4.5 Month Old Ready for Cereal/veggies

Boys have a tendancy to have a heartier appetite than girls. With that said I have a 2 year old that weighed in at 10lbs 1oz at birth. He was a "I'm hungry all the time" little guy immediately. My mom told me to give him cereal in his bottle if he continues to be hungry. So I asked my Pediatrician and she agreed that it was okay with moderation. So at 2.5 months I started giving him a little rice cereal in his bottle then by 4.5 mos he was being spoon fed Baby rice cereal and oatmeal. He didn't like it plain either. So i added a little baby applesauce, peaches or pears to give it a little sweetness. Then I gradually added the sweet potatoes and other veggies. He loved it. You just have to be careful not to over feed him. Just play around with the combinations and see what he likes. He will be fine.

Interesting comments. My boys are the exception I think. I followed all the rules when to feed soilds etc with my first son. He is almost 4yrs old and hasn't eaten a raw piece of fruit in 2 years unless its in a smoothie or yogart. My dr isn't concerend for his growth pattern. He was 31 lbs at 1yr. Go figure. My second son eats like a wild animal. He was a preemie 35 weeks 7lbs. At 5 months I gave up the rules seeing it did nothing for me. My now 15month old has been eating soild foods since 5 months. He has had no issues. The funny part was at 4 months he would glare at my plate yelling for my food. I mean screaming his head off. No teeth and wants table food. He has chewed on a spare rib at 13 months, eats everything in site. All healthy meals. My older son could careless and gives his food to his brother. The hard part with my little one at 9 months had nothing to do with being fed so it was hard getting rice cereal or anything puree to him because he wanted to do it. Go with your gut. Every child is different seeing my situation and you know your child better then anyone. My mother fed me rice cereal at 3 months and started soilds at 5mos. Even put cereal in my bottle at 3months. My brother was fed the same way. We are both in great shape and watch what we eat as adults we don't eat fast food or junk food. In fact we both hate soda of any kind. My mother is just the op. So there you have it. I think there is too much "have to do this and do that". You can start to go nuts. I have broken all the rules and my children are both very happy and healthy. My second son was walking at 7 months, rolled over at 3, crawling at 4 and furniture walking at 6mos. My older son is very advacned for his age. He knew all his shapes, colors and alaphabet before 2yrs old . My only issues now is my second son isn't saying much and its because my older son set the bar so high. He will come around. I have no worries. Every child grows and eats at their own pace. So just hang in there is my advivce. As you have seen your son doesn't like oatmeal which is a little h*** o* their tummies I have learned at this age. I would have started with fruit first and mixed it up with rice cereal. Then at 6 months move to veggies and so on. I only fed my boys one cereal meal a day. Usually breakfast. They make up with bottles during the day. My older son was so big at birth he was eating 8oz of breast and formula at 2 months.

Hang in there.

SAHM, 40yrs old with 2 funny little boys. 3yrs & 15 months. They move at the speed of light and take my breath away.

I think "schedules" of when to start a child on solids is BS myself. I think you should base what and when you feed your child on their needs. How fast is he growing? How much weight is he gaining? is he getting PLENTY of formula/breast milk and still hungry?

I have 3 kids and none of them were fed the same way as babies. My oldest was on solids at 3.5-4 months, my middle child (the girl) didn't start them till around 7-8 months, and my youngest was on solids at around 5-6 months. But it was all based on their needs.

My oldest grew very fast (17 lbs and 24 inches long at 2 months) and was wanting an 8 oz bottle every 2-3 hours so I started him on cereal, then added veggies, then "meats", then fruits. I think if I had stuck with waiting till he was 6 months old to start solids it would have been detrimental to his health and growth. He's still a good eater to this day, he's 6'4" and weighs about 175 lbs.

I don't think there is a hard and fast "rule" about it. And if there is I sure as heck didn't follow it (course I think rules are made to be bent anyway so there ya go). If you think your son is ready or needs to start solids then I say go for it. If you think it's a little soon then hold off a little longer.

And if you're concerned ASK the pediatrian why he's recommending the solids. Most peds today are more than willing to answer a parent's concerns. And if they aren't ... I'd suggest finding a new one.

Good luck and it'll all work out and be fine :)

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/solids.htm
Try putting your breastmilk or formula in the cereal to make it taste less foreign - rice it the safest cereal to start with. The above website should help you out - I kept the chart on my fridge when my son was a baby.

