Baby cereal

Jaclyn - posted on 01/28/2009

My first born (now 2 1/2) was given rice cereal at 3 months, he slept better (although he's always been a good sleeper) and it filled him up more.

My second born now 8 months, can't have rice cereal, as it blocks him up and he has bowel problems, screams and cries when he poos. I'm combatting that with pears and apples, trying to give him more fibre. I'm going to have to see a doctor.

Anyway, you can also start your bubs with formula or breastmilk mixed with a thickener to make it into the consistency of gelly food, it's stockier and fills baby up more, but without the cereal. It's supposed to be tasteless. I did that when my baby was first having bowel issues.

Brenda - posted on 01/27/2009

My son started at about three months on rice cereal.  He was double the size he should have been at that age, wearing size six months clothes and at the top of the chart for weight and height.  He was just hungry!  Doctors now are saying that early feeding does not, as previously thought, cause food allergies.  If a child has a food allergy, they have it already, its not something caused by food.  Just like someone with a peanut allergy didn't get it from eating too many peanutes.  They say to hold off on high allergy prone foods just in case of allergies (soy, eggs, and the like).

:)  You are the best person to know when your child is ready for food.  I'll leave you with a recent quote, one that I like a lot.

"While babies develop at their own pace -- for example, one baby might be ready for solids at 4 months, another at 6 months -- even the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says there are no rigid rules on expanding your child's diet. " - from parents.com.

Bobbi - posted on 01/27/2009

I know the recommendation is 4 months due to an increased risk in food allergies and other things but have heard all different things depending on the baby. I know my mom gave us all cereal in our bottles at 6 weeks with 0 problems.

Did you look for the developmental milestones? Babies should be able to sit up with support, have a reaction when you hold the spoon to them (like opening up or reaching), and be able to do something with the food once it's in their mouth as a way to get it down (like moving their tongu around)

Courtney - posted on 11/04/2008

thanks everyone!!

Jessi - posted on 11/04/2008

I started all my kids on cereal in the bottle at about 6wks old in their bedtime bottle. After about a month of that i slowly put more in during the day bottles. By the time all of them were about 6mos i was spoon feeding it to them and just giving them formula bottles. This also helped with the transition to milk at around 11 mos... i started with cereal bottles... then cereal and bottles... then milk with cereal instead of formula...when its all said and done your child will be a teenager and youll forget all about it ;)

Samantha - posted on 11/04/2008

I started all three of my children between 2 and three months. They are now ages 15,13,& 8 and VERY healthy. Each child is different and what works for one may not for the next. Remember you are his mommy and you'll recognize his needs before anyone, trust your instincts and you'll be fine :0)

Tori - posted on 11/04/2008

I started putting rice cereal in their bottles at 2 months b/c the formula was not filling them. I then started exactly one month later feeding it to them a bit more milky then thick. But my doctor said to only use rice until they we 8 mos b/c they could develop allergies....I don't recall, but knowing me I probably didn't listen!!1

Jeani - posted on 11/04/2008

I started my son on runny baby rice at 9 weeks because he was always hungry, on breast and formula, he is 9 months old now and thriving.

Kerry - posted on 11/04/2008

I started my daughter w/cereal at night when she was 4 mos., because I couldn't possibly produce enough milk to satisfy her. She was growing super fast...and tall!

Pamela - posted on 11/04/2008

I started my daughter at 3 and a half months, milk just was not satisfying her anymore so i gave her 1 once of milk and a tbs of cerial, just make it watery and try it first. hope this helps