Beginning Solids

Try mixing the ceral as you have been doing but put it into his bottle and make the hole just a bit larger. This worked fine with my children.. maybe using a nipple for juice. hope it works for you Drs. are always changing their minds. but don't start feeding cereals to early see if you can feed him more milk and if that just doesn't work the cereal should do fine.. give it at first in the AM then if it doesn't agree with him you are up all day not ALL NIGHT... GOOD LUCK

He is still young. Just be patient and try it again in a few weeks. He will take it when he is ready. :) Good Luck!

Hi M.- Have you tried putting the cereal mix into the bottle, with a bit larger hole in the nipple, if needed? I did that with my sons and it worked. Good Luck!!

I'm surprised your pediatrician approved of starting solids so early. The AAP recommends waiting until 6 months (and at my mom's groups at Isis Maternity, all our instructors agreed with this- not to mention all the child care books we have)... if he doesn't seem to take to it, why not wait a few weeks and try again? My son had a bad allergic reaction when starting solids (to whey, a milk product, which is an ingredient in some Beech Nut cereals) Allergies are so common now, and they are worsened by early exposure to the offending food (you can google this) COntrary to what was believed 30 years ago, medical evidence has shown that there is absolutely no benefit to starting solids that early, and solids really should not be started until the baby starts showing an obvious interest in eating table food (like grabbing out for what is on your plate) Good luck!

Do YOU like the taste of rice cereal?! Ha! Ha! I wouldn't eat it either.

I am a mother of 2 (two boys: 3 & 1/2 and 1 yr. old) I've learned that some kids like to try new things and some just don't. My first opened his mouth like a frantic baby bird for anything that came his way. (of course I attributed this to my wonderful parenting skills. ha ha.) My second won't open his mouth for anything but the boob. It's definitely frustrating. But, I've learned that whatever the trick or intent, he just won't eat if he doesn't want to. At one year old he will sometimes go TWO DAYS without eating solid food. On the flip side, when he's in a growth spurt, he'll eat three large meals plus two snacks, day after day. This, followed, of course, by a food strike.

I learned to just simply not fret about it. It's a waste of energy. I am very concerned about his health, of course--don't get me wrong. So I just continue to offer him whatever we are eating at each meal. And then I make sure that I eat healthily myself so that my breastmilk is nutritional. He'll come around when his body needs it.
I don't know any eight year olds who eat from a bottle. :)

I'm sorry that I'm not offering you any new "tricks" but perhaps good 'ole fashioned empathy will help to boost your patience on this long journey through infancy. Whew. Patience. That's what it's all about, right? I know I certainly could use more of it! Good luck!

Hi M.-
Something that was helpful to me when I started my son on solids at 6 months were the 'general guidelines'. They basically say:if your baby looks interested in food, reaches for what you're eating, watches you put the food in your mouth, can sit up on his/her own... then they are ready. Maybe your little guy isn't quite ready for the big stuff yet. Maybe take a week or two off and try again later. There's definitely no rush! Good luck! :)

It might just be too early. Why rush it? My 13-month-old daughter didn't begin solids 'til 6 months. And then just had very thin cereal for a couple of weeks. Perhaps if you hold off for a while things will happen naturally without lots of effort.

It sounds like you're doing everything right, but that he's not ready right now. Why don't you wait a week or two (or even a month) and try again. Babies don't really need solids until they're six months old, so it won't hurt him to wait, and he might be more ready later. Good luck!

Well. My thoughts shared here are from my personal experience. I have 4 kids, ages 5-17 ;]
The tongue reflex you and he are experiencing are natural and normal. It's to be expected at 4 months the baby will refuse. You can try or forget about it for a while and try again in a while. Your choice. Whatever makes you comfy! google or ask the Ped., about the tongue reflex! Hang in there Mom!

Your poor baby! He is too young! The AAP recommends starting solids at 6 months, not 4. I'd wait. My son is almost 7 months and is just now starting to show an interest. Good luck!
ETA: One person mentioned starting cereal b/c of the baby's large size. Well, my son was almost 18 pounds at 4 months and almost 21 at 6 months and the ped never suggested cereal due to size. Breast milk is fine until your little guy is ready!

Hi M.,
I have a 4 1/2 month daughter and I just started feeding her cereal. I thought it would be some hugely momentous occasion because everyone tells you that she will love it and she won't want to go back to the bottle. WRONG! She doesn't scream or spit it out but she is less than thrilled with it! So, I mixed in the gerber peas or beans or carrots etc. Then I will move onto fruit. She likes it a little bit more than plain cereal. I also only put 3 1/2 tbs of formula. She likes it thicker and it is getting her used to moving the food around in her mouth. Ihope this helps!
K.