My Great Grandmother, who is now almost 90 and had 8 children, helped me with this very issue when I faced it. She simply said put some of the foods the baby likes on the front of the spoon and the other on the back they will taste the first and the rest will follow. It worked great for me, I used yogurt because it's processed differently than milk and can be consumed by babies.

Best of luck,
D.

I'm surprised to hear a doc recommending solids at 4.5 mos. Everything I've read says best to wait at least until 6 mos.

Hi T,

Old school Mom here....raised five little darlings...and I stuck to the rules...the reason behind them is so that your baby will learn to enjoy "healthy" foods...I have yet to meet a baby that won't quickly take to anything sweet...so that is why they add fruit last...sweet potatoes are just that...sweet...I hung tight and now I have five adults who crave veggies first...and have passed that love on to their children...It's tough, but worth the effort...and just because the doctor suggests food now does not mean your little one is personally ready..."back in the day" we did not start solids until six months...my most recent granddaughter did not want to eat until she was seven months...she was breastfed, fat and happy...and was not interested in food...your baby will give you signs...just relax...Doctors are a wonderful resource...however every baby is different...

My heart to yours,
T.

I agree with the question as to why is the pediatrician recommending the cereal at this age. I would always ask why when anything is suggested, as I believe parents need to know the reason for anything the Dr. recommends. And I would also strongly suggest that you ask the Dr. about mixing in the sweet potatoes. Having said all that, I don't
personally see any problem with mixing a little sweet potato into the rice cereal for him. Of all the vegetables, sweet potatoes are usually the best from the standpoint of nutritional value and non allergy threatening as a starter veggie. Another thing about sweet potatoes.. you don't need to depend on the jar of baby food. Simply buy a fresh sweet potatoe, bake then peel it, or peel and boil it (I prefer baking for flavor,)then put the potato into you blender or food processor and puree it. Much tastier than the jar food, and just as nutritious, without all the additives they have to put in for preserving the jar food.

Hi T B- I too am wondering why the Doctor would say to start him on solid food so early. Every baby is different but 4.5 is very young. Doctors are so great in so many situations but I think sometimes we look to them as having the answer to everything, eating, sleeping, behavior issues etc. Remember unless there is a real medical need they are just one resource for child rearing ideas. You might do a little research on your own about early solids, talk to other moms, nutritionists and your Doctor about why he is saying this. My girls didn't start solids until 7-8 months. The first several feedings of rice cereal they were pretty much just playing, not sure they really ate anything! That face he makes is common with babies eating in the beginning. Most of the food comes right back out of that funny little face. You didn't say if he was breast fed but if he is and there is no other medical issue that's the best thing for him right now. It's also a lot easier, feeding real food three times a day to such a young baby is going to be a real pain. He is so far away from being able to feed himself or even sit up properly to eat. I really believe that babies will "tell" you when they're ready by becoming interested in food, reaching out for it and having some motor skills that are required for feeding. Then meal time becomes a learning and play experience on so many levels, not just you shoveling food into a little mouth. Good Luck!

it is fine to start veggies first in fact alot of mamas do. Just do not start off with the high allergen fruits like strawberries and you will be okay. My son did not really like the rice cereal either until I mixed it with mashed pears. I do not think you need a schedule of meals yet at this age. Breast milk or formula should still be his main source of calories until at least 6 months and then should be at least 1/2 of calories until age 1 year old. Try some cereal and fruit/ veggie after his milk at each meal that you eat so you can eat together

Hi TB,

I teach the "Introducing Solids" class at DayOne among other locations. I teach parents that grains do NOT have to be a first food and if you look at the research and traditional culture's methods of feeding babies you will find this to be true. Grains are some of the more difficult food groups to digest and many babies haven't even developed the proper digestive enzymes at 4-8 months to digest grains. Also, 4.5 months is fairly early to be starting solids except for the rare occasion when an infant is very mature for their age. Closer to 6 months is the recommended age. Many health organizations recommend exclusive breast feeding or formula feeding until 6 months old.

Veggies, fruits, or meats that are pureed are great first foods. There are a few foods (spinach, carrots, collard greens, beets) that can contain higher amounts of nitrates and should be used with caution until 6 or 7 months, but other than that most foods are OK. If you have a family history of food allergies, you may need to avoid certain foods until 1-3 years of age.

