Can I feed my baby cereal before he's 4 months old?

Question

He is 7 weeks, can sit with help, can hold his head up majority of the time, and has a healthy appetite. He weighs 13.5 lbs already, and I feel that he might be able to start solids sooner than 4 months.

Answer 1

The answer will depend on why you wonder whether to start him on cereal. Is it because he seems to be physically advanced in motor skills at his age? Or is it because he is his healthy appetite seems to not be indulged by the amount of breast milk/formula he is currently being given?

Assuming the latter, every child is different and as such, parents will have different experiences. We started adding a small amount of rice cereal to my sons bottles when he was around three months old because he would get up every two hours hungry. He was already up to 6-8 ounces at a sitting and perfectly within all ranges/scales and healthy. Adding the little bit of cereal kept his tummy full for longer and enabled him to start sleeping the amount of time that he needed. My daughter was a little older, around four months, when the same thing began. Our family does not have a history of food allergies, and to this day having started our children on cereal younger than 'recommended' left no adverse effects. They are strong and healthy with no allergies to speak of...at 8 and 6 years old.

You obviously have a strong healthy little boy on your hands, you want to do your best to keep him that way. Talk to your doctor, take his/her advise into consideration. Think about any allergies there might be in your family, because that is a real problem that can be created in your child. Finally, think about whether an ounce or two more per bottle could satisfy that appetite without adding the cereal until he's a bit older. Only you know whats best for your child ~ you will do whats right for him. :)

Good luck!

Answer 2

You need to report that nurse to the doctor and/or the head nurse at the pediatric practice. She is giving VERY dated and dangerous advice, and presenting her personal opinion as medical advice. Her statement is like saying "My child had cancer and needed chemotherapy, so I can't imagine that routine chemotherapy would harm a healthy baby." Rice cereal for reflux is MEDICINE (and a relatively ineffective one at that.) If it's given, it's because the risks of baby starving to death from not eating/vomiting up all his food are greater than the risks of early solids. If your baby is hungry, you need to breastfeed more often. There is nothing to be gained by giving solids this early. Frequent hunger is not 'a problem' for a 2 month old. It's a normal expectation. So there is no reason to 'alleviate' it. EDIT: Linda R once again fails to mention that her children are adults now, and she was caring for babies back when recommendations were VERY different, and force-feeding solids to newborns was routine. She also has never explained why she believes that a newborn is SUPPOSED TO sleep 5-6 hours between feeds. That would allow only 5 feeds a day, which is about half the number that a young baby needs. She's VERY lucky that her milk didn't dry up.

Answer 3

Well obviously you'll see a lot of people on here who started solids early with their babies and they'll say they never had a problem. If you realise all literature says it's better to wait until 6mths and choose to ignore it.... I guess that's your choice. Get your pediatrician to OK this though please, for your baby's health.

P.S. Just read other's comments - gotta agree with YummyMummy and Momma2min... what is everyone rushing for? I feel tired of seeing all these ?'s on here too about giving your newborn cereal. Just because you are giving formula doesnt mean you can start sticking all sorts of things in it. My mother added FLOUR into my bottles when I was a preemie to try to get me to gain weight (per the Dr) and I do think I'm relatively healthy - but that was 30yrs ago. Dr's were all about giving formula. We know a lot more now, there have been many studies done, and giving anything other then breastmilk and if not that then formula designed to imitate breastmilk (although still a far cry) can be dangerous to your child's health if given too early. Just wait.

Answer 4

Hi! Nope. My daughter was a big baby too and the doc said not to start her on cereal until she is 4 months at least. Solids should be started after six months because they can cause food allergies and tummy problems if you start too early. As long as he is getting 4 oz every 3-4 hours, then that should be good. Maybe increase the amount of formula if he isn't satisifed but I wouldn't rush solids or cereal for a while. To us, we think that a baby needs to be fed more but their tummies are actually very small and it's natural for them to require formula or mother's milk. Good luck.

Answer 5

Discuss with your pediatrician but do not listen to those who are telling you to put cereal in the bottle with your baby's formula. Your pediatrician will also advise you of this for very good reason. It's considered empty calories and leads to obesity. There is no proof that putting cereal in the bottles helps a baby sleep better because their tummy's are full. Starting solid foods earlier than recommended can also contribute to allergies. As much as these well meaning folks would like to think the advise they are giving is expert, PLEASE discuss with your doctor, do not take the advise of strangers on the internet when it comes to taking care of your child.

Answer 6

You *can* do anything you want.
The true question is, *should* you do it?
And the answer is NO, not really a good idea.
The AAP doesn't recommend adding solids until around 6 months of age. All baby needs (and all they can digest!) until around that time is breastmilk or formula. Your child's size has nothing to do with it. They don't have the enzymes needed to digest it until around 6 mos of age.
Starting solids too early can lead to diabetes, allergies and obesity.

Answer 7

I fed both my children cereal by the time they were 2 months old - it seemed like they were always hungry and needed something a little more. Just be sure to mix the cereal with a lot of formula or breastmilk so it is thin - you don't want it too thick at all. And if you give them a little cereal at dinner time it seems to help them sleep more through the night I think because there tummies are full! Good luck with your new son!

Answer 8

I think you should consult w/ your pediatrician. I wanted to start my son (who is 6 months) on solids early, too and she advised against it. Breastmilk has the nutrients your baby needs to develope his brain... Feed his appetite with MILK.

You will know when your baby is ready. Does he watch you eat? Does he reach for your food? These are signs that he is ready.

Answer 9

AHHHH, all you parents that are starting solids out so early are CRAZY!!! Whats the big friggin rush!!! For Petes sake, your child is still an infant, enjoy that for awhile.
The AAP doesn't reccomend solids for a baby any younger then 6mo or better later.
His digestive tract is NOT READY for foods like that....and especially not that crappy, starch filled cereal. That is not a necessary step.....when your child is older, start with while foods like avacado and yams.

Sheesh, sorry to rant but this is ridiculous.

Answer 10

Most definitely. My boys had trouble sleeping through the night because they were hungry. I believe they were about that same age. Formula was no longer enough so I would put about a tablespoon of baby cereal in a feeder bottle (they are a cool little concept) or you can make a bigger whole in one of his nipples on a regular bottle. As soon as we started doing that the problem was solved. They went down for the night with a full tummy and have slept the night through since then.