How soon is it okay to give my son baby cereal?

Question

He is 3 months now. I just started to give him a little bit of baby cereal (rice-kind) before bedtime, so he can sleep longer. Dr says it's okay if he takes it. Well, he does like it, but he seems to have less bowel movements during the day. One sometimes two in a day as opposed to the 4-5 he used to have. Is that still allright? Is he maybe more constipated because of the cereal?

He is a very nicely developped, strong baby for his age. I'm breastfeeding, sometimes when I can't breastfeed I give him formula with iron (from day 1). At night I pump and mix in the cereal. Isn't one poop a day too little though?

Answer 1

It's really NOT too little to poop. I drove my doctor nuts asking the same question. Actually, I was surprised to learn that one poop every 2-3 days is normal. Especially for breastfed babies. My lactation consultant confirmed that for me (because I had always heard the opposite). There's less waste product with breastmilk.

My doctor said to wait until at least 4 months and at least 13 pounds (preferably doubled birth weight) to start cereal. I think usually 6 months is the target...but since yours said it was ok, here's another tip from my doc. Try mixing a little pear juice in with the cereal (you might want to check this with your doc). Actually all the "p" juices are good for getting things going if your baby seems to have trouble going (meaning that he's uncomfortable, straining, etc.) Prune, pear, peach....all good for helping to get things moving. I wouldn't make the cereal like that every time, but it does help if they're constipate.

btw - my son seriously only pooped once every 3 days until he started eating 3 meals a day. He never seemed uncomfortable or anything...it just worried me. Apparently, it was for nothing. He's 3 now and just fine. :)

Answer 2

I gave my son a little cereal in his bottle at the age your son is now, a couple of times a day. Less bowel movements is normal too. My son is almost 11 months and has about 2 bowels a day, sometimes only 1. Maybe give him cereal on a spoon with formula mixed in by 4 months, if not now if he can take it. At first it's hard for them to eat off a spoon, just try a little bit every day. Good luck!

Answer 3

Solids really aren't recommended for babies under 4 months and actually it's better to wait until 6 months, though not many parents do. At 3 months your baby's digestive system isn't ready for cereal and contrary to what they say, feeding an infant formula/breast milk mixed with cereal will not keep them asleep longer at nights. The cereal has iron and could be constipating him.

Answer 4

Babies gastrointestinal system (gut) is not developed enough to handle solids before 6 months old. If solids are given earlier than this time allergies may develop. That being said, lots of people start their babies on solids at around the 4 month mark, however, they really do not require anything other than breast milk or formula. My son is very big and did just fine on milk only (continued to remain in the 90th percentile) and actually wouldn't take solids until he was more like 6.5 months. Anyway, your baby probably needs more fluids and this is likely why he is having fewer BM's.

Answer 5

Mix a small amount of babyfood applesauce with the cereal or give him baby apple juice every day. Can also use regular apple juice diluted -1 oz juice to 4 oz of water. I used the combination of rice cereal and apple sauce in my childrens night time bottles to help them sleep through the night. It would usually help them sleep for 6 or 7 hours without a problem.

Answer 6

Hi,
Congrats on your new born! Rice is okay for being a babies first food but at 3 months it is a little early. If you want him to sleep longer, which I am assuming why you would feed him a starch, you can try bananas or avocado (which is omega rich for brain development!) trying one food at a time for 4-7 days to watch for allergic rxn. . just puree it and add water to it. Its okay to use an infant spoon to feed them, don't put rice in a bottle since that doesn't promote development.
The super baby food book by Ruth Yaron is excellent resource of when to feed certain food to your baby. always follow your drs. advice though if they feel different.

Hope that helps. oh yeah.. when I stopped feeding my 8 month old at 3 months during the night ( i just gave him water) he started sleeping thru the night a week later. he finally ate more during the day!.sleep was so nice

Answer 7

11 week old? you're kidding precise...? there is not any rush, in any respect! Your toddler's digestive gadget is immature precise now, and are extra possibly than 6+ month old infants to get an allergic reaction. I in simple terms those days began giving my 6 a million/2mo solids, yet she's in basic terms fairly taken rice cereal, she would not have it conventional however. this is cautioned to commence at 6 months, yet no longer absolute mandatory, a toddler in basic terms fairly needs breast milk or formulation for the 1st twelve months something till now then is in simple terms experimenting with nutrition for them.

Answer 8

One factor in this childhood obesity and diabetes epidemic is that children are getting solids too soon. Feeding solids early can over work the under-developed infant pancreas and therefore create an insulin deficiency. Type II diabetes used to be referred to as "adult onset" but because so many children are getting Type II diabetes, most healthcare professionals do not call it "adult" anymore. If the AAP says 6 months...hold off.

Answer 9

Although the box suggests that your child is 6 months your Doctor is correct. It all depends on how strong your sons digestive system is. But it is a fact that your child's system is guaranteed to be developed enough to handle light cereals at 6 months old.

Answer 10

I gave my babies cereal at 8 weeks and they aren't really constipated, but they will be more solid, I wouldn't worry unless they seem to have a hard time having a bowell or doesn't have at least 1 a day. Just wait till you start carrots!! The bm will be oarnge!