Hi M.,
I can see that you have had quite a few responses to your issue but I thought I would respond anyway. I had the same problem with my son when he was 4 months. I started to thicken the cereal, just a little, he liked it much better on the thicker side. I fed him the cereal or veggies etc. in between bottles only once a day at dinner time. If he cried we only tried for a few bites. It is not good to force them to eat because then they will have a bad association with food. Eventually he came around and by 5 months he was eating solids at breakfast and dinner. I would not have any worries about it. He will come around and before you know it he will not be able to get enough of it. Good Luck!

Hi M.! Between having my son (now 4 1/2) and my daughter (now 10mos) I've noticed many pediatricians have changed their tune on 'solids'. We started them at around 4 mos. w/my son and doc. had us wait until AT LEAST 6 mos. for my daughter. Unless for a medical reason, baby doesn't NEED solids at this point so if he's really fighting, try again in a few weeks or a month. It's pretty natural for him to want just a bottle. On the other hand, if you want to give it another go, try putting small amounts of rice cereal in his bottle. One of the moms in the moms group I go to had to do this for her son who had some reflux issues at the direction of her DR. It'll slightly thicken what he's drinking and get him a little more used to it in flavor. Lastly, my daughter wasn't too keen on cereal when we started her on it. I picked up one of the Gerber 'flavored' cereals - it's got fruit in it but texture is the same - and she LOVED it. So, good luck!

T., mom of Jack (4) and Scarlett (10 mos)

Hi M.! My kids (2 yr. and 7 mo.) both started solids at 4 months, at the ped. approval, because of their size (about 17 pounds at 4 months!). My little daughter preferred to eat a thicker mix than what the box said. Is he showing signs of readiness? Is he sick otherwise? When I started Mina, she got sick with a cold and we put it on hold for a while because she was having a hard time with it. I usually just started it when they seemed to be in a good mood, not worrying about weather or not they were hungry. These first feedings are more for practice than for actual nutrition. Also, I have found that my little girl does not really like the jarred baby foods. She's now 7 months and eating some table food, the mushy stuff, because she prefers to feed herself. Oh! Would it help if you gave Evan his own spoon to hold? My kids liked that. Also, it wouldn't hurt to wait a week or few days and try again. Well, good luck! Let us know what happens!

I have two children one is two now and the other is 12 months. My first child took to solids like a champ at 4 months. We had no problems at all. My second, on the other hand, didn't take to solids very well at all. She was doing exactly what your 4 month old is doing now. I finally asked the doctor waht was going on and he said that she is simply not ready for solids. Her stomach doesn't have the enzymes needed for digestion. So i waited until she was 6 months and everything went MUCH better.

So my advice to you would be to wait. It's hard (believe me, i know) but it WILL happen. As i write this my second child (the one with the problems --12mo now)is sitting in her high chair eating frozen peas like a champ :)

Good luck!

Hi M.!
I'm an "older" mom now, my kids are grown and married and I'll be a grandmother for the first time twice this summer, but couldn't help identifying with you in your plight!

With my first, everything was "unknown" and of course well-meaning ladies offered their advice and help one of which was my mother-in-law. She felt every baby should be on solids by 3 months and promptly showed up at my door with a box of cereal on my baby's 3rd month b-day! I had just gotten comfortable with breast feeding and the baby was doing just fine. I too (out of guilt) tried the cereal and he would have nothing to do with it. So I called the LaLeche League, back then my lifeline, and asked them about it. They said when the baby's ready for it he'll take it and not to force it and most importantly, don't stress yourself out about it as it will effect your milk production and general well being.

Today that baby is 32, 6'3, strong and healthy and going to be a father in August! Enjoy your baby and let him be the baby he is for awhile! They all grow up soon enough!

My daughter is 11 months, and I tried t give her cereal at 4 months as well...she did not take to it at all, she hated it. I decided to give it a break and try alittle later. I tried again closer to 5 months, and she still had trouble but it wass a lot easier and she took to it just fine then. Maybe he just isn't ready yet. Good luck!

Don't feed him cereal. Obviously he is not ready. 4 mo is young, and he knows what he wants. Wait until he shows signs of wanting it-following your fork with his eyes, grabbing your food, getting excited when you eat. My 1st wanted to eat at 5 mo, the second and third waited until 6 mo, they weren't ready. Don't make the experience bad for both of you. He knows what he wants, and it's still you and only you!
(mom of 3, ages 9, 7/5 and 19 mo)

I'd say wait on the solids until he is 6 months old. My understanding is that 4 months is considered too early for many infants to start solids. Some of them can do it, but many of them are just not ready, and the longer you wait, the more successful the experience will be. Sometimes you just have to follow your baby's cues, and he is very clearly showing you that he is just not ready. In the past it was common to try to get infants to take solids at 4 or even 2 months old, but this just led to tummy upsets and food allergies. Now most pediatricians advise waiting until 6 months, when they start to need iron. Give him a couple more months and then try again.
Good luck!

keep trying - I know its hard, but he'll get it. He just may not be ready quite yet, which I know is frustrating...I've had my own food issues with my daughter!! You're doing all the right "tricks" that I was told too, so maybe ask your doctor for any tips. Good luck!

