RICE CEREAL AT 4 MONTHS?

Taryn - posted on 01/23/2009

My doctor told me at my sons 2 month check up I could start giving him rice cereal, but I could wait till he was 4 months if I wanted. So I poured the cereal in an old formula container an used the scoop. I would use about 3 scoops of the cereal in an 8 oz bottle. He is healthy and is lean.

Stephanie - posted on 01/23/2009

Matt has been on cereal once a day since she 3 months old, dr recommended it as we were having spit up issues. Who knew a kid could throw up so much. He hasn’t had any problems digesting it and likes it - we're now tasting veggies (just this week) once a day and eating rice cereal at bedtime. He was just last week starting to wake up at 3am, so we added veggie’s and moves the cereal to night time, vs. lunch or dinner.

Jessica - posted on 01/23/2009

I started Emma on rice cereal the day after our 4mo dr's app't.  That would have been when she was 4mo and 2 days.  She dribbled a lot at first but now (1.5 weeks later) she is eating like a pro and wanting more than the 1 tbsp I've been feeding her.  She still doesn't sleep more than 3 or 4 hours at a time at night, so we're slowing increasing the amount of cereal she gets.

Jennifer - posted on 01/22/2009

I started feeding my son rice cereal two weeks before he turned 4 months--he was up at night every two hours obviously hungry. I started by putting the cereal in his bottle of breastmilk and he took to it pretty easy. I gave him about a tablespoon for a whole 4 oz bottle. Now he gets cereal three times a day on a spoon (much thicker consistency--2 to 3 tablespoons at a sitting) and we started veggies. Right now he's had sweet potatoes and he just started carrots. He still gets lots of breastmilk and some formula but the cereal and veggies stay with him longer.

Angela - posted on 01/22/2009

I started feeding both my babies (one is two and a half, the other four months) when they were about 2 weeks old.. I have children who grow really fast, and they were so hungry. They were exceeding the normal formula recomendations.. I think it really depends on the child, as to when to start them on rice cereal.

Abby - posted on 01/22/2009

I don't plan to start until 6 months, just breastfeed only.

Allison - posted on 01/22/2009

My baby is 4 1/2 months old and my doctor said to wait until about 5 months old. She has had some constipation issues so my doctor also said to not give her rice cereal but give her oatmeal.

Shari - posted on 01/22/2009

I STARTED MY SON (BORN 9.25) ON 2 TSP OF RICE CEREAL IN HIS BOTTLE AT 3 WEEKS AND HE HAD NO PROBLEMS. THE FORMULA JUST WASN'T HOLDING HIM. ON DEC 22 I STARTED HIM ON CEREAL AND APPLESAUSE FOR BREAKFAST AND HE LOVED IT. AND I GAVE HIN GREEN BEANS FOR DINNER. HE LOVES IT. I WAS TOLD TO GIVE HIM PRUNES TWICE A WEEK TO HELP WITH THE CONSTIPATION.

Trista - posted on 01/21/2009

I tried rice cereal at 4 mos and my son wanted nothing to do with it! The dr. said just breast milk is best until 6 mos, unless you are feeding formula....but they really dont need it , you can try it, if she doesnt like it hold off for awhile! This is my fourth and the first two took right to cereal at 4 mos, not this one!

Rachel - posted on 01/21/2009

Hi, I just wanted to let you know Gemma, that a friend of mine was told by her nurse to give him Kids Wheatbix as it has all the good things in it and no sugar. This was because her son didn't like the rice cereal either.

Rachel - posted on 01/21/2009

Hi, I don't know if this will help but I started giving my baby cereal last month and she is just four months now. All the books recommend 6 months of age but three kids later I can tell you that all my kids started at the same age and did great. She is even eating sweet potatoes carrots and those early foods. I never based it on if they were sleeping through the night because all of my kids were fortunately great sleepers, but you'll know when she's ready by if she's holding her head up good and if her swallowing skills are good. Hope this helps!

Laura - posted on 01/20/2009

My pediatrician told me to give it to Kadey 3 times a day, once when she wakes up for the day, once in the afternoon and once before bed. At first I only gave her about a tablespoon of rice cereal mixed with water warmed in the microwave for 5 seconds but now she eats as much as she wants (usually no more than 2 tablespoons). She hated it at first so I would put a spoonful in her mouth and then stick my boob in her mouth and she would instantly suck and swallow and then she figured out that that was what she was supposed to do and now she eats it like a champ. It has done wonders for us for her sleeping too, as it made a HUGE difference in how long she is sleeping.

Gemma - posted on 01/17/2009

I started feeding my son at 3/12 months.. 1st baby rice but he seemed as tho he didnt like it so one of my friends suggested weetbix. i fed him half of one of those with his formula but then stopped as community health nurse didnt reccommend it. i am back on the baby rice now in the mornings instead of the weetbix. just a spoonful or two (small) and some of his formula until right consistancy. i also feed him some of the heinz baby food for 4 mtnh olds. he will only maybe get half a jar if he is lucky twice or three times in a wk when he is lookinf for something else other than the milk. he loves it. we introduce new tastes to him all the time but thats all they are is tastes. I think weight also contributes to when u should start introducing new tastes. my boy is 4 mnths and 1 wk and is already 18 pounds 8.5 kilos. he was 8.9 when born so always big boy... he has never had any problems with constipation or anything like that (TOIUCH WOOD) and loves putting anything in his mouth he can get his hands on... good luck!

