Solid foods at 4.5 month?

Question

At 4.5 month old our pediatrician advised to start giving rice cereal in a bottle, 1tsp per 2oz of milk. I kind of feel it’s a bit early but she said there would not be any problem. We have had an apple a few times, home made, less than a teaspoon, and my baby loves it. She did not have a reaction to it and we do not have any allergies in the family. But I don’t know whether or not to follow my ped’s advise. My baby is breastfed.
Also recently we started to drink water, out of a bottle. I have been trying to find a sipycup but all of them are for 8 month and up. Are there cups for smaller babies? The mouth piece of the 8 month cup is too big for her.

Answer 1

If you are breastfeeding then there is no need to give cereal in a bottle. I have no idea what the purpose of this would be.. If fed food through a bottle babies can actualy breathe the food into their lungs. Which is obviously quite dangerous.

If giving solids then spoon feed.
The recomended age for starting solids is 6 months.
Babies dont really need food so young as all their nutritional needs are met by breastmilk. Its great that she enjoyed the apple but put it off till she is a bit older and able to handle and needs or wants solids. It was just a different feeling texture to her right now.
Your baby doesnt need water or juice this young either.

At 6 months you can introduce a sippy cup with water or diluted juice, to accompany a meal.
But a baby 4 months old is not going to be able to use a sippy cup. They just dont have the motor skills to do so. Even at 6 months it takes a while for them to figure it all out and not just let the water dribble out of their mouths, or wave it around splashing it everywhere!!

I started feeding my breastfed daughter at 4 months(that was the recomended age back then) and although she loved food it was just basicly a game for her. I'd give her a piece of pineapple to suck on which she loved or mashed up avacado. I soon stopped because she was just not ready for it. She was eager in trying new tastes and textures but didnt need it and couldn't really eat properly. So I started around 6 months when she was interested in food and was hungry for solid food.
With my second I didnt give her food at all until 6 months. And she didnt get a sippy cup till she was 8 months.

Answer 2

I heard that you should wait until 6 months to start feeding a baby solid food or to give juice in a sippy cup because babies get all their nutrition from formula or breastmilk until 6 months. My daughter is 4 1/2 months and my pediatrician said that it's usually okay to start rice cereal at 4 months, although my daughter can't start until at least 6 months because she has a heart defect and is too small yet. But I heard that you should never give rice cereal in a bottle because it could cause choking, tooth decay and they could take in too much cereal that way. You should give it in a bowl or dish with a baby spoon. Good Luck!

Answer 3

I would try the cereal in the bottle only if she is fussy, and acts like she is not getting enough to eat. I usually gave it to my kids at the night time feeding right before bed that way they would sleep through the night.
I also read somewhere that infants under 6 months of age should only get Breast milk or formula and no water, and infants 6 months to 1 year should get breast milk or formula,4 to 6 oz. of juice,and up to 8oz.of water a day. It was an article on Water intoxication. But to be sure ask you doctor if it is OK.

Answer 4

I was starting my son on baby food at 4 months...and I have seen sippy cups that are small enough for a baby that age. You just have to look.

Answer 5

you don't start giving them sipy cups till later
you can give them the cereal but i wouldn't give your baby solid food it's way to eary for that, and keep breast feeding and don't give the baby cereal in the bottle make it in a bowl and spoon feed -i remember for some reason it's not good to do that but i can't remember why