First, you may just want to wait another couple of weeks and try again. Sometimes they're just not ready for it. Second, definitely try when he's not hungry. It's too frustrating for them to figure out what to do when they're starving. (Imagine trying to use chopsticks for the first time when you are famished!) Lastly, I just started my 5mo old son on solids 2 weeks ago. (My daughter was 4mos old). I mix 2 tbs rice cereal and approx 2oz of formula, and I use those same Gerber spoons. I think this is a little less watery than what you're describing. It's kind of the consistency of pureed soup - not broth. Most importantly, if it's not going well just give it a rest for a bit then start again in a couple weeks. It should be enjoyable for BOTH of you!

I'm guessing he's just not ready yet.

Hi M.

I didnt give my kids cereal til age 6 mo old. Even then, I expected it to be this big event. But it is all a learning process for them and they dont really get it for at least a month after.

It sounded like it was too thin for him. When you do decide to do the cereal, I would put the tablespoon in a bowl and add breast milk as needed. It should look like loose cereal, not like liquid. Dont do it too thick or he will gag on it.

I always used the Gerber rubber tipped spoons. They are soft in babies mouth and just the right size.

Best of Luck
K.

M.-
Just a thought for you that isn't really advice :) I have three children whom I have not started on solids until almost 1 year old. I hear a few arguments from doctors about why I should start them (language skills, the fluoride gained through water added to cereal, not enough nourishment, etc) but I have three very healthy children who have not been slow in developing in any way. This method was recommended to me by a mother of 9. Anyway, just a thought - that maybe waiting til 6, 8, or even more months is not a problem. There's no one out there saying you have to be getting them to eat this early :)

Hi M.! When I began giving Tali cereal, I added it directly to the milk in her bottle. Just a little bit! It thickened it up a little. Seemed to fill her up for a little longer, as she was getting more than just liquid. It really wasn't even as thick as a milkshake. :-) It may be a good way to get him used to the flavor, then you can switch back over to the cereal. Oh yeah... and don't worry about having trouble getting just a few teaspoons in his mouth. They ALL have problems with the spoon at first because it's so new and different to swallow than milk. (They have to use their tongue in a totally different way, so it's frustrating for them, too.) Best of luck!!!!

It sounds like he's just not ready yet. At almost 4 months it seems a bit early to start worrying about solids. I didn't start my kids on solids until their 7th or 8th month. So my advice is to put the spoons and the cereal away for a couple of months and then try again. He doesn't need the solid food if he's getting enough breastmilk anyway.

M.

I had issues with my son when he began solids. My pediatrician suggested a nutritionist come to my house every three weeks to make sure my son was gaining weight. She was very helpful. She suggest you "start" solids when they are not hungry. In between feedings is best. She suggests that you try to thicken it as soon as possible. It givess the kids something to move around in their mouth. It also develops strength with the tongue. Just a little thickness at a time. By the end of one feeding she went from soup to very thick. As much as he would tolerate. She also made quite a mess, letting him grab at spoon and feel it in his hands. They need to feel it first before they will want to put it in their mouths. It worked. Much better then with my first child who "hates to eat" even now. My second is a teriffic eater, and tries almost anything I put on his plate. The biggest thing she taught me is to relax, and be patient, if you are enjoying yourself you child will take your cues. Good luck

M.,
My first thought is that he just isn't ready for solids yet. There isn't really any reason to push it at 4 months, I would just take a break and try again in a few weeks.

there is no reason you should be starting your son on solids so early, especially if he is refusing it and you are still giving him breast milk. Pediatricians don't always keep up to date on all the research and reading that is available. Most cereals are iron fortified or enriched so this may not be so great for a baby on breast milk. The following passage is from Mothering Magazine

It has been shown that iron supplements for breastfed babies who are not anemic can stunt growth and cause diarrhea.5 Additionally, if you give iron supplements to your exclusively breastfed baby then he will be losing many of the benefits of his exclusive breastfeeding. Breastmilk has a special iron delivery system called lactoferrin. This component provides highly absorbable iron to baby without making it accessible to various gut bacteria that can cause illness in baby. Supplemental iron in baby's diet feeds and encourages potentially dangerous gut bacteria and the child loses the protective intestinal flora balance that young babies are meant to enjoy.

The whole article is at this link and has lots more information.

http://www.mothering.com/sections/experts/palmer-archive....

I live in Mexico and sometimes the doctors are 50 years behind so I am always researching whatever advice they give me. They tell mothers to put corn syrup in the babies' bottles here! At four-months old some children do not even have the correct reflexes to take cereal...just wait awhile there's no rush. He may start seeming more hungry because he is going through a growth spurt, this happened with my son about every 2 months.
So just wait awhile to give him cereal he isn't ready for it and that's why you are having a hard time giving it to him.