Teri - posted on 01/16/2009

I tried to give my baby the rice at about 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 months old and it constipated her really bad. My Dr. also told me 4mos was when I should start. I now make her an 8-9oz bottle and mix in a 1/2 tsp of rice cereal and its been agreeing just fine with her. I'm just easing it in slowly by mixing it in with her bottle.

Holly - posted on 01/16/2009

We started rice cereal on DS's 4 month birthday. We haven't started any other foods yet, but the doctor has given us a thumbs up to start fruits and veggies whenever we'd like. The guidelines the doctor gave us were 1) introduce other foods one at a time and do them for three days to see if DS has any reaction 2) wait to introduce proteins until 6 months 3) when DS can pinch his finger and thumb together that's a que that he can handle more texture in his food 4) no honey until after 12 months.



We're taking it slow. DS has been a little itchy and rashy (nothing major), so we're sticking to the cereal only. We've been advised to try oat or barley to see if the iching and rashiness is related to the rice. We're giving that a try starting this weekend.

Connie - posted on 01/16/2009

We started Ryker (born Sept. 7/08) on rice cereal just before Christmas. Prior to that he had been sleeping through the night for about a month and a half, and all of a sudden he started to wake up during the night hungry. At first he didn't like the rice cereal, so we switched to oatmeal, and he liked it. After the oatmeal, we tried rice cereal again and he likes it a lot more now. Some days I can't get it in fast enough, and other days he's just not interested. I also find that if the cereal is too thick, or not warm enough, it makes a difference as to whether or not he'll eat it. So, now I try to feed it to him 3X a day, once around 10 am, once around 4 pm, and again at around 9 pm, just before bedtime. If he wants it, I feed him until he won't eat anymore, but if he doesn't want it I don't push it either. I also breastfeed him beforehand, but he's still eating about 3 tbsp of cereal or more at each serving. We haven't really tried him on any other foods just because everything we've read says not to until they are 6 months of age, but we have another doctor's appointment this coming week so I'll have to ask him when we are there.

Rachel - posted on 01/14/2009

I started Jameson on rice cereal almost two weeks ago - we are now eating cereal 2x/day and I mix 25ml of cereal with 2ozs of mixed formula then 1/2 hr later he takes 3ozs more of formula and falls asleep. He still takes up to 30ozs of formula a day too. I have a dcs appt next week and will ask about intuducing stage 1 veggies I am alittle apprehensive b/c of tjhe whole debate on immature digestive systems; however our moms weren't any more the wiser and we all turned out ok! lol.

Meghan - posted on 01/14/2009

Unfortunately, nobody knows the exact 'correct' age to start your baby on cereal. But studies have shown that giving your baby food prematurely can cause serious problems in the future. Allergies can begin at a younger age (or worsen), babies digestive tract can have health issues as they grow. Recommended age is about 6 months, even if you think your baby is ready for food. Talk to a naturopathic doctor, not an MD! They can weigh the risk and you can have real answers.

Rice cereal is  best to start with first. It does not cause constipation unless your child has other health issues that can be confused with not giving them the right food. That's why you start with rice, then oats, and wheat is ALWAYS last due to the fact that 30% of all children will have celiac disease (allergies to wheat and gluten) which is also why you only try one type of food at a time. Makes it easier to determine what the allergy is if something pops up and you're not sure! Like I said, talk to a naturopathic doctor who has studied food science. MDs known nothing.

Jamisen - posted on 01/13/2009

I just started feeding Alex a tbl. spoon with a little formula and I am also adding a veggie to it. He loves it!!! I am still not giving him enough to sleep through the night. I think he might be getting a tooth.. He has been cranky the last few nights.

Crystal - posted on 01/13/2009

My doctor said to start out with oatmeal cereal instead of rice.  The rice she said can make them constipated.  I mix it with apple juice so it has a little better taste.  I started feeding them (my twins) at 4 months.  Usually they say to do that for a week then add a fruit or veggie that is stage 1.  They did so well with the oatmeal that I gave them some apple sauce stage 1 two days later.  One likes it the other one makes funny faces like what in the world are you feeding me.  The doctor also told me I could give them 4 ounces of juice or water a day.

Brittany - posted on 01/13/2009

I give my son cereal each morning when he wakes up and then a little bit of formula to wash it down. I was told at 4 months that it was fine by my dr. but, I started it at like 3 1/2 months. We are now starting foods just this week. They say 5 months...but, he is always so hungry that we are just trying it once a day to see how it goes.  And I started out with a tablespoon and a half of cereal just b/c he is a big eater.

User - posted on 01/13/2009

Rayelle is 4 months and has been on cereal once a day since she 3 1/2 months old. She hasn't had any problems digesting it and likes it - we're now tasting veggies once a day and eating rice cereal at bedtime.

I mix 1 tablespoon of rice cereal with milk until it is creamy and smooth. Until Rayelle was used to eating it, I made it really runny. To help her learn what to do with it, we would put a little bit on her pacifier and let her suck it off. Then, we fed her with a spoon, but gave her a pacifier so that she would swallow the cereal. Now, she sucks the cereal off the spoon almost as quickly as you can get it to her mouth!

Good luck!

Laura - posted on 01/13/2009

I started feeding my 4 mo right at his 4 month birthday.  He was starting to want to eat again every 2 hours and always wanted to be up with us at the table.  His doc said to start to feed him about a tablespoon of cereal per feeding and just whenever he seemed to be extra hungry or when we're eating a meal.  I offer the cereal at least 2 meals a day, which always makes it hectic, but you gotta get used to it and you want them to have good eating habits!