whats the best age to give a baby cereal

Lisa - posted on 05/05/2012

My doctor told me to feed my oldest son cereal at 1 month. He was 9 lbs 10 ozs at birth & was 10 pounds at 2 weeks. They usually recommend giving cereal when the baby is either 10 lbs or 3 months. We mixed the cereal in a bottle with breast milk & used a nipple that was for an older child so he cld suck it out well. He loved it & never choked. He was also given stage 1 foods @ 3 months for 2-3 weeks & then we moved on to stage 2 & he was eating 2 full jars at almost every meal.

Nina - posted on 05/05/2012

Only a parent and dr can make a decision like that. Every baby is different. My kids had cereal around 2months ONLY because they were over 9lbs at birth and were drinking 8+oz of formula every 3hrs. This was a decision made between myself and their dr. Who knows my next baby might not eat like the first 2 and not need anything extra. You can really take advice from people that don't know what kind of baby your granddaughter and her eatting habits.

Toni - posted on 05/05/2012

6 months is good I have 4 kids and never gave any of them cereal before then

Gretchen - posted on 05/05/2012

Thank you, Teesha, Hella, Rachel, and Medic Mommy!

I would also add that WHO (World Health Organisation) recommend *exclusive* (breast)milk for the first 6 months, then continuing milk feeds to *at least* two years. From ~6 months to a year (and often beyond) is an 'introductory' stage for a baby's solids....they will still be getting their main nutrition from their milk feeds.

While every child is different, there are certain stages that can be quantified - no matter how old the baby, the MAIN indicator of whether a baby is ready for "solid" food is whether it can sit up by itself (perhaps aided in a highchair, but preferably by itself), hold its own head up, and accept food without the tongue thrust reflex. As long as that tongue thrust reflex is there, the baby is NOT ready for solids. Remember that babies will mimic adults eating, just like they mimic our facial expressions and sounds - it's part of their learning. It doesn't necessarily mean that they are ready for solid food yet.

And yes, premature introduction of solids can do disastrous things to a developing baby's digestive system. The choice of first foods can also have a large impact on the developing baby. Like Hella and Medic Mommy, I would personally recommend avoiding baby rice altogether. The best foods you can give are whole foods - banana, avocado, kumara (sweet potato), carrot...these are far less likely to stress a baby's still-developing digestive system.

Vicki - posted on 05/05/2012

Was going to post exactly what Medic Mommy said.... cereals are pointless. Stick with the breastmilk/formula, then introduce real food around 6 months or so.

Medic - posted on 05/05/2012

Never....Cereal is wasted calories that does nothing for them. It just fills up space that could be taken up by nutrition. I.E. formula, or breast milk. Food before one is just for fun. NEVER put cereal in their bottles....it is such a health risk for many reasons.

Rachel - posted on 05/05/2012

The recommendations are to wait until AT LEAST 6 months. Here is a great site for information:
http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-s...

"Reasons for delaying solids
Although some of the reasons listed here assume that your baby is breastfed or fed breastmilk only, experts recommend that solids be delayed for formula fed babies also.