I too have a 4 month old... and I have been giving her cereal in her BOTTTE.. just about a quarter size.. and she loves it..!!! i give her a 4oz bottle of formula with cereal in it..
I have not started FEEDING it to her yet..
hope that's helpful..
good luck

M.,
I can relate to the first time mom thing and wanting to have your child progress "on time" and the adventures of introducing new things to them but after reading your post my suggestion is to put off solids for a few weeks and then try again. Take the cues from your child which to me says "mom,I dont want that stuff yet". Believe me I had to learn this over and over and after having my third child,I realized that it is really best to take the cues from your child instead of us insisting that the time is right. Unless, your ped. has urged you to introduce solids becuase of weight gain or other issues, wait and be patient.

Hi M.,

My daughter is/was going through something similar. I actually posted a question regarding spoon feeding a few days ago. We started giving her cereal shortly after her 4 month doctor's visit too, and didn't have much success until now (6 months). I, like you, had envisioned this fun, messy, happy, easy experience with the first feeding, but really, my daughter just wouldn't or couldn't do it until recently. My advice it to just keep trying every couple of days. Play around with the consistency a bit. My daughter actually likes her cereal a bit thicker. But most importantly, don't stress! We're early in the game. A lot of folks don't even start their babies on cereal until 6 months, so your baby is not missing out on anything. It's all for "fun" for the first couple of months anyway. Your son will get the hang of it when he's ready. (That being said, someone responded to my post with a trick that worked wonders for my daughter. When you put the spoon in the baby's mouth, put the tip under his tongue. It will help him get the food off the spoon and to swallow.) Anyway, I hope it all works out for you. Good luck!

Sorry, one more thing. We have some Gerber spoons too. The old fashioned ones with the stainless handle and soft spoon part...are those the ones you mean? They're actually just the right size for my daughter.

Are you sure your baby is ready for the solid foods? You said your ped said it was ok, but is there a reason you're doing it so early? If the ped says to do it, I guess you really can't argue, but nursing should definately take care of all the needs at this point. Whatever you do, don't put cereal in a bottle to get him used to it, it's very bad for the baby for a huge number of reasons, including obesity later in life! But, if cereal it is, I really think your friend is right, don't wait till he's actually ready for a "real" feeding, just because he wants the real deal then. My daughter didn't like the cereal mixed so thin either, she thought it was a tough way to get milk I think. So, I mixed it a little thicker, so it would stay on the spoon and she could feel something in her mouth and there was no stopping her after that! I don't think a bigger spoon will help though, because your babys mouth is so small and he probably won't like this giant foreign object in there :) Good luck!

M., even though your Dr. says "go" on the solids your baby is saying "stop". That being said, a couple of hints: definately try this again when your son is not starving. It's a new skill and nobody can learn when they are focused on hunger. Once he gets the hang of it, and it can take a few weeks, try some cereal a half hour before bottle time. Also the cereal should probably be a bit thicker than milk alone, it's texture your baby is getting used to not taste. Lastly, room temperature/slightly warm is easier. Good luck, you sound like a concerned loving Mom!

Hi M.,

I am a grandmother and I know alot has change. But one thing doesn't.That is when a baby is hungry they are hungry. We used to mix a small amount of cereal in a bowl and make it a little thicker . As soon as you put it in his mouth( Get it way back so he doesn't dribble it right out not so that you choke him either. Then put the bottle in his mouth immediately after the spoon comes out. He's not going to choke because your not making it real thick just enough so that it looks like oatmeal with mike added. Try it. or I never personally did this but I know people who made the hole a little bigger on the bottle and added right into the milk so he drank out of the bottle. Hope this helps. You could always mix the cereal with a little applesauce. Just enough to sweeten the taste.

Good Luck to you...........Peg from CT.

If you want to start a life long (well, at least 5 year) battle of meal time, keep torturing yourself. I don't think it's the spoon size. My suggestion is wait another month and not force it. He is still really young. Unless he's starving and you are desperate to supplement his milk. Maybe try putting a tiny tiny amount in his bottle to introduce the flavor of the cereal slowly. If you do feel you need to do it, then a) don't make a lot, just a tiny amount, and just let him taste it in one or two bites a few times a day. After a few weeks he will probbaly get used to the taste. But don't try and force a whole meal out of it. Another thought was that my daughter got constipated easily (even though she was only breast fed) and rice cereal has far less fiber than baby oatmeal. She liked the oatmeal WAY better than the rice. So don't feel like rice is your only option for introducing solids. Good luck!

I wonder if he might like cereal better if it was mixed with water. My son never drank much breast milk out of the bottle, but when I switched him to formula (got tired of pumping at work) he glugged it down. I always wondered if he associated the breast milk with one kind of feeding (nursing) and when he got the formula he was willing to go for it because it was something new and interesting. Perhaps your son associates the smell of breast milk with breast/bottle and wants none of it off the spoon. Just a thought... Also, if it is no fun to do the feeding stop for a while. My pediatrician advises sometime between 4 and 6 months - just not too long after 6. So maybe a few weeks break will change things - the good old tincture of time.

