my son will be 3 months old on the 14th. when is it a good time to feed him cereal & baby food?

Question

i give him cereal in his bottle, but he stays hungry. i dont give him cereal in every bottle though. i dont want him to be constipated.

Answer 1

I had to start with the cereal in a bottle at 3 months for my oldest. It wasn't long before I started feeding her cereal with a little bit of fruit.. I'd say if he's still hungry, then try it. So he won't get constipated, try some apple juice (half juice, half water) in a bottle as a treat. good luck!

Answer 2

I have never been one to promote cereal in bottles. The cereal doesn't fill their stomach's any more than just formula or breast milk. The cereal has very little nutritional value, it is intended for teaching baby how to eat. If you add cereal to water and then let it sit for about 30 minutes the cereal completely dissolves, that is all it does in babies stomach too.
Are you sure he is hungry? Just because baby fusses doesn't mean he is hungry. How much is he drinking during the day? He should be having between 3-6 ounces every 3-4 hours.
Do you have a 3 month well baby check scheduled for him? Your pediatrician would be able to address this issue for you since the Dr. would know all the specifics of your baby.
To answer your question, solids aren't started until the 6th month. Prior to that the baby's stomach is not prepared to handle the food. Remember baby's stomach is the size of his fist. Any introductions prior to that can cause digestion problems, food allergies and colic. Formula should be baby's primary source of sustenance for at least 9 months. Baby food is just for practice.

Answer 3

Your baby's pediatrician is the best resource for questions like this one. Generally, one does not put cereal in his bottle, but feeds it from a bowl with a spoon. Baby needs to get used to the taste and texture of properly prepared cereal, and putting it in a bottle dilutes it too much. You should also start baby on strained foods - the meats, the veggies and the fruits. Don't worry about constipation at this point. If that were to happen - and it's unlikely - it's a very easy thing to overcome. Again, speak to your baby's pediatrician.

Answer 4

Talk to your doctor first and tell them how many bottles a day he is eating. It can be unhealthy to give a baby too much formula so if he goes over 6 8oz bottles a day and is hungry you can start to feed him a teeny tiny bit by spoon. Try to avoid giving him too much because cereal and food at this age are just empty calories. Don't do it to get him to sleep through the night it's counterproductive.

And YES you CAN give a baby cereal early as long as your doctor says you can. You do NOT have to feel bad or like you are doing something wrong each child is different. I had to give it to my daughter because she spit up constantly. See link to Enfamil formula WITH cereal for infants.

Great luck! :0)

Answer 5

I would give him rice cereal in every bottle...1-2 teaspoons for every 2 ounces of formula, cereal on a spoon should be given at 4 months and jar foods at 5 months. ALWAYS check with your son's Dr. before you make changes in his diet.

Answer 6

I had to give my son cereal {rice} in his bottle around 11/2 -2 months espically at night .Not a lot in the bottle but enough to satisfy him. And at 3months a little baby food will not hurt your baby just don't over feed ,start out with small amounts. I always gave mine karo syrup and water so they would not be constipated. that is what Doctor said to give them.

Answer 7

Honestly he doesnt need anything other then breast milk or formula till 6 months or later...then you should start adding veggies and cereal fortified with iron.... despite what many moms believe... cereal added to bedtime bottles doesnt prolong sleep... and can actually take away from absorbed nutrients in the formula or breast milk.. also when you decide to start adding new foods.. only add one new thing every 2-3 days.. that way you are able to identify the cause of any food alergy quickly and nip it in the bud quickly... always keep benedryl on hand when adding new foods...

Answer 8

no earlier than 4 months. but they say to wait until 6 months in case of allergies.

cereal in a bottle is a not a good idea. bottles should have liquid because the baby is sucking it straight down the cereal is not meant to be eaten that way.

Answer 9

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that if you are formula feeding, all you need to do is to give him more formula. He will not be ready for any solids - including cereal, even if it is in his bottle! - until he is about six months old.

There is a new report just out that supports this.
"Other than breast milk, no supplemental foods, including cow's milk-based formulas, should be given until the child reaches six months of age, the researchers state. Introducing solid foods in a child's first four months of life, they add, has been associated with an increased risk of allergies up to age 10."

You can read an article about this at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060807/hl_nm/allergists_infants_dc_1

Answer 10

Babies digestive systems are not mature enough to handle cereals and baby food until about 5 or 6 months of age. Bottle fed (as opposed to breastfed) babies tend to be heavier and bigger starting out because everyone over feeds. He doesn't need extra foods.