starting solids?

Question

my son is 4 months old and has been taking rice cereal in his bottle for 2 months (per his doctor) for his reflux. Today I gave him a couple bites of rice cereal from a spoon and he did well with it. How many times a day do I give him rice cereal from a spoon and usually how much are you supposed to start off giving? Also at what point would I start to introduce other foods like applesauce as I know that you do them one at a time. Thanks for any advice as I'm a first time mom.

Clarify: How often should I give him the rice cereal from a spoon at first and how much should I try giving him? Do I give it before or after bottle. Thanks everyone

Answer 1

Introducing foods slowly helps to determine which food is the cause of any reactions such as vomiting, hives, or diarrhea. To begin with, an infant begins solids just for practice and should still rely mostly on formula or breast milk for the majority of his nutrients. Since you know that rice cereal is not causing any type of reaction for him, you could continue to offer a few bites of rice cereal after his bottle once or twice a day until he seems hungry for more. Don't decrease his formula quite yet, but add the rice cereal by spoon as a supplement. He may not eat more than a few spoonfuls for a while, maybe even as much as 1-2 months. When he begins to drink his full bottle, eat some rice cereal from a spoon and then still be hungry, than you can begin to add some other vegetables and fruits to his diet. Until he is at least 6 months old, he should be drinking his milk first and then eating for supplemental reasons. After 6 months, he can start eating more solids and decreasing his milk intake a little. I suggest focusing on a good foundation of vegetables such as sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, green peas, and green beans. Then add fruit when your baby is eating vegetables very well. Usually, sometime between 9-12 months a baby will begin to eat a fairly good schedule of 3 meals and 2-3 snacks per day.

Answer 2

I have 3 children, and i would say if your son did well from a spoon, then you would be okay to start giving him cereal in the morning for starters......Each child is different, but you could start by feeding him about a 1/4 cup mixed rice cereal. If he seems to do well with that, in time you can increase the amount you feed him. He will let you know when he's had enough, or if he is ready to start eating more.

Fruits and Veggies can be started now that he's 4 months of age also. Some would say to start with veggies first, because fruits are sweeter, and your child may be less likely to eat the veggies if they've been given fruits first. I say, do what you feel the most comfortable with. You can start by giving just a plain fruit or veggie int he afternoon, or evening, or you can mix a fruit or veggie into the rice cereal to slowly adjust your child to different tastes and textures.

It sounds to me like you are already doing a great job. Just go with your instincts. Pick a few things to start with, and I'm sure your son will do fine!! Good luck!!

Answer 3

I have a 4 montha almost 5 (next week) baby girl & she started a little before she was 4 with rice cereal with her formula or with baby juice (grape or orange) last week I started with Gerbers.. but the ones kids called UGLY ( carrots, peas, sweet potatoe etc) but be constant with one first for 2 or 3 days to check for allergies then start traying the sweet ones ( apple, pear, banana etc.) I give her 2 or 3 of the formula scoops of rice with juice or formula adn give her at 3 times a day then her formula & she is sleeping very well at night she goes to sleep at 9:30 and wakes up until 5:30 or 6 for formula & goes back to sleep...Just fro dinner try to give him at the same hour if possible not to late and I will suggest to buy a babysitter chair this will help him to be more firm & always sit him in the same place when going to eat don't move him around that way he will know that it is time to eat ... good luck !!

Answer 4

My 4 month old son's ped. just gave us a menu.

Week 1:For breakfast, lunch and dinner he gets rice cereal (1 tsp. and 4-5tsp of formula)

Week 2: oatmeal cereal (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Week 3: Barley Cereal (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Week 4: Cereal & Apple (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Week 5: Cereal & Pear (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Week 6: Cereal & Banana (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Week 7: Cereal & Peach (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Weeks 8-12: different combinations for breakfast lunch and dinner.

Week 8: Breakfast - Cereal & Fruit; Lunch - Fruit & Carrots; Dinner - Cereal, Fruit & Carrots

Week 9: Breakfast - Cereal & Fruit; Lunch - Fruit & Sweet Potato; Dinner - Cereal, Fruit & Sweet Potato

Week 10: Breakfast - Cereal & Fruit; Lunch - Fruit & Squash; Dinner - Cereal, Fruit & Squash

Week 11: Breakfast - Cereal & Fruit; Lunch - Fruit & Green Beans; Dinner - Cereal, Fruit & Green Beans

Week 12: Breakfast - Cereal & Fruit; Lunch - Fruit & Peas; Dinner - Cereal, Fruit & Peas

My ped. also suggested giving less formula (my son has 6 oz. every 4 hours- I reduced it to 4 oz)

But he just doesn't want to eat the cereal...keeps spitting it up...maybe he's not ready yet.
=)


Take Care

***Use the directions on the box...you don't need to feed your baby a lot of solids...I'm told it's just to get the baby used to eating. My son will only tolerate about 4 spoons of cereal, then I follow with a bottle. I wouldn't suggest giving a bottle first becasue then your baby will be too full to eat the cereal.

Answer 5

i have three children and you have to experience, boys usually are more slower(scientific) and not as willing to do as much as a girl would.

My two boys started with a little for each time, start with the spoon and if they dont cooperate give them the bottle.

Answer 6

I fed my son cereal in the morning...then at night when he was four months i started veggies....once i tried all the veggies i started fruit in the after noon....you are doing good....

~~~You can email me w/ any questions!!

Answer 7

now is good to introduce 1st foods. how much he'll eat at once. you can feed him a spoon all of his meals it's what ever you prefer