Hello M.!
Don't push it! He is still young, if he isn't up for solids yet, so be it. And when he is ready, he may want it to be different from the milk, so I would suggest to make it a bit thicker, but wait a few weeks, and try, try, again! Good luck!
L.

Hi, I'm S.. I am a neonatal nurse...but most importantly, a mom of 2 toddler boys. So I've been through this. The AAP is now stretching their recommendation of introducing solids until about 6mos of age. No harm if you do by 4 mos, the absolute earliest that you should. But seriously, don't sweat it. If he is screaming, and that resistant to it, try in a week or two. It is a MYTH, by the way, that babies sleep better once they start solids. You can thicken the rice cereal a little bit, but they don't develop the muscles and coordination to spoon feed quite by 4 months. Don't put rice cereal in a bottle either, that one comes from our mothers and granmothers, this is dangerous. So....don't stress, stick with the bottle for a while longer, and save your sanity. (:

Hi M.-

Your son may not be ready for solids, even if the MD thinks it will be OK. I tried to give my little guy solids at 4 months and ended up waiting another few months after it did not go over so well. If you are giving him breast milk he is certainly getting adequate nutrition.

I also used the book Super Baby Food as a guide. My son's first food was avocado and he really liked that. I then moved on to pureed carrots and sweet potato, both of which he preferred to rice cereal.

Just so you know. . . it took him many months before he seemed to really like to eat. There is another book that I HIGHLY recommend. It is called Child of MIne: Feeding with Love ad Good Sense by Ellyn Satter. I found it very helpful when we were struggling with feeding issues.

Good Luck.

Mara Hahn

I just joined Mamasource and read your post. I have a really difficult time forcing babies to eat at 4 months old if they are not ready. I tried when my daughter turned 4 months and she did the same thing your son is doing. EXACTLY! So, I stopped and put the food away and only nursed or bottle fed her. I think unless your son extremely low on his birth weight would you need to feed him solids at this point. Maybe just up his milk? At about 5.5 months old, i noticed a complete change in my daughter. She began watching everything my husband and i did at the dinner table. (We always put her in her highchair or near us during meals to get use to it.) She then began noticing us putting things in our mouths and reaching for foods. I knew at 6 months she was different girl and ready to try solids. Of course, she didn't like everything I gave her, but she ate everything at least once! And she LOVED it. It was no longer a fight. It was just the right time. M., use your mommy instincts. You know if it is right or not. Don't force feed him. You'll have bigger battles later. :-> Good luck!!

Hi-

I don't have too much experience with this (only 1 child) but from my experience starting solids is partially about getting used to a spoon. So I think the advice about trying in between feedings is good. Also, I felt the same way about how thin the cereal mix was, so I thickened it (my pedi. said I would know best!) My husband and I used to try to be eating as well, our son seemed to like that. And I tried to not get uptight/upset, because I beleived that he will feel the tension...

Good luck! :)

M.,

Hi. I am sorry it has been frustrating. One thing that might be happening is that your son just may not be ready developmentally to start solids. There is a wonderful book called Child of Mine written by a pediatric dietician and psycologist. She talks a lot about the importance of following our babies cues in terms of when they are ready for solids. She basically says that if you are struggling and feeding solids is a battle, then your baby is not ready and to just wait until he is giving you cues that he is ready to start to try solids. I waited until 6 months and at first my son really only was interested in playing with the food, but he was definitely interested in it and interested in me and my husband when we were eating. A month into it he loves eating ~of course along with a lot of playing, but it is a fun time. Again, this is essentially the authors point~that eating for a baby, adult all of us should be relaxing, fun and enjoyable. I hope that this is helpful~I know that it can be so overwheleming introducing food~or at least that is how I felt at first.

~L.

M.,

My daughter is nine months old now and my pediatrician told me to start her on rice cereal at four months too. He said to introduce it, but not to expect her to eat it until she developed the tongue-trust reflex (which enables them to swallow food). This took about two or three weeks of trying to give her a spoon of cereal every few days or so. He said it was important just to introduce it, not to push it or have expectations, and said it was likely she wouldn't eat it right away and that it could take up to ten times or more for some kids before they started eating. He also said to remember that breast milk or formula should be their primary source of nutrition for at least the first six months to a year so if it took a while to introduce solids, not to worry. The consistency that worked best for my daughter was having it be not so runny that it was like soup on the spoon, but not so thick it wouldn't roll off easily either. A cross between liquid and solid is what she responded to after several weeks (I'd say two or three) of trying every two or three days. At first she wanted nothing to do with it - she'd turn her head away. After a few tries of this, she finally got it in her mouth and didn't know what to do with it and wouldn't swallow or spit it out (which I think had to do with the tongue reflex not being developed) and then one day she magically just started swallowing and she gobbled up all the cereal in the bowl like a pro, all at once. It was like a light clicked on or something. Now, she eats everything with great enthusiasm. After you master the rice cereal, don't be suprised if Evan doesn't take immediately to new fruits & vegetables either - it could take up to 10 trys to introduce those foods too. Even the bland ones! I tasted everything I fed my baby first, so if it tasted tart or gross to me, I knew what Lily felt like trying it for the first time and I didn't push it. In the beginning stages I told myself that it was purely experimental and fun, that her nutrition and well-being was not dependent on my spoon feeding her cereal or fruits & vegetables since her diet was supposed to still consist of breastmilk (or formula) and that took the pressure off and it was fun just seeing whether she'd take it or not and what she'd go for. Her father and I would make bets on it & the loser would have to do the dishes or give the bath or something. Keep trying & have fun.