Delaying solids gives baby greater protection from illness.
Although babies continue to receive many immunities from breastmilk for as long as they nurse, the greatest immunity occurs while a baby is exclusively breastfed. Breastmilk contains 50+ known immune factors, and probably many more that are still unknown. One study has shown that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 4+ months had 40% fewer ear infections than breastfed babies whose diets were supplemented with other foods. The probability of respiratory illness occurring at any time during childhood is significantly reduced if the child is fed exclusively breast milk for at least 15 weeks and no solid foods are introduced during this time. (Wilson, 1998) Many other studies have also linked the degree of exclusivity of breastfeeding to enhanced health benefits (see Immune factors in human milk).
Delaying solids gives baby’s digestive system time to mature.
If solids are started before a baby’s system is ready to handle them, they are poorly digested and may cause unpleasant reactions (digestive upset, gas, constipation, etc.). Protein digestion is incomplete in infancy. Gastric acid and pepsin are secreted at birth and increase toward adult values over the following 3 to 4 months. The pancreatic enzyme amylase does not reach adequate levels for digestion of starches until around 6 months, and carbohydrate enzymes such as maltase, isomaltase, and sucrase do not reach adult levels until around 7 months. Young infants also have low levels of lipase and bile salts, so fat digestion does not reach adult levels until 6-9 months.
Delaying solids decreases the risk of food allergies.
It is well documented that prolonged exclusive breastfeeding results in a lower incidence of food allergies (see Allergy References). From birth until somewhere between four and six months of age, babies possess what is often referred to as an “open gut.” This means that the spaces between the cells of the small intestines will readily allow intact macromolecules, including whole proteins and pathogens, to pass directly into the bloodstream.This is great for your breastfed baby as it allows beneficial antibodies in breastmilk to pass more directly into baby’s bloodstream, but it also means that large proteins from other foods (which may predispose baby to allergies) and disease-causing pathogens can pass right through, too. During baby’s first 4-6 months, while the gut is still “open,” antibodies (sIgA) from breastmilk coat baby’s digestive tract and provide passive immunity, reducing the likelihood of illness and allergic reactions before gut closure occurs. Baby starts producing these antibodies on his own at around 6 months, and gut closure should have occurred by this time also. See How Breast Milk Protects Newborns and The Case for the Virgin Gut for more on this subject.
Delaying solids helps to protect baby from iron-deficiency anemia.
The introduction of iron supplements and iron-fortified foods, particularly during the first six months, reduces the efficiency of baby’s iron absorption. Healthy, full-term infants who are breastfed exclusively for periods of 6-9 months have been shown to maintain normal hemoglobin values and normal iron stores. In one study (Pisacane, 1995), the researchers concluded that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 7 months (and were not give iron supplements or iron-fortified cereals) had significantly higher hemoglobin levels at one year than breastfed babies who received solid foods earlier than seven months. The researchers found no cases of anemia within the first year in babies breastfed exclusively for seven months and concluded that breastfeeding exclusively for seven months reduces the risk of anemia. See Is Iron-Supplementation Necessary? for more information.
Delaying solids helps to protect baby from future obesity.
The early introduction of solids is associated with increased body fat and weight in childhood. (for example, see Wilson 1998, von Kries 1999, Kalies 2005)
Delaying solids helps mom to maintain her milk supply.
Studies have shown that for a young baby solids replace milk in a baby’s diet – they do not add to baby’s total intake. The more solids that baby eats, the less milk he takes from mom, and less milk taken from mom means less milk production. Babies who eat lots of solids or who start solids early tend to wean prematurely.
Delaying solids helps to space babies.
Breastfeeding is most effective in preventing pregnancy when your baby is exclusively breastfed and all of his nutritional and sucking needs are satisfied at the breast.
Delaying solids makes starting solids easier.
Babies who start solids later can feed themselves and are not as likely to have allergic reactions to foods."

Hella - posted on 05/05/2012

I never give mine any cereal. My oldest son, was over 10 pounds, and always hungry, but he just got breast milk until 7 month, he was not interested in food, besides breast milk, and he got only real food, fruits and vegetables. My youngest baby started on solid around 6 month , and he also got only fruits and vegetables. I personally don't believe in cereals, I don't think we need them :)) I also heard that even organic rice cereals, what has brown rice in it has arsenic in it, because of the water they use to grow the rice.. So good luck starting your baby on solid food, I recommend to skip cereal, and go for the good organic fruits, and veggies. Ripe avocado, with a little bit of garlic,lemon and salt, or ripe pear, mashed sweet potatoes with cinnamon and butter, coconut manna, mashed potatoes with butter and sour cream or yogurt. These are better starters. :)

Teesha - posted on 05/05/2012

Some of the replies on here! You need to look at real scientific research- asking a general forum like this will get you a lot of bad misinformed advice. When a baby leans forward for the spoon with their tongue COMPLETELY tucked INTO their mouth they are ready for solid foods. Before that tongue thrust reflex is gone they are not ready. It is a biological reflex that helps the baby to spit out anything that goes into their mouth that should not be there or they can choke or aspirate the cereal. There is no reason to rush into solid foods- food is for fun until they are one. Best of luck.

