Has anyone started their baby on rice cereal?

Amber - posted on 12/17/2008

I never heard of Milupa. The Rice cereal I use is Gerber Rice Cereal single grain. And as for breastmilk, I dont see why not. If your feeding your child breast milk, I dont see it a problem.

Amber - posted on 12/17/2008

My baby is 3 months old as well. She is already on rice cereal and loves it!! She gets full faster and stays full longer. I use 6 oz of water, 3 scoops of baby formula, and using the same scoop from the formula to add 3 scoops of rice cereal single grain into the bottle and shake it all up...she eats it all up, sometimes leaving maybe one oz left, and stays full longer. I feed this to her in the morning and at night...during the day, she eats regular formula. My nephews did this the same way. You will love it, and so will your baby!

Jeannette - posted on 12/17/2008

I mix some (1 tsp. per oz.) Happy Bellies organic rice cereal in my son's bottle before bedtime, but that is only because he has reflux and it helps him sleep. Rice cereal doesn't have very many calories, but the thickness helps keep the milk from coming back up. However, that is all done through a bottle. My doctor wants me to not start my son on rice cereal (other than using to thicken his milk) or any other food until he is six months. Why does you doctor think you won't be able to keep up with her demand?

Carolyn - posted on 12/17/2008

Totally agree with Sarah. I did however offer a little baby rice to my eldest, at nearly five months made with my breast milk, made no thicker than the milk itself, once a day, but this was because I as returning to work and she didn't take the bottle for daddy,(more for his own piece of mind) he could then guarantee she had something to keep her going until I returned! Though we didn't even use half a packet moving onto fruit and veg mixed with my milk. I'm not keen on powdered things. If it is fresh you know what's in it! If I hadn't of gone back to work then I wouldn't have started so early. Of course her appetite will get bigger, that's like predicting she will grow taller! You will keep up with her hunger, breast milk adapts to your babies needs, why Emily fed every two hours at times and yes it is tiring, but who said motherhood wouldn't be. Have you tried winding her then offering the other breast, she may then have bigger feeds and less of them?! maybe it's a good thing she refuses the pacifier, just another thing to wean her off of, neither of mine have them and they seem calmer than those who do! Good luck and just follow your instinct x

Sarah - posted on 12/16/2008

I'm of the opinion as well that 3 months is just way too young. Even if they take it, their digestive tracks just aren't ready and designed for it and it can cause problems later down the track. Breastmilk really is the perfect food and as long your diet is strong in protein, etc she will get enough food and your body adjusts the milk to her needs as she grows. Her appetite will be what it needs to be and she will demand food as needed and your body will respond. Unless she starts losing weight and is not thriving then she is getting enough. I know it's hard, but trust your body to take care of her properly. Also, I know rice cereal is what is standard to give them but there is actually a lot of thought in alternative medicine circles that it is really unneccessary and their first foods should be sweet potato or pear, something mild but natural. Rice cereal can be great down the track at 7+ months to use to thicken up fruits, veggies etc to fill them up a bit. A really good theory on ingredients is that in their first twelve months they should just have the actual food, no thickeners, chemicals, powders, etc...An organic biodynamic rice cereal would be best. For allergies, good health and good digestive development, we have also found it is really helpful to keep them as gluten free as possible for the first 12months and stay away from the night shades (potato, tomato, eggplant and capsicum) the first twelve months as these foods are actually much more difficult to digest. Keep in mind too, that introducing solids at 6 months isn't really supposed to be huge form of their nutrition...it is just to get them used to experimenting with foods and tastes and doesn't become their primary source of nutrition until 9 -10+ months. Cheers!

Mary - posted on 12/16/2008

Personally I think that it is way too early to start on cereal or any solids yet. It has been proven that delaying solids can result in a lower rate of food allergies. The soonest I would introduce solids is 6 months. I am really suprised that your doctor told you to give her cereal this early. Their digestive tracks can't really handle it yet. That is why it keeps them "fuller for longer." Because they can't digest it very well. They also do not get as much of the nutrtition that they need from it. Breastmilk is sooooooo much better for her than cereal. (You can make cereal with breastmilk, btw) But really, when they open their mouth when the spoon is offered is when they are ready. If she doesn't open her mouth, then she is definitely not ready.

Courtney - posted on 12/16/2008

You can most definitely mix rice cereal with breastmilk. It will not be quite as thick as mixing it with formula, but it will continue to give your baby all the benefits of breastmilk while satisfying her appetite.

Cheryce - posted on 12/14/2008

ive been feeding my son pablum since is was 4 weeks old. i know that seems early... but his appetite is enormous!! i only did it with advice from the doctor. he still drinks a 4oz bottle of formula every 2 hours during the day... and he sleeps through the night.

Candice - posted on 12/12/2008

ive started my 11 week old son this week coz his milk dusnt seem 2 satify him lol , i give him just a teaspoon mixed with sum of his milk he has that and his bottle messy work tho :)

Katie - posted on 12/12/2008

I have been giving my son cereal for 2 weeks now because of his appetite..he is 17lbs and he really likes it now, I put the spoon in his mouth so he can chew on it which helps him get used to it. I do it the second feed of the morning and he knows this now as it is a routine. I use nestle and is says you can mix it with breast milk. The only thing you can do is try it start with a half tablespoon and make it into a paste then just add alittle more...not to liquidy as it wont stay in there mouth. As a week passes try a whole tablespoon and so on. I hope this works for you, my son actually opens his mouth now after two weeks on cereal and his is only 3 months now. So good luck

Stephanie - posted on 12/12/2008

Ive been thinking about atarting my son on rice cereal but Im nervous. He was born on 9/30 and was 6lb 12oz and at his 2 month he was 8lb 4 oz which is small compaired to what Ive read about everyone elses babies. At the beg of Nov he got a really bad viral infetion and dropped to 6.8! a week after his hospital stay he was at 6.13 and 2 weeks after that he was 8.4. Anyways he does nothing but eat this past week and cant get full. They said his appetiet is changing. He is breastfed and eats everything i have and usually will eat 4-5 oz from a bottle. When their appetiet changes it does it fast. My friend has a 9 month old and she lives by th rule if im feeding it to my son i have to try it first. Any baby food he has been fed shes tasted it, maybe that wuld ease your mind on the cereal. As far as stuff bein made in china goes im in the us and the FDA has strct regulations and none of our stuff is imported. Somewwhere on the formula i think its supposed to say but i dont use it. bUT Itt should say on cereal too i think. and yes you can make it with breast milk.