Hi there,

Maybe stop trying for a few days and then try again. He has to figure out how to work his tongue adn the spoon as well as figure out that the spoon delivers food to his mouth. Babies have a safety reflex called the tongue thrust reflex that actually protects them from taking solids (or objects) into the mouth. -its a hold over from our cavemen days, but it has to pass developmentally before he can accept the spoon. You are in the right ball park for trying, and if your Ped says its good to try, I'd say give him a break and try again in a few days. I never tried intoducing between meals, but that is a good idea.

Good luck!

C.

Hi M.,
I have 14 month old twins. I started solids at 4 1/2 months. One of the babies was ready and the other not. So, I postponed it for another 2 weeks and they both were very eager to eat the rice cereal. Follow your baby's body language and your gut instinct. There is not rush for the solids. And... it is much more fun when they are ready for it!
Have fun and good luck!
H.

my son didnt like the cereal that much at first either a new texture and flavor give it time maybe make it a little thicker or try something else. Really have you tried that cereal it taste horrible!! or you can try stage 1 fruit or vegies, applesauce or pears were a big hit. Dont give up it will make them think they are winning the battle. Mommies RULE!!

jenn

Your son might not be ready for solids or eating from a spoon yet. I tried rice cereal at 4 months with my daughter and she didn't seem interested or to know what to make of the spoon. I tried again a month later and she did better. Unless your son really needs the calories from the rice cereal, I'd just try when you can and not worry to much if he actually eats it. My pediatrician told me that 6 months is pretty average.
Rice cereal was never too popular with my daughter. Even when she ate it, she was never excited about it. At about 6 months we tried adding a spoonful of pears to oatmeal and feeding her with the rubber tipped gerber spoons. She ate it by the bowl full for months. We even started adding a little cinnamon. You can also buy it already mixed in a jar from Beechnut. It's actually pretty tasty stuff! Good luck!

Hi M.,

It sounds like your little one is just not ready for solids. I would recommend trying rice cereal again in two weeks or so again. If he's crying, he is just not ready. Believe me, when he is ready by the second or third feeding he will be opening his little mouth like a baby bird.

Good Luck!

Hi M.,
I'm a mother of 6, soon to be 7, and every one of them is so different with this issue. One thing I would say is that as long as your baby is still gaining weight, just forget about solids for a month or two. Most babies don't really need solids until at least six months. It can ease a lot of frustration for both of you, and hopefully be more pleasant when he is ready. My last baby refused solids until he was about 13 months! That was a bit stressful, since he was exclusively breastfeeding, but he's been my healthiest child so far, so it worked out. Most of my other kids didn't start solids until about 6 months. Unless he's not gaining, I would let him decide when he wants more. good luck.
C.

Hi M.,
Check with your Pediatrician, you could mix the rice cereal in his bottle (not thick) to be sure he is getting it, I know Moms who have done this. When feeding, it is ok to make it a bit thicker, I would combine a bit of cereal with the stage 1 fruit to peak his interest, just a dip of each on the spoon should be fine. My son was thrilled to eat this. Also, try the oatmeal (if no allergies to oat) or the mixed cereal if rice cereal is not working. Keep it soupy but not too watery. I was always so freaked out and careful in the beginning months but became more confident as time went on.
Don't get frustrated, keep trying, try the airplane with the spoon trick or distract him with a toy as you try to get him to eat, he will sleep better with a fuller belly too! At 4 months all he really needs are those bottles but starting solids is a good thing. Good luck to you.

That's very common- give it a week or so of trying- it takes them awhile to adjust to the different texture etc....my trick was to give him a few onces of a bottle first so he wasn't so hungry- then try with the food. My son has never been a big fan of the cereals but loves the veggies! Don't worry either- he's still young and might just need a little more time. Hang in there!

Hi M.,

I am A proud Gramma of a beautiful 6 month old girl and my daughter started her on rice cereal in her bottle with a level two nipple, I think it was approx. 1 tbl. sp per 6 oz. of milk { formula, breast milk} This helped Morgan and Mom sleep through the night.

Good luck and God bless

L.

M. - every child is different and he probably just isn't ready yet. Some kids aren't interested in solids until well over four months. Your friend's suggestions sound like good ones - mixing the cereal with breastmilk and waiting until he's hungry. You might want to try a different food altogether like earth's best infant applesauce or bananas. Best of luck.