Cathy - posted on 05/05/2012

my daughter was a week old when she got her first taste of mashed potatoes just a little on my finger she loved it i fed my 2 from the table they didnt get jar food and they are healthy as can be both of mine were on reg food by the time they were 3 months old

Karen - posted on 05/05/2012

Personally, when your child is no longer satisfied for a period of time after you fed them. I started one at 5 mo, 4.5 mo and the other at 3 mo (he was my 9lb and I wasn't satisfying him with breast milk alone). All of mine were solely breast fed and never supplemented w/powder. I am also a firm believer and feeding a baby off the spoon. I started with rice first then to oatmeal and then mixed (mine prefer mixed over the other two) making sure there were no allergies.
Good Luck I'm sure you'll get lots of advice on this one.

Laura - posted on 05/05/2012

babies' tummies are not ready for solids before 6 months. Cereal can be hard on them even after 6 months and have you tasted the stuff??? It is truly awful!!! Mashed banana or avocado is are great beginning foods and easy on tummies.

Mary - posted on 05/05/2012

My babies were started at about six months, but my youngest is now 45 yrs old. Maybe times have changed.

Jessica - posted on 05/05/2012

Six months, or you can skip cereal completely and start on other baby foods. Never ever mix cereal in a baby bottle.

Melissa - posted on 05/05/2012

The current recommendation is nothing except milk before 6 months.

Bonnie - posted on 05/05/2012

The child should be able to keep their own head up.

Karen - posted on 05/04/2012

NEVER put cereal in a bottle or Cut the nipple to have a larger hole! That is such a Choking Hazard! Do Not do it! Spoon feed ONLY for ANY solid food. Even at 2 months old, the child will quickly learn to eat from the spoon.

Karen - posted on 05/04/2012

Ask the baby's pediatrician. That is the best answer. The "box" says 4-6 months. I started my son at 4months. My sister started her son at 2 months because he was a slow gainer. The best thing to do is to check with his pediatrician. Good luck. By the way, don't do Rice cereal, it's Very constipating, use Baby Oatmeal or Barley.

Sherri - posted on 05/04/2012

Sarah you need to edit your post. You said not to put formula into a bottle. LOL

Sarah - posted on 05/04/2012

I agree with Sherri. It is COMPLETELY NOT RECOMMENDED to put formula into a bottle. They deposit it too far back in their throat and poses a HUGE risk of aspiration (chocking and depositing into the lung). This can lead to pneumonia. Please don't do that.

Sherri - posted on 05/04/2012

Please if you follow no other advice....DO NOT add cereal to her bottle it is an enormous choking hazard. If she can not eat it by spoon then she should not be having it in the first place.

Katrina - posted on 05/04/2012

I think that 4 mos is fine, but if she is not getting full with milk alone then try mixing a little cereal in with her milk. You can cut the nipple to make the opening a bit larger so she will not have problems getting the fluid through. That should fill her up, and in my case it helped my son start sleeping through the night.

Dove - posted on 05/04/2012

4 months at the absolute earliest. Better to wait until at least 6 months for any solids. Some people recommend to skip cereal entirely and start with other foods instead.

Sarah - posted on 05/04/2012

6 months old. 2 months is WAYYYYYYYY too early. Recommended is 6 months, not before.

Sherri - posted on 05/04/2012

Not before 4mo's. The recommendation is between 4-6mo's.

Brittney - posted on 05/04/2012

I gave my daughter cereal at 2 months because she was drinking over 90 ounces of formula a day. Its recommended at 4 months as an introduction.

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2012

They say breast milk or formula is all they need for the first six months.

Marie - posted on 05/04/2012

any suggestion.

Marie - posted on 05/04/2012

any suggestion.