I started giving my 5 month old rice cereal twice a day when he turned 4 months?

Question

For the rest I breatfeed him. Since I started the rice cereal he tends to get some constipated from the rice cereal, but since breastmilk alone does not fill him up, I continue giving him the rice cereal with a tiny bit of apple paste which seems to be helping the constipation. I tried other cereals like oath meal but he hates it and this constipates him even more, so I stoped. My question is, is apple paste okay for a 5 month old? Do you give this to your baby? and what else does your 5 month old eat? Thanks

Answer 1

Maybe he's constipated because his little body isn't really ready for solids yet. They typically aren't recommended until closer to 6 mos of age.

Nurse more often since breastmilk is a natural laxative.

LLL actually recommends bananas, sweet potatoes and avocados as first foods. You might cut out the cereal and try one of those instead.

Answer 2

It's definately fine to give a little applesauce with some cereal. I started my son on cereal when he was 4 months old, about 1-2 serving a day depending on how much he wanted. A week before he was 5 months old we started giving him a little applesauce with the cereal and he loved it. The cereal can be a little constipating, but the applesauce and natural laxatives in breastmilk should counteract that. Keep up the good work!

Answer 3

when mine were 5 months they had only breastmilk and no cereal til they were 6 months. If the cereal is constipating I would cut way down and just give more breastmilk. as much as he wants. If he is eating more than 35 -40 oz a day is the only time they need solids. I would start with stage one veggies but not til 6 mos

Answer 4

Yes. I gave my boys cereal very early on, and if it ever caused them to be constipated, I gave them applesauce or a little apple juice. White grape juice is good as well. I suggest you stay away from prunes unless you have a major back up. At 5 months, my kids were eatting alot of those first stage baby foods. Not alot, just a little with the rice. They are 2 and 3 years old now, and doing just fine. Its your call. Goo dluck with that cutie pie!

Answer 5

Well he's old enough to start eating baby Gerber food. I didn't give my kids apple paste so I can't answer that question. For the cereal you can try the rice cereal with bananas my kids loved that and they weren't constipated. Try Gerber food and your baby will be full and won't be drinking as much milk. I hope this helps.

Answer 6

Why would breastmilk not be enough for him?

I have never met a breastfed baby who wasn't completly satisfied by breastmilk alone for 6 months and longer!

What was he doing that made you think he needed more than nursing?

He might have been going through a growth spurt and you mis-read his frequent urgent feedings for not getting enough.

Drop the cereal, its not good for him. And nurse him as much as he wants, whenever he wants. Your supply will increase with the demand.

In another month or so (the longer the better!) you can re-introduce solids in the form of FRESH fruits and veggies... bananas and avocados are great! Steamed carrots and boiled sweet potatoes are excellent as well.

Answer 7

Your baby should have breastmilk only for the first 6 months - no rice cereal, no apple paste, no anything but breastmilk. She is getting constipated b/c her digestive system is not yet ready to handle solids. Stop feeding them to her and your milk supply will increase over a few days to meet her needs. Try solids again when she is at least 6 months old and meets these milestones:
* Baby can sit up well without support.
* Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of his mouth with his tongue.
* Baby is ready and willing to chew.
* Baby is developing a “pincer” grasp, where he picks up food or other objects between thumb and forefinger. Using the fingers and scraping the food into the palm of the hand (palmar grasp) does not substitute for pincer grasp development.
* Baby is eager to participate in mealtime and may try to grab food and put it in his mouth.

Answer 8

Breastfed babies do not need any solid foods before 1 year, but definitely not before 6 months. Have you checked with your doctor?

Rice cereal is probably pretty harmless, but not sure about apples. If you can mix in a little mineral oil with the rice cereal, that will help with the constipation.

Answer 9

A doctor will tell you when you should start with rice cereal and other foods, but you know your baby. I started my son on veggies first, ( because of what I heard about them preferring sweet foods.) I tried a different veggie every 3 days to make sure he wasn't allergic to them. (Thats the best way to check for allergies). By the time my boy was 9 months old, he was eating table food, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and small pieces of meat. He had enough teeth, you know. Use your instint, you sound like a great mom!

Answer 10

when my daughter was 5 months old i also gave her rice cereal twice a day than breastfed the rest. she too, also got constipated so i just starting mixing her cereal with some apple juice instead of just water or breastmilk. that seemed to really help her. At 5 months you can probably start introducing some of the number one baby food.