I am the new mother of a five month old so I have been reading up about this...and everything I have learned so far says that if your baby doesn't want food, there is no need to give it to her or him until six months. The easiest answer might be to set the food aside and stick to the bottle for a month or so and then try again. I imagine our babies will start eating solids when they are ready. I haven't tried to feed my daughter yet, but she is starting to get interested in watching other people eat, which I think is a step in the right direction. Good luck!

Hello M.,
I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulties with your son and solid foods. Have you talked with your pediatrician? Our experience was similar with our daughter and the pediatrician recommended first to try to feed her when she wasn't overly hungry or to wait a few weeks and try again. When we started her on solids (rice cerial) the second time around 5 1/2 or 6 months old she did just fine. The bottle or breast is much easier for them to get instant gratification so the transition might take some time...Good Luck!

Why are you pushing solids so early? Your son doesn't need solids till 6 months. I started both of my children at 6 months despite all the pressure to start earlier. My children are now 1 and 3 and they eat everything and meal times are always a pleasure. I think you should leave it alone and restart later he probably isn't ready and he gets enough calories from his bottle feedings. Hope this helps.

He is still young. Don't stress if he's not ready try again in a few weeks. Food is no necessary at this time. This sounds like it's more stressful that it needs to be. I know every pedi is dif. but ours says it was ok to try but needed for development. They get what they need from formula or breastmilk at that age. I started my son at six months and he hardly ate anything then. He's now 8 months and enjoys more table food then baby food. In fact he still eats minimal at meals he prefers to nurse. Everyone's different. Do what feels right and works for your baby and you.

How about diluting the cereal some more and putting it in a bottle. I do remember when my children were little they made a bottle type for baby cereal. It may work. AS long as he's getting the nutrients that he needs with the breast milk I'll say you're doing great. Just wait, this is just cereal wait until you try those green beans.

M.,

Why are you starting solids so early? I know you said it is with your peds approval, but the theory is the later you start the better it is for them. I have three boys (4,3, and 8 months old). I started solids with all of them after they were 5 months old, before then it was strictly breast milk. I just don't think your baby is ready. With our third son I tried cereal at 5 months and all he did was spit it out, cry and gag, so I held off for two more weeks and now he does great! Don't force the solids!!! Just give yourself and your baby a break!! And Good Luck!

H. Z.

Maybe delay solids a little longer. If a baby's not ready, s/he is not ready!

M.,

I would continue to just offer it to him but he may not be ready to take it. I have a one year old now but I did not start any food until she was 6 months old. I exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months. At first she would not take it but I continued to offer it to her. She eventually took some rice cereal but my daughter was not a fan. I then continued on to the baby jar food and she loved that. I would not worry too much that he does not like it right now. I would just keep offering it to him. I hope that helped a little.

Have you tried giving him the cereal in his bottle? Mix it like you have been but you will probaly have to make the nipple a bit bigger so that the cereal will come out when he is drinking. Also if you continue to use the spoon try mixing a bit of the baby fruit with it just to give it a bit of flavor. My son loved the prunes and peaches in his cereal.
Hope one of these helps you out if your still looking.

Good Morning M.,

I started my daughter on rice cereal at five and a half months and have found that she prefers to eat it at a thicker consistency. I would start by giving her some milk in a bottle (breast or formula), then about half way through I would feed her cereal on a larger, round spoon, made by Gerber - I personally do not like the smaller pointed spoons. Then we progressed at six months to sweet potatoes, carrots, garden veg and today we are starting with bananas. I actually brought some of the Gerber foods to start with to see what she would enjoy eating and to see their consistency. I now make my own fresh fruits and vegetables (steam, puree) and she is now holding the spoon to try and feed herself. The consistency is such that it doesn't run off the spoon like milk but it isn't so thick that it sticks either.

I hope this helps. Good Luck.

M.

It's very possible he's just not ready. There's no reason he has to have solids at this age. I think every baby is different and there is a wide range of when they are interested. I would just put it away for now and try again in a month or two. Some babies aren't interested until they can feed themselves by sticking a finger in soft food, etc.

Hi M.,

My advice would to stop for now and try again in either a couple of weeks or another month or so. He just may just not be ready for cereal right yet. Kaylie my now 13 month old was like that, she wanted nothing to do with eating solids at first and of course I felt completely defeated because right after the doctors approval I was out buying her some fruits, veggies, & rice cereal and she just did not want anything to do with it at first. We waited a bit and tried again and she was fine.

Good luck.
J.

I had the same problem with my baby, I just took the signs and waited until she was ready. It's okay if he doesn't want to eat cerael, it just means that he might eat a little more formula or breast milk for now. Trinity started to really take the cerael at 5 1/2 months old and not at every feeding. I would try to give it to her at every feeding and she might eat once one day. I started with rice then switched to half plain oatmeal and half oatmeal with bananas. She's now 6 months old still only eating maybe twice a day with the rest only formula.
Wish me luck with introducing fruits and vegetables this month. Good luck and just enjoy meals when he's ready to eat, then you can celebrate jumping up and down clapping and cheering him on

Hi M.,

The same thing happened to me, with my first daughter. (I have 3)When I asked her Dr. about it, she told me that babies actually have a gag reflux. Some kids gag reflux is stronger than others, and to wait and try again when she was 6 months. If you are giving him the cereal to "fill" him more, or longer try putting it into the bottle. You might have to buy the next stage nipple, because sometimes it is too think for them to suck it out of the bottle. You might want to try waiting a little bit. I hoped that hepled you! I remember going through that.