As far as a routine goes, just keep presenting a variety of foods to your child. There is a magic window between 6-24 months when children will most likely accept a wide variety of foods. By age 2, research has shown that a child has formed about 70% of their taste preferences. When you child spits out food, they don't "hate" it, but maybe getting used to new textures, flavors, temperatures, etc. Research shows you have to introduce a new food at least 15-20 times to a child before they can really decide on their preferences.

As far as your pediatrician goes, did you ask why they suggest starting solids so soon? What is their reasoning for holding off on vegetables? Most pediatricians receive very little education in nutrition, so it may help to know their reasoning so you can make your OWN decision with regards to you child.

For more information, you can sign up for an upcoming classes at DayOne, or contact me.

Have fun with solids!
L. Vachani

Holistic Nutrition Consultant
hfwellness.com

Hi-
I am not sure the rule on waiting to start the veggies, but for the cereal- try adding some formula and some baby food fruit or sweet potatoes to it. The key is to not introduce more than one food at a time to watch for allergies and such. I would say if he hates plain cereal, taste it. It's pretty plain jane. But if you add some fruit to it, or some sweet potatoes, it suddenly has a decent flavor.
I heard a lady say once that you owe it to your kids to taste the food you are feeding them. I taste my nephews food. When he spits it out, I completely understand. There are some things I wouldn't stick in my mouth either.
=)
Good luck!
-E. M

What's the reason for starting solids before 6mos? I feel like peds are so frequently suggesting that & it makes no sense to me. Babies get all the nutrition they need from breastmilk or formula, so what gives?

That said...
They say that it takes a dozen times for a child to get used to a new food. If you're wanting him to take solids now, just keep at it. I started w/ REALLY watered down cereal (breastmilk w/ just a titch of cereal) and slowly made it thicker. After that, I went to avocado w/ breastmilk mixed in, etc. I did this only after a milk feeding so she wasn't starving & had more patience for trying the solid.
Try not to fall into the trap of doing fruits or anything too sweet-tasting, as some kids start to prefer those and will turn up their noses at veggies and other not-so-thrilling foods.

Infants are ready at all different ages for solids. If he really isn't interested, wait a week or so and try again. I had one daughter who really wasn't into solids until she was over 6 months old...my others were ready by 5 months. They are still getting most of their nutrition from formula or breast milk at this point. Food at this point is to start to get use to it. I would think that the rice cereal with sweet potatoes would be fine. After a month or so with mine on rice cereal I would start mixing it with other things as well. Just make sure you only use one vegetable at a time for a few days to make sure he doesn't have any reactions.

As far a schedule...right now I would just plan it once a day. They slowly add one more to make two times a day. Finally add the 3rd meal. It is quite time consuming once you get to 3 times a day.

When my oldest (now 7) was your child's age I too started him on cereal. My Dr With Kaiser kept telling me it is best to wait!!!! Well I didn't because he was starving and the formula wasn't enough for him! On top of being on Neutramagin due to dairy alageries, he was now not getting enough formula. So I started him on rice which he didn't like very well so I switched to barley. He liked the barley much better. It wasn't too long after this that I had to start with the pureed food. He was much happier with a fuller tummy. He was also off the charts with his growth! He was always above the 100%. He is now 7 and is in a size 10 in pants and shoe size is 5 in the big boy section. His foot is almost as big as mine (I wear a 9)! I think babies know what they need and ask for it! My son is going to be really tall. So I feel all of his eating early on was the fact that he was just growing really fast and needing the extra calories that solids were able to provide. Good luck!

