When can i start my daughter on cereal?

Emily - posted on 02/11/2009

Both my kids were big eaters and after careful research and talking with my baby's doctor, I started my kids on rice cereal when they were 4 months once a day until the were 6 months old.  (I physically was unable to provide enough milk to fill their little tummies).  I gave them the feedings at night (just after my supper) to help them be full for the night.  I was specifically told to never put the cereal in the bottle and to only feed them the cereal with a spoon.  I recently read an article that argued by putting cereal in a bottle it can inadvertantly make them overeat by taking in too many calories.  This is a bad way to start feeding habits.

Also, the baby should be able to hold themselves up in the high chair... if they don't have upper body control then they have a higher risk of choking.

I would listen to your doctor and re-evaluate where your baby is at when she is four months old and talk to the doctor again.  It's normal for a 12 week old to eat every 3-4 hours or so.  Some babies can go longer and even through the night while others feed every 2 hours.  Just keep feeding your baby on demand and she'll thrive.  Too many people are too quick in introducing solids resulting in digestive problems and allergies.

Emily - posted on 02/11/2009

I gave my son cereal at 5 months.  I would have liked to wait until 6 in order to cut down on digestive problems and allergies but, he was a big baby and needed more at the time.  I would recommend waiting as close to 6 months as possible.  Try to maybe work through that time where she is asking for more so soon and offer more at her next feeding.  She may just need comfort and has made it a habit.  good luck, it isn't easy...lol

Tasha - posted on 02/10/2009

I started both my children on cereal in between 3- 4 months.  At 6 months I introduced a baby jar food and fed the same one to them for 1 week (helps with finding out allergies) I did this by color.  I fed them all yellow, orange and then green.  Did not give them any fruit until after they had went through all vegetables.  I was told that would help with them not having a sweet tooth.  And I have to say, it works!  Although some may think your nuts....they won't have fruit until around 9 months old if you opt to do this. 

Shelly - posted on 02/10/2009

There's nothing wrong with your little girl still wanting to eat every 2 hours. I breastfeed, and I feed my daughter on demand. Some days she'll eat once every 3 or 4 hours, other days she has an empty tummy 45 minutes after eating. I think it's too early for cereal. My doctor told us to wait until after daughter's 4-month appointment to consider cereal, but I'm planning on waiting longer unless milk starts not being enough to fill her up.

Yamuna - posted on 02/10/2009

I started giving our son Maximilian cereal at age 4 months and he loved it! But he only started sleeping through the night around 11 months old. But once he did he would have lovely long lie-ins which suited us just fine ;-) He is now just over 2 years old and I have stopped his night bottle and now of course he wakes up earlier in the morning as he is hungry!

Kim - posted on 02/10/2009

I waited a full 6 months with both daughters, and they are both completely healthy.  I think too many people are in a rush to start solids...babies don't need it until then.  If you're nursing she'll take as much as she needs...if you're bottle feeding, just make her 8-9 oz bottles and see if she'll finish those.  If you're nursing and your production is going down, you can supplement with bottles/formula and sometimes that gives a heartier drink (that was the case with both daughters).  At 6 months, give soupy cereal for a week or so then move on to thicker cereal and fruit.  Good luck.

Marlene - posted on 02/09/2009

My GP told me to start my little one on solids when he was 4 months. We had been exclusivly BF and then due to circumstances, my production went down.

I think that 3 months is a little early. I wouldn't have started my dude on solids till six months if he hadn't had been undernourished for a month when my production went down.

If your little one is reaching for the food, then that is a good sign that she is ready for solids.

Michele - posted on 02/09/2009

Your daughter is beautiful!

Typically they will tell you 4 months for you to start giving solid foods like cereal. I think it's a great age to start. Well, they say cereal, but it's more like soup when you first make it for them :) Once she has that for a month or so you could start giving her some fruit to go in it. They say that it is best to give 1 thing for a whole week to make sure she will have no reactions to it!

Maggie - posted on 02/09/2009

I tried to give my son some cereal when he was around 3 months but he broke out in a rash because of it...now that he's 6 months I tried it again and he's just fine with it...the longer you wait to give them food the less chances they have of having an allergic reaction

Cassandra - posted on 02/09/2009

they recommend that you start them on cereal with a spoon at 4 months .. i used to put a couple of teaspoonfuls of cereal in my sons bottle for reflux.. i would try one more ounce of formula per bottle and if that doesn't work i would do a little cereal in her bub or if she will take it from a spoon that would be ok too.

Nicky - posted on 02/09/2009

I started my wee one on cereal at 4months...my ped said to wait until then as well. She is now 5 months eating cereal & veggies...........it really hasn't made a difference with her sleep but I know others it did

Sara - posted on 02/09/2009

My Doctor told me to put 1 tsp of cereal in my son's bottle when he was a month old.  It was only at night though.  Every doc is different.  And he didn't sleep through the night till he was about 4 months old.  Generrally you don't start cereal until they go for the spoon.  Once he got to about 2 1/2  or three months those middle of the night feedings I would instead give him a pacifier and after awhile he slept through the night.  The most important thing is getting into a routine!!!!!