Hi M.!

I have a daughter who is also 4 months old. I also just introduced her to cereal as well!

Definitely try feeding your son when he is not really hungry. Babies really dont have patience when it comes to meal time, so if you can feed him the cereal in between feedings, you may find that you have more luck in getting him to take it.

Also, I dont follow the directions on the Gerber box, because like you mentioned, it was way too soupy. I usually give my daughter 2 Tablespoons with 1-1/2 oz of breastmilk, or until it gets to be similar to the consistancey of applesauce. I find that she likes it much better that way. You can add a little extra breastmilk or formula to that if you think that it is too thick.

Good luck!
M.

Make it a little thicker, but don't sweat it. Try again in a couple of weeks. It will happen, and it's not worth forcing the issue. He could also be tried with bananas, sweet potatoes or avocados (finely blended of course) at this age. Only introduce 1 food at a time, every 4-5 days to avoid missing possible allergic reactions.

Some advice that helped me:

The cereal is only for your baby to learn to eat from a spoon until his iron supply is depleted later on...
He's probably not ready. Mine wasn't ready until about 5 months and he never really liked cereal or jarred food (except for fruit). I ended up making his baby food at home which was cheaper and he liked it better.

I highly recommend a book called:
"Child of Mine - feeding with love and good sense"

http://www.amazon.com/Child-Mine-Feeding-Love-Sense/dp/09...

I hope this helps,
A.

Hi M..
It seems like your son is just not ready for solids. At 4 months, he still has a strong gag reflex so try around 6 months. Also, 4 months is early for him to be sitting by himself. Be patient.

Hi M. - Perhaps he's just not ready for solids. Some Dr's advise holding off on solids until 6 months. Remember, all babies are different. Don't beat yourself up about this. Maybe try once a week, until he takes to it. I wouldn't be too concerned at this age. Enjoy him still being an infant, they seem to grow and change so quick. It will come all come with time. Good luck.

Some thoughts...
Definitely try when he's not hungry. He's learning about eating, doesn't understand that a spoon will satisfy his hunger, and if he's hungry just wants a bottle/breast.
Try letting him play with an adult-size spoon (with supervision). He might get the idea that it's a nice thing to put in your mouth. :-)
Thicker is fine for the food. My daughter likes her rice cereal as thick as pudding, or a bit thicker.
Try different temperatures. My daughter really enjoys cold food the most.
Try something other than rice cereal. Applesauce seems to be a safe first food.
Also...if he's not interested in solid food...maybe he's not ready. I was told the indicators of readiness are 1) baby is reaching for food 2) baby can sit up assisted 3) baby is frustrated that you're not sharing. Maybe in a few weeks he'll be more interested! (If you're feeding him solids hoping to get more sleep...sorry, but I haven't found that to be true, and my Doc said it's an old wives' tale!)
It gets better, as they figure out how to do it. It will definitely be more enjoyable!

Hi, M.. You are doing great, but thicken it up to cream of wheat thickness or oatmeal. At first they push it out with the tongue a lot and get better at it each feeding.
It may be confusing if the consistancy is like what is in the bottle. From his prespective the bottle is what he's used to and it's comforting and easy. That is why he probably gets frustrated.
Take it slow. I have the same spoons they will be fine.

just a question.... why do you want to give him solids at 4 months of age?

M.,

Are you starting solids because you are going back to work? Because breast fed babies do not need solids until 6 months or more.

If you are returning to work, are you pumping?

Breast milk is amazing! It is the complete food for our babies, and some adults pay big money for mother's milk for it's super nutritional value. It contains enzymes that actually begin to digest the rice cereal when you add it to your bottle. Back a half century ago women routinely added cereal to bottles as soon as 1 week old, but they were also using formula and the studies we now have on breast milk were not done yet.

Introducing solids when the child is not ravenous is the way to go. It must be a practice session and MOM don't get upset, it's only a game for the weekend. So after you nurse and he has his zoned out nap practice with 1 Tablespoon until most of that is gone. Again if you use breast mild as the liquid it will begin to digest it, use apple juice or water if you haven't tried juices yet

These are only practice sessions, so your first time giving him solids hasn't happened yet, he is learning! So hold on to the hope of the exciting experience, it will happen this summer when you offer him watermelon or my first son sucked on pizza crust at 4 months. I just think you need to let it be a learning experience for you both and the weekend is time for that.

Good luck and I'll look for further postings if you need more help! Most of all love that baby!