stomach and makes him feel like he ate good.

Alicia - posted on 01/10/2009

i had started with my oldest by this time but i have decided to wait with my second.when he is ready for he will let me know.

Rachelle - posted on 01/10/2009

Hi Krissy,

They recommend your child being six months of age ideally before starting infant cereal. They would rather have your child take in breastmilk/formula to fullfill his/her daily calorie intake than infant cereal.

Carrie - posted on 01/08/2009

I know everyone says that we know our babies best and yes we do. But I would wait on the advice of your paed before you start giving your babe cereal. You should have a 4 month appt so just ask then. Babies digestive systems are way to immature to start before then... If he/she is going through a ton of formula in a day, like more than they are on average supposed to eat then by all means call your paed and see what he/she suggests.

Nicole - posted on 01/08/2009

Quoting Krissy:

cereal?

has anyone started cereal? do you wait for the pediatrician or do you decide on your own? very confused!

Hi Krissy,

My baby just turned 3  months old yesterday and he is not on cereal yet.  Our doctor told us he should be between 4-6 months.  She strongly suggests waiting to start cereal until that time.  However, my sister started her kids on cereal at about 6 weeks of age, and she is a firm believer that you know your child best and you not the doctor should be the one to make the decision. However,  I have read that starting cereal younger than 4 months is not recommended.  I am confused about this as well.  Other moms say giving a little cereal before bed will help your baby be fuller longer and sleep longer, but then again after reading some articles about this, doctors say babies will sleep through the night when they are developmentally ready.  Hope this helps a little.