Is it too early to give rice cereal to a 5 1/2 month-old?

Question

After reading about that too early to give baby cereal will cause allergy, I am very concern when I can give cereal to my 5 and 1/2 month old boy.

Answer 1

Rice cereal is the best to start with because it is the least likely to cause an allergic reaction. Rice is the mildest of the cereals and it is recommended to start with rice, then graduate to oatmeal or barley and finally mixed. Spoon feed your baby a small amount mixed with formula or breastmilk once a day for a few days and see how he tolerates it.

Your baby will let you know when he is full by turning his head to refuse another bite.

5 1/2 months is a great time to start, and it is very wise that you waited this long actually. SO many parents are rushing their infants nowadays and trying to start cereal too early against AAP advice. 4-6 months is a perfect time to start solids, and your son should do great. Good luck! It gets messy and cute the first time :-)

Answer 2

I have a 4 month old baby and the current advice in Australia is to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months, when previously it was recommended to introduce solids at 4 to 6 months. However if baby seems particularly interested in food earlier than 6 months, eg. trying to grab your food when you're eating, then it is fine to start solids. More info here: http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/justbm.html. My son had his 4 month health check and immunisations this week; when he had his rotavirus vaccine (given by mouth), the doctor said he is not ready for solids as he still has the tongue thrust reflex. So if your baby is just going to push out anything you try to put in, he is not ready.

Our doctor gave me information about food allergy prevention, and baby rice cereal is in the category of foods least likely to cause allergic reactions. I can't find the brochure online but similar information is here: http://healthatlarge.blogspot.com/2006/09/safe-foods-for-your-children.html

When you do start solids, a couple of teaspoons of rice cereal mixed with breastmilk or formula once a day is plenty. There are some good articles on starting solids here: http://huggies.com.au/BeingAParent/FeedingYourBaby/SolidsAndBeyond/StartingSolidFoods.asp

Answer 3

This is a big controversy. My pediatrician said no cereal at his 4 month, but when I took him to his cardiology appt the next week he said to start. So my son has been on cereal for a month now. He has had no problems. I would say you could start, you are close to the 6 month mark.

Answer 4

Yes; that is around the age my daughter began needing cereal in her formula as well. Begin with small amounts of cereal in the formula, though, and gradually increase. And only increase when your baby is again no longer satisfied. Also - make sure you give your son at least a week with one cereal before introducing another, so you can watch out for allergies. Best of luck.

Answer 5

I was told not to give spoon fed foods until the baby is able to hold their head up by themselves. Something about if they are strong enough to hold their head up then their swallowing reflexes are well enough that they are less likely to choke on it. My daughter started having rice cereal around 4-5 months.

Answer 6

My son's doctor tells her patients parents to start rice cereal at 4 months, unless they are a preemie, and then you go by their corrected age. My son was 2 3/4 months early so she had me wait until he was 6 months.

Answer 7

i think you are just worrying too much. 5 1/2 months is just fine to start some baby cereal. not too much to start, make sure he will be able to digest it easily. in about a month or 2 you might want to try a little strained carrots and peas, see how that works from him.

Answer 8

no its not to early, i started to give my baby rice cereal when she was about 2 months because the formula wasn't feeling her up.

Answer 9

I think it should be fine. I gave my daughter this at that age - with the pediatrician's approval - of course. But, some of it is about the baby's weight more than the age. If you baby was a preemie than it would not be okay.

Answer 10

i gave my son rice cereal in a bottle at like 3 months my doctor had told me itd be okie