I'm just curious, so I thought I would take a poll - please list at what age you started your baby on rice cereal and why you waited or what made you start at this point (developmentally, etc.). Thanks!
2007-12-17 05:12:35 · 19 answers · asked by jatay 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
We started solids at around 6 months, but started with fruits/veggies and almost never fed rice cereal. It's not particularly nutritious and breastfed babies don't need the supplemented iron. We followed our babies' readiness cues, and offered solids at 5 1/2 months for my daughter (avocado at a restaurant because she was making us all crazy trying to get our food) and 6 1/2 months for her twin brother (papaya at home). Neither of my babies ate much until they could feed themselves.
It's recommended to wait until around 6 months to start solids. I'm still amazed to see how many health care providers are still recommending starting solids at very early ages. There is so much research to support a later start to solids. Your baby's digestive track needs time to mature so the foreign proteins in solids foods don't lead to food allergies. And your little one is less likely to have constipation, rashes, and spitting up with a mature digestive system. Breastmilk contains all the calories and nutrients that baby needs for about a year of life. Starting solids doesn't add to baby's nutrition, it replaces breastmilk in his/her diet. It's important that your baby get breastmilk or formula, which are more nutrient and calorie-rich, to provide what s/he needs for the high rate of growth in infancy.
Signs to watch for that indicate readiness - loss of the tongue thrust reflex (where baby's tongue pushes solids out of his mouth), ability to sit up on his/her own, reach and grabbing for objects and able to bring them to his mouth, interest in your food, and not acting satisfied with milk alone.
2007-12-17 06:18:51 · answer #1 · answered by cherikonline 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who is your doctor? Your baby should be breasfed or formula until one year old. You can start putting rice cereal in the baby bottle with the milk a little bit at a time. Your baby needs the formula! Switch back. He doesn't need milk until one year old. Put some cereal in the bottle and after a few weeks of that then feed him some rice cereal. But he still needs formula. Maybe you should see a different doctor if the doc says its up to you and you husband. that's not right. You should be doing whats right for your baby
2016-05-24 08:59:31 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two weeks. I know it sounds crazy, and I'm going to get a bunch of thumbs downs, but do what works with your own baby. Mine was never full and kept her formula down beautifully...and once I added in some cereal, she was a very happy camper. She isn't overweight, very healthy, and slept through the night at about 2 months old.
2007-12-17 06:21:31 · answer #3 · answered by saxcat00 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My baby was about 6 weeks old and the pediatrician said it was okay. She was (and is) breastfed and bottle fed formula as well. She was just a little too persnickety and hungry for me. She took the rice cereal in a bottle for a couple of months, then I guess she didn't need it as much. Now she is 14 months (today) and likes to toddle around with a slice of pizza! They grow up soooo fast.
My doc said to give the baby cereal as you like: they key is to watch his or her STOOL. People here will try to make you seem like you are making a fat baby with a choking hazard. Don't let them make you feel that way. It is okay.
peace.
2007-12-17 05:35:26 · answer #4 · answered by Sleek 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I didn't give my daughter any cereal at all. It isn't necessary, and it's not particularly nutritious.
I started her on solid foods a week or so before 6 months. Her first few foods were mashed banana, mashed avocado, and mashed baked sweet potato.
2007-12-17 05:32:35 · answer #5 · answered by daa 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Both my kids I started at 3 months. I would only give them two feedings of cereal a day, one at midday and one before bedtime. It's seems that with the cereal my kids could sleep through the night....
2007-12-17 05:28:10 · answer #6 · answered by arielle 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Just started at 5 months. I tried earlier but he'd just spit it out. My oldest son started at 4 months.
2007-12-17 06:15:35 · answer #7 · answered by *adria* 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
5 months - my ped. said between 4 & 6 was recommended, but she prefers to wait until at least 5 months.
Baby needs to hold up its own head & be able to sit up w/ support.
2007-12-17 05:53:13 · answer #8 · answered by Tracy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a little over 5 months old. I just felt it was the right time.
2007-12-17 05:40:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
At 3 months. Would mix it with his formula right before bedtime so he would sleep through the night. Interesting to read that other parents pedi told them to start at about the same age. When I told mine what I was doing he had a hissy and said that it wasn't really helping, only adding added calories. I told him that he needed to keep him for a couple of night waking up every couple of hours to feed then! After that whenever I needed advice, I would call my cousin who had 8 kids. I figured with all that experience she would know!! lol
2007-12-17 05:23:44 · answer #10 · answered by im here 5 · 1⤊ 5⤋