Advice on feeding my baby cereal and baby food

Victoria - posted on 12/18/2008

if he can sit up, go for it. just like the cereal, offer one thing at a time and wait 3 days between new foods. enjoy the new stains! :)

Hollie - posted on 12/18/2008

I started giving my baby very very watered down cereal at about six weeks (on the advice of my doctor) at 3 1/2 months I started cereal and at 4 months I started introducing both veggies and fruit. My doctor said to let your baby tell you when they are ready. If they seem to be hungry more often, or not as satisfied with just formula then give them some cereal. You'll be amazed at how much better and longer they sleep with a little more substance in their tummies.

Good Luck!

Ruth - posted on 12/18/2008

Yep - strawberry is highest on the allergy list of fruits, others high allergy foods to avoid for a while are milk, wheat, nuts, eggs, soy (a legume, which acts like peanut - also a legume, not a true nut - when genetically modified). Sulphides can also cause reactions - as can citrus. These also go through breastmilk and can affect your baby.

I did a similar sequence to Kathy - and Kerry's idea is good of 3 times in a row - at breakfast is good as you are more likely to notice a reaction during the day than overnight.
Note: true allergies are a quick reaction, food sensitivities have a delayed reaction (up to 48 hours) that can build when combined with other foods to take you over your allergy "threshhold". So some cheese, then an omelette, an apple, then a piece of chocolate and then a reaction. You think it may be the chocolate - but it is actually a combination of all - so that chocolate could be fine another day. If you have hayfever, rashes, coeliac, or an emotional family (volatility, grumpiness, obsessive, sleepy) in the family keeping a food diary can help see the affect of certain combinations.
Low allergy foods are carrot, parsnip, swede, pear, blackberry, arrowroot, tapioca, sago, rice milk, lamb, rabbit, mushroom.
As to cooking - Annabel Karmel has some good baby food books.

Kerry - posted on 12/17/2008

Ask your Dr and trust them.



We started solids at 4 months(after being told by nosy friends and family to start it earlier or wait til 6 months...so we went by what his Dr said) 1st level fruits and veggies and kind of tried rice cereal but then stopped because it gave him gas at 4 months.

Then at 6 months put him on 2nd level foods and use oatmeal to mix with fruit and warm it up.



This is what our Dr has told us and so far it has seemed perfect for him. The only thing she said was no strawberry mixed in til a year. And they recommend when introducing a new food to give it to them 3 times in a row to check for allergies before adding another.



Hope that helps!



Kerry

Kathy - posted on 12/17/2008

I started cereal at 3 months, veggies at 4 months, fruit at 5 months and meats at 6 months.

Look for cues. If he seems hungry despite getting adequate formula/breast milk, then I think it is time to start introducing no things.

Everyone is going to have an opinion. You have to do what is best for your child.

Ruth - posted on 12/17/2008

When my first was born, starting solids changed from 4 months to 6 months as they thought it might reduce allergies. Now, with my second child 4 years later, they have found no improvement in allergies and have gone back to starting solids at 4 months. Trust your instincts - each baby is different. Alex wasn't really keen until about 8 months - and preferred puree. Eva loves finger food and initiated eating at 4 months, literally grabbing food off us and putting it in her mouth. It's a messy stage - but also lots of fun.

Shannon - posted on 12/17/2008

If you are nursing, cereal and baby foods can wait until 6 months old.