Feeding Baby Cereal
The question of when you start feeding a baby cereal has come up within my circle of friends recently. One friend has a baby who is four months old and has not yet been introduced to cereal, another friend started her son when he was 3 months old. I started my own kids on cereal when they were almost five months.
So who is right?
There is no perfect time to start your infant on solid foods.
The optimum time to start a child on cereal is between 4-6 months.
How will you know your child is ready? You will know if you follow these guidelines:
-nurses or drinks eagerly and is looking for more when s/he is done
-Has she lost her tongue-thrusting reflex? This reflex -- which prevents her from choking on formula -- could cause her to push solid food from her mouth with her tongue.
-has control of her head and neck muscles
Remember, if you or any family member has any food allergies check with your doctor before starting cereals.
Start with rice cereal, then oatmeal and finish with barley. (remember ROB)
Feed each diluted cereal in addition to his formula or breastmilk for a couple of days to a week before trying a new one.
baby cereal, when to feed a baby cereal, when to start solids, infants, babies, moms, new moms, feedings, breastfeeding, formula
January 30th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
You know its funny that I found this site the night I decided to give my 6 wk old son a tiny bit of cereal in his bottle. I gave my 1st son cereal in his bottle at 10wks. Early I know!
My husband had cereal in his bottle at 3 days old… seriously.
I was debating starting Taite on the one cereal bottle (I only give them one at night) just because he was still so young… but seeing how well my 1st did on it and the fact that Taite is doing better pooping than my 1st ever did (my 1st tended to get constipated with formula). I dont see the harm in it.
My oldest son is 2 yrs old now and is just as healthy as any other 2 yr old. I dont feel starting him on the cereal so early hurt him. Hes always been a healthy, happy and content baby
and so is baby Taite.
I wont try feeding him it real thick though with a spoon until 5 months or so.
Oh and the amt. I put into the one bottle is very little.. maybe 1/8th of a tsp. Tiny tiny amt.
I found your site on “shape of a mother” if you were curious
thanks!
January 31st, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Drea, every Mom does what is best for them.
I am just going by the AAP guidlines.
April 5th, 2007 at 2:54 am
Excuse, and what you think concerning forthcoming elections?
April 9th, 2007 at 4:42 am
cool blog!
April 16th, 2007 at 1:10 am
cool blog!
April 18th, 2007 at 2:04 am
nice photos of this blog
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:11 am
I started giving my third son a tiny bit of cereal at 8 weeks…and at three months, he now gets a small bowl of fairly thick rice or oatmeal cereal twice a day (made with breastmilk) He was very colicky before cereal, and this totally solved that problem. My oldest is 11, and back then this was considered ok. All three of my boys are totally healthy!! Moms…just relax and follow your instincts…moms have been doing it for hundreds of years….
February 28th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
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