what month should or can you start a baby on baby food???

Question

I have worked in child care for over 7 years. I currently watch a friends baby during the day. The baby is almost 5 months, and she brough baby food, like actual jar food. Well the baby does not even open her mouth, she has to force feed her. I wont feed it to her since she does not take to it. Her mother is VERY stubern so i wanted another opinion, because every child i had in a class was at least started on cerial first.

Answer 1

around 4 months you can start with baby cereal, then they recommend veggies before fruit, at around 6 months.

Answer 2

"MommytoDavid", "SillyGirl", "sevenofus" and "Kim" have given you very good answers. ( a few other too). Although it is not your baby, the infant is in your care so I do think you have a responsibility to do what is best for him. It is sad that the mother is being so stubborn and wants you to force feed the baby before he is ready.
Most babies that are breastfed do not need anything but their milk until they are at least 6 months old and some don't want or need it until they are much older. You do not say whether or not this baby is receiving breastmilk that the mother has pumped out or if he is on formula. I would guess the later as breastfeeding moms are typically not forcing solid food on an infant.
The way I see it you are in a bind here. If you insist that you are not going to force feed jars of food on a baby that is too young, which would be the ethical thing to do, you risk losing the mother as a customer. She will then just find someone who is willing to force food down that poor little babies throat.
You might try to present her with information showing her that it is not healthy to give a baby as young as hers that type of solid food, if any solid food, but it sounds to me as tho she is likely to resent your attempt to educate her. In her mind you should just do what she asks you to do.
It is a quandry that I would not want to be in. The really sad part is that the baby is the one that will lose in this whole thing.
I wish I could be more help but as I said the ladies that I mentioned, and a few others are exactly right and there is not a lot you can do about it.
You can try to reason with the mother and maybe she would be content to force feed her baby while it is with her and not try to make you do it also. If you can explain to her that it goes against what you know to be best for babies, maybe she will listen but I honestly doubt it. Calling your pediatrician might help but I doubt it. She will see it as an intrusion I am sure.
Good luck honey, you sound like someone who honestly cares for the babies that are in her care and that is a wonderful thing. There are too many people doing day care who do not genuinely care for the babies that they take care of. You are trying to do a good job and that is wonderful.
Good luck and I hope you prevail.
Love and Blessings
Lady Trinity~

Answer 3

As per pediatrician information:

4 months - infant cereal - single grain - can be started
6 months - jar food can be started, specifically single food fruits and vegatables. Try one food at a time, for three days, before trying anything else. This gives time for any allergic reaction to occur.
9 months - babies need to have proteins, so meats and dinners can be started. The key here is to still only try one new food at a time. For example, if you know your baby is okay on applesauce, then you can try apples and chicken. If your child would have a reaction, then you know the problem was with the chicken not the apples.

Foods your baby should NOT have:
egg whites - most people allergic to eggs are allergic to whites
hot dogs - a choking hazard
strawberries or peanuts - because of allergies
shellfish - allergies

Answer 4

Personally speaking I think it depends on your baby. Ask yourself these questions: How many bottles are they eating in a 24 hr period? Does the baby seem to be satisfied? Is the baby eating more often than every 3 - 4 hrs? I had 4 children and all 3 of my girls were fine with starting them on baby cereal at the age of 4 months. My son however, seemed to be growing like a weed :-) and hungry constantly so started him on rice cereal at the age of 2 1/2 months (as per dr's order) and he seemed to be a much happier baby. I simply started him on 2 Tablespoons at first and that gave him just enough to tide him over until his next bottle. When you do decide to start your baby on foods, make sure you give them the same kind (i.e. bananas for 3 days) for a 3 day period to see if the child tolerates it well and that should help you figure out if they have food allergies to that food. Good Luck with your baby! Just remember what works for one child may or may not work for the others.

Answer 5

Nutritionally, breast milk meets all of a baby's needs until around 6 months old. It is not necessary to introduce solids before then. However, some babies show signs of being ready to try solids between 4-6 months. Fortified infant rice cereal thinly made with water, breast milk, or formula is a common first solid for babies. Your baby's doctor will give you advice on when to start solids. Typical signs that a baby is ready are being able to sit upright with good head control, loss of the natural "tongue-thrust reflex" (if baby consistently pushes the spoon out, it is not likely a taste issue, but a still strong tongue-thrust), and interest in what you are eating (watches you eat, opens mouth as spoon goes by, reaches for food). Some moms begin solids early, but early introduction has been strongly linked to food allergies and obesity. Additionally, adding cereal to a baby's bottle is not recommended unless there is a medical reason, such as acid reflux. Choking hazards plus filling up on less nutritious cereal instead of breast milk (or formula) are serious concerns to be aware of. Some babies just aren't interested in solids until after 6 months and sometimes as late as 9-12 months.

Answer 6

I actually just had my doc visit for this. He told me that you can start at 4 months but anywhere between 4-6 months. But they say that some babies are not ready at 4 months, you can tell because when they don't have control over there mouth their tongue pushes against it. He also told me the best thing to start them on is baby cereal. Then you introduce them to 1 food a week. And with the foods you start with fruit because they are used to sweet stuff. But this was his recommendation. The biggest things are you do not want to introduce 3 new things at once because you have to figure out what they are allergic 2.

Answer 7

The new reccomendation is nothing other than breastmilk for the first 6 months, at least.

Some babies are not interested until closer to a year.

If this baby is refusing, her digestive system is probably not ready yet and force-feeding her could cause harm.

Oh, and cereal is not the best choice for a first food. They can't digest it and its extrememly processed.

Fresh fruits and veggies are best, WHEN the infant is ready. (even jarred food lacks alot of enzymes and nutrients)

She should be sitting unassisted, able to pick things up with her fingers and eager about food.

Answer 8

they let you know, my first wouldn't eat anything til about 9 months. my 3rd right now is 6 months and has been eating cereal since about 4 months and baby food since about 4 1/2 months. As long as they hold there head up pretty steady it is fine. They can still be a little wobbily but make sure if you start around 4 months that they are in a highchair that leans back or even the bouncy chair is good. Since they are still a little wobbily the need the head support.

Answer 9

I have two sons aged 2 and 5, i started both before they were 5 months. I think the real answer is when they are ready, if they are chewing hands, watching you eat, not really satisfied by a bottle then maybe they're ready. I would try them with a little runny baby rice, and see what happens. If they don't take to it, don't worry and try it another time.

Answer 10

sounds like you're right on. yes babies typically are started on THINNED out rice cereal first though some say that you can also start on banana or avacado. mostly it just depends on the pediatrician.

anyway you are right not to force feed the child, especially if the childs mother is trying to start him on something to advanced for his age/level of development. other then that there isn't really much you can do about the silly mama.

Answer 11

Lindsey.

This is the one place that you should not ask that question. You will get so much WRONG INFORMATION...it's not even funny. This is your child's health and well being you're talking about here. Starting too early, or starting with the wrong foods, can prove extremely harmful to your child.

Do yourselves a favor and talk to your pediatrician about this.

Just looking at the few answers you've gotten so far...I'm appalled that so many people are so willing to offer misinformation to a new mom.

Call the pediatrician ...please.