My babie's Dr. told me to start giving my baby some rice cereal with a spoon, now that he is 4 months old...

Question

I did it today for the first time and my baby did great, He opened his mouth when I put the spoon close to his mouth and he swallowed most of it without complications, but I am concern because a lot of people advice me not to start solids or anything other than breast milk or formula until he is 6 months, (including people in this forum) I don't know what to do, because they usually say "do as your doctor says" and that is what I am doing but some part of me wonders if he is right or I should wait 2 more months?

Answer 1

my doc told me to start my son on the rice cereal at 4 months as well. he did well and had no complications. all of my friends agreed with my doc that 4 months was an appropriate age. but you have to go with your gut. if you feel like it is too early, then it is too early. but i wouldn't worry. he seemed to like it so i'm sure everything will work out for the best.

Answer 2

Its always important to look at WHY certain recommendations are made, rather than take the advice of someone who is screaming at you militantly to do it one way or the other.

The truth is, the AAP does recommend all babies wait until 6 months of age. Why? Because nearly all babies should have the ability to tolerate solid foods at 6 months. But we KNOW for a fact from experience that some babies can certainly tolerate it sooner. Its not NECESSARY to start solids before 6 months, but for some babies it is perfectly fine.

The reason your doctor made that recommendation is because medical studies are very clear that waiting until at least 4 months greatly reduces the risk of food allergies, certain bowel conditions, and even diabetes. We don't really understand the mechanism for this, but waiting another 2 months doesn't seem to make a great deal of difference with this regard. But again this isn't the reason for the 6 month recommendation.

So some doctors will say wait 6 months, but most would agree waiting until at least 4 months is best. So this is where common sense comes in. If you wait until at least 4 months you avoid the major health risks associated with early solids. If you WANT to wait until 6 months, great. If the baby seems interested and tolerates the food, then its perfectly fine. We have to remember that these are "guidelines" and not laws, so if we understand the reasons WHY certain recommendations are made, we can make an informed decision as to how to proceed.

Your doctor obviously understands the risks because he wanted you to wait until at least 4 months. Between 4 and 6 months is is basically an issue of whether the baby wants solid food and can tolerate it. If everyone waits until 6 months, then all babies will be ready for it. If you start between 4 and 6 months, you just have to be prepared stop and wait a few more weeks or months if the baby isn't ready.

Answer 3

wait the two months!!

I am a nutritionist I went to school for diet and nutrition, a doctor gets a 40 min lecture on diet and nutrition how could they possibly know what someone should be eating? they dont thats why when you have an illness that requires diet as treatment like diabetes they send you to a nutritionist!!

babys cannot digest solid food till at least 6 months of age :)

The AAP and the US Surgeon General among others recommend that infants be exclusively breastfed until "at least" 6 months, which means no other foods, cereals, juice, water, or formula. Babies younger than 6 months lack the enzymes necessary to digest foods other than breast milk. Feeding solids too early increases risks for obesity, diabetes, and food allergies. In fact, most babies are not ready for solids until after 6 months, some need as much as 8 months.

feel free to contact me if you want more information about it

Answer 4

It doesn't hurt the child to wait so if you are having concerns I would wait. There's no point in trying to have the baby do everything early .. they grow up so fast as it is. My childs doctor and in the reading I have done advises against giving the baby anything before 6 months. Of course people have been doing it for ages without complications. My opinion is it doesn't hurt them not to have it .. but maybe just maybe isn't good for them to have it so I just play it safe. I figure better safe than sorry.

I have also heard from a friend of mine that their doctor's said the same thing as yours and when she questioned her about it the doctor told her she has found most people give their children soilds early so she rather it be cereal than fruits and veggies.

Answer 5

Do as your Dr. says. I had a child that was on cereal at 2 months because she was drinking 16 oz of milk at a time. Rice I have doubts about. Oatmeal is better. Of couse, times have changed. It's been 31 years since I had a baby. He is a big healthy secimen. So I must have done it right.

Answer 6

Do what feels right for you. The AAP recommends waiting until 6 months to start solids if you are breastfeeding. I do not know if it is the same guideline if you are using formula. Most recommendations are anywhere from 3-6 months. I waited until 6 months and would never have started before 3 months.
Does that help or did I confuse you more?

Answer 7

Your doing fine I did the same exact thing when my daughter was 4 months that is when I started her with rice cereal. I think I put some in her bottle at night even at 3 months, but only a small amount. Your doing great. Listen to the Pediatrician.

Answer 8

I have "old-school" pediatricians. My son was started on cereal at 3 months. I waited with my other 2 because they were not looking for more than nursing.

My doctor also once told me I can put my daughter on regular milk at 9 months. I ignored that one and waited the year.

Answer 9

My daughter's twins are 5 months old, and their doc had them start on rice cereal a few weeks ago. The ideas on what is correct to do keep changing. When my daughter was a baby, it was common to start on rice cereal at around 6 weeks, mixed with formula in a bottle with big holes in the nipple. Then for awhile it was much later.

If your doc says to feed the rice cereal, and the baby does well with it, don't worry about what anyone says - you, and he, will be fine.

A side benefit - he'll probably sleep better at night.

Answer 10

It is best to continue with the breast milk exclusively for at least a year. The reason for this is that the digestive system has not matured enough to handle it.

I know of one ND who suggests waiting until 18 months before giving solid foods.

Even if you follow your Dr's advise, continue nursing because that is the best food for your baby.

Answer 11

Some research says that starting solid foods earlier may lead to diabetes at an older age. But I think that it is all in your genes. My oldest was on cereal threw a bottle at 2 months for reflux and he has no weight problems at all. He is six now.