When to introduce rice cereal?

Question

My son is not satisfied with his formula alone. He is 9 1/2 weeks old and I had to up his feedings to 6oz already and he still seems hungry. When can I give him rice cereal? The doc says 4months but my baby seems like he's starving!!!

Please, please do not tell me to breast feed as I CANNOT physically and he won't eat the breast milk even from a bottle!!!

Answer 1

The reason you have to wait is because the baby's immune system is not developed fully yet and you don't want to introduce new foods outside of the time schedule. Believe me I know, I gave my baby rice cereal when he was 2 months, and introduced table food early and he was allergic to a lot of things. When he was six I had to take him to an allergy specialist who gave him immuno therapy shots over a period of a year to help lessen his immunity to certain food allergens, it helped he is now 14, but he is still allergic to lemons and a few others but not a lot like he used to be.

Answer 2

I was fed cereals as a baby and developed allergies to corn, rice and wheat. I also had allergies to dairy and nuts (which i still have today) I became immune to the foods at about 5, but all i could eat untill i was 5 was fruit, vegies and meat really. Im no expert i just thought i would share.
Its best to check with doctor

Answer 3

My daughter could not hold down formula or breast milk so my doctor told me to add a little cereal to her formula I only added 1tsp per scoop of formula and used a faster nipple and that helped, do not make the nipple hole bigger cause that could ruin the nipple and it could break into pieces while the baby is eating and it would choke. That also helped her make it longer between feedings. She is a year old now and is perfectly healthy

Answer 4

Well I started giving my son cereal when he was 2 1/2 months, but when feeding him cereal don't put to much as it will make him throw up so just add about 2 teaspoon because it does expand, he might still be hungry after that but that's when you pick him up and comfort him. Good Luck

Answer 5

Talk to your doctor again. Mine told me absolutely no cereal before 4 months because the baby can develop food allergies.

Answer 6

I'm from the ole school, but when our son was always hungry, wife cut a small hole in the nippple of the bottle and added a littloe ceral to help fill him up!! It worked GREAT, and he used the same for his son!! give it a try, no reason for babies to be hungry, Drs. are great, but they don't know everything!!!!!

Answer 7

listen to your dr......anything before 4 months they can develop food allergies.....if he is hungry try giving him extra feedings! a baby that old can only hold so much in there little tummies......just try feeding him more often

Answer 8

the dr. told me the same thing. but my kids literally ate 8 oz every hour. when i started putting rice, and oatmeal in with their formula, they cut down a whole lot, and stayed satisfied longer. i started at around 6 weeks. and they are completely healthy kids now. good luck

Answer 9

usually when the baby is about 3 months old. you may want to ask your doctor. I always gave my kids theirs when i thought they were ready.Remember anytime you give your baby something new, don't do it at night. that way if he/she gets sick or it doesn't agree with them you will be wide awake & can see if anything goes wrong.(allergies etc..) that way you wont be up all night.

Answer 10

we introduced it at 3 months. I would say wait it out as long as possible. if your doctor was not worried about his weight than he is fine. he probably isn't hungry but looking for a way to comfort himself.