it it ok to feed my 3.5 month old rice cereal?

Question

what about other baby food?

Answer 1

I usually wait until 4 months, but my son was wanting to nurse almost constantly, so I decided to start him on rice cereal at 3 1/2 mos.
Mix the RICE (not oatmeal! rice is very mild and gentle) cereal very thin- just a little thicker than milk- and feed small servings (approx 1 tbsp.) a day. Your baby may reject it the first few times, that's nomal. Babies often do this with new foods and textures. Just keep offering a few bites every day and very gradually thicken the cereal over the next couple of weeks.
Do not offer other foods until your baby is used to the cereal. Rushing can cause allergies and tummy issues.
Once your baby is ready for fruit, (usually around 2-3 weeks after starting cereal) introduce one new fruit a week. (I started mine on bananas first.) This way, you know which, if any, foods your baby can't tolerate well. Pateince is the key to getting babies on solid foods successfully.

Answer 2

My doctors have always told me to wait until as long as possible, they usually say 6 months. But I've heard that 4 months is okay. So just wait the 2 more weeks, then try it. Do rice cereal first, then slowly add in other types of baby cereal. Then add some fruits and veggies. You can look on the actual baby food for age recommendations. It is usually suggested to wait a few days between each new food to check for allergies. Although I never could wait since I was too excited for them to try the new flavors. Luckily my kids never had allergies...although I usually waited until 5.5 to 6 months to start the solids. Be careful with orange juice too young though.

Answer 3

Our pediatrician told us 4 months, but our daughter was fine with formula. We didn't want to take on the extra cost until she was hungry enough for rice cereal.

Our doc told us when she stops sleeping through the night, it might be time for rice cereal. We now feed her rice cereal twice a day.

However, make sure the first time is in the morning. That way you are awake all day to watch her reaction.
If she has a bad reaction to the cereal, you want to be awake to see it, instead of asleep during the night.

Answer 4

I started each of my children at three months mixing Rice Cereal from the box w/their formula and I never had a problem. The doctor didn't see it as a problem either. I started out with maybe a tablespoonful each bottle then added more as they got older.

Answer 5

Much better to wait until 6mths... sure there are tons who do start giving solids early but then there are also parents who are giving their child peanut butter at 8 mths and letting them play in the streets unsupervised when they are 2yrs old (in my old neighborhood this was a terrible problem of young children running around in the parking lot with no adults present). NOT associating giving solids early to reckless parenting, just saying we dont have to do something just because there is someone out there who says there isnt anything wrong with it. Speaking of reckless: My husband took our daughter for a bike ride when she was 2mths old, with her in the Baby Bjorn (of course without my consent, didnt hear about this until the day after). I think most reasonable parents would agree this is terribly irresponsable behaviour... right? Well, he is CONVINCED down to the deepest part of his soul there is nothing wrong with doing that. I waited on giving my daughter solids until 6mths, solids being mashed carrots and peas, while my husband didnt feel the need to wait. He was giving her a spoonful of JAM whenever he felt the urge. I'm very much on a tangent... Your child may be just fine with eating solids earlier than others but the reason for waiting is to make sure you child can properly digest what you give them. Studies say nothing besides milk (plain formula or breastmilk) is necessary before 6 mths... so why not just wait a few more mths?

Answer 6

I personally think its fine. If you still seem skeptical then ask your doctor. Sometimes a baby doesnt get full on just formula so would say about a teaspoon of rice cereal wont hurt.

Answer 7

Rule of thumb is if your baby can hold the head steady while sitting (on lap, in high chair, swing, etc) then it is okay to start giving some baby food. Start with the 1st level foods and if you make the cerel from the boxes, be sure not to make it too think. Also, don't overload the baby, most meals should still be bottles.

Answer 8

I would probably talk to your babys doctor about this one... I gave my son some rice cereal mixed with his formula when he was around 5 months. He loved it..

Answer 9

we mixed rice cereal in the formula to stop her from throwing up ( on doctors reccomendation) at around that age or a little earlier
make sure its single grain though....

Answer 10

although rice is a good simple food,oatmeal has more fiber and is less likely to make your baby constipated. other foods like fruits and veggies should wait another month or longer.