My son is 8ks old and family pressuring to start him on rice cereal, but battling gas problems. Any comments?

Answer 1

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until closer to 6 months of age to start solid foods. An 8 week old baby not only does not need cereal, he can't digest cereal! Starting him on solid foods too early can put him at risk of allergies, diabetes and obesity. Tell them that YOU are the parent and you are following the current recommendations which say a child this age needs NOTHING but breastmilk or formula.

Answer 2

It does seem too early for rice cereal or solids of any kind.

Is the gas problems after you started the cereal or was it to treat it? I am assuming its was the latter. Also do you breastfeed him or give him formula?

If you breastfeed him, try to cut down on dairy (yogurt should be fine), whole wheat, and gassy vegetables like potato, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes etc. Also avoid or reduce beans of any kind. Also try drinking ginger/lemon tea. On the other hand, if he is formula-fed, some babies may not tolerate the dairy based ones. Although the alternative soy based is also not something I prefer at such a young age, if you can afford it, there are some alternatives like Nutramigen or Allimentum. Check with your paediatrician before starting on these though.

Having said all this, go with your gut feeling. Most babies go through some amount of gas/colic problems. If you feel its not a major issue, keep consoling him. As he grows he will do better!

Answer 3

The best time to start solids is a 6 months old, or as early as 5 months old. Any earlier could cause your child some problems. I'd ask your pediatrician, especially if he is having gas problems, the cereal could make it worse.
P.S. Don't rush your son, wait until his system is ready and is able to control the gas problem a little better.

Answer 4

My son passed gas nonstop, his doctor told me it was normal at that age. He however wasnt one that cried because of tummy gas. At his two month checkup my son was eating 2.5 sometimes 3 ounces of formula every 3-4 hours. His doctor who has been practicing almost as long as Ive been alive told me to start him on solids. Every parent, every doctor, every magazine will tell you something different go by your gut instint and do what you think is best for your son. My son is now 5 months old eats "solids" 3 times a day and drinks 6 ounces of formula and is healthy. When introducing new foods wait 3 days between each introduction to check for allergies. Also try burping your son more often during feedings. Remember a baby swallows air when they eat, and when they cry. Ive known people to start their babies on rice cereal at a month and they did just fine.

Answer 5

Does he seem hungry soon after feeding? If so give him more formula or what ever you are using. Also for the gas, get some semithicone drops. It is a gas relief product for babies.Make sure you burp the baby well to get rid of all gas bubbles..Sometimes its merely gas instead of hunger. Now on the otherside, it's common to give babies a bit of rice ceral with there milk...drs will ask you to wait, because they claim if you start a baby on food to soon, it could cause allergies... I myself raised four children and the day they came home from the hospital they were on ceral, and they all grew up just fine with no problems...Relax mom and enjoy and try what works best for you and your baby...Good luck..

Answer 6

You never give your baby solid food until at least four months but its ideal to wait till six months. You can cause thrm kidney problems, gas problems, stomach problems. Talk to your doctor on things to help with the gas but dont give your baby ceral yet. You will be hurting him more then you know and it may not be problems that show up in infancy.

Answer 7

Your the Mom now, you may have to tell them to butt out. If they are really stressing you, avoid them for a while. New Mommy's have a enough to deal with. They mean well I am sure, but you make the decisions. Unless you gave birth to a 10 lb baby, starting solids this early would be needless. If you are breast feeding, there is definately no need.

Answer 8

you do what YOU think you should do. rice is supposed to be the cereal with the least potential for causing allergies. my kids, doc said six months old for cereal, but they couldnt wait that long!! i would have been feeding them every hour and a half or so. hes your son, you do what the doctors and you think are correct.

Answer 9

He is too young for rice cereal. No solids until he is 5 months old.

Answer 10

No solids for any baby, gassy or not, until AT LEAST 4 months. Most doctors will suggest waiting until they're 6 months. Don't listen to your family or anyone but your doctor! Do what's best for your baby, not what makes other people happy.