If your pedi recommended the cereal, then it's should be fine to start. However, having said that....my infant hated the cereals at first, too. After time, he loved them. I make sure to add formula to fortify it, water it down w/water to make it soupy enough to swally so he doesn't choke on it then add a bit of pears or applesauce. But remember to only add one new food a week to ensure your baby doesn't have an allergy to that type of food. So if you've started with sweet potatoes (the baby pureed food) then I'd wait a week to add/introduce a new food like the applesauce. It took me awhile to establish a food routine but I finally got it down to: 1) sweet potatoe for breakfast, carrots for lunch, squash for dinner all w/a 2oz bottle of formula if he'd take it (breastmilk dried up after 2 mos.). Give the bottle or breastmilk first to ensure they are getting enough nutrients. (also, felt my baby slept better w/the formula as I was told the food had more carbs and he burnt those off quicker.) At first, he would eat the solids for 3 meals a day and just formula the other 3-5 feedings. Then he grew tired of the solids so it was mostly all formula with just a few bites of solids 3 times a day. Now we're mostly back to the oatmeal cereal w/fruit mixed in 2 times a day, 2-3 little boxes of solids on the 3rd meal then formula the other 3-4 feedings. The good thing with the formula is he's getting his fluids especially in this heat. He's 9 months old now and things are ever changing. So keep up the good work and go with what works. You and your baby will come up with a routine together. You kind of get to know what works. Every baby is different. Good luck!

theres really no studies that say to start rice cereal before veggies. I would do what your doing and add a little bit of veggies to the cereal. A lot of parents are saying that you shouldnt start solids now until 6months. I just feel like its up to you the parent, you know your baby. Just start it off slow. One meal a day is fine for a while then add another one. Too much food at once can cause contipation. And always offer the bottle/boobe first. Its more importent that they get the liquid first.

yep, every baby is different. and yep, just because it was "recommended" doesn't mean it's a "have to" just yet, UNLESS he has actual health concerns / reasons to start earlier than 6 mths.

if your little guy is showing signs of desiring solids (grabbing at your plate or utensil when you're eating, staring at others as they eat, etc.), then by all means start the process. but if not, then don't rush it. really, it's just ONE MORE THING you have to do once the process is in place, so if you're traveling anytime soon, might think about holding off so you don't have to worry about that on your travels.

definitely only start with once a day & be aware of foods that could cause constipation (bananas for example). you'll only be giving the food to him in very small amounts & it's very true - it can take many repeated attempts over the next year before he finally decides it's not for him! my 3-yr old just recently started eating mushrooms & hated them everytime i offered. now, not so bad!

i would also highly recommend making your own baby food, at least for the first few months. i'm convinced that is one reason my oldest is such a good eater (loves veggies more than fruits, go figure) - he only had the processed stuff when we traveled or were out & about for a long day. it's easy, it's sooo much healthier for them & as they progress to larger quantities, it's SO MUCH CHEAPER because he's eating with the rest of the family & not just from his own "stash" of jars & cans.

there are tons of free online resources that give ideas & suggestions but it's really just common sense; puree away, freeze in ice cube trays then pop out the cubes & bag up in the freezer. it's definitely a little more prep as he eats larger amounts, but he's eating REAL FOOD & it also prepares you for the prep time ahead in the years to come as you make him 3 meals a day. it's just good practice for everyone!

good luck & remember, it's your call. make it fun, experiment & enjoy this time with your wee one! if you want some kid cookbook recommendations i'd be glad to give you a few. :)

V.

mix the cereal(s) with breast milk or formula instead of water. also, slowly mix a little oatmeal with the rice cereal until he gets used to the flavor.

even the most idiotic doctors these days are supposed to tell moms to exclusively breastfeed for six months. EXCUSIVELY means nothing else goes into their mouths.

i think your baby is not ready. just keep nursing.

good luck!

many have already said this but it was a sanity-saver for me when I started my twins on solids:

Babies under a year have all their nutritional NEEDS met by breastmilk and/or formula, so feel free to follow your baby's cues on solids readiness and back off whenever it seems like it's getting stressful for you *or* your child - you're not cheating him of any necessary nutrients at this age as long as he's nursing/getting the bottle enough. So pick a time of day when you and your child won't feel rushed and think of the solids time as more of a learning experience than a nutritional necessity.

Some links and books I've found helpful:
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com (author is a mother of twins so she has realistic expectations of how much time a parent can devote to solids feeding)

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T032000.asp#back - helpful info on recognizing cues for baby's readiness for solids

"Child of Mine - Feeding with Love and Good Sense" by nutritionist Ellyn Satter http://www.amazon.com/Child-Mine-Feeding-Love-Sense/dp/09... -lots of practical and reassuring info (like why we shouldn't worry about where our kids fall on the growth charts if they're healthy and following a consistent growth pattern, and why it's a perfectly normal developmental stage for a toddler who used to wolf down every food placed in front of him to suddenly refuse everything)

Good luck!