Feeding Schedule for a 4 1/2 Month Old?

Solids (cereal and baby foods) aren't recommended to be introduced until after 6 months. Google "baby led weaning" to find out more about introducing baby foods. (The term weaning here just means introducing new foods, not completely weaning from the breast.)

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Hi G.,

I'm curious as to why you started him on cereal before 6 months. There is increasing evidence that a baby's digestive system just can't handle solids before 6 months of age. Many feel this is why there are an increasing number of people with things like irritable bowel syndrom and such later in life.

Anyway, breastmilk or forumla needs to be the PRIMARY source of calories for at least the first year of life. Solids should compliment the milk, not supplement.

I do not feed on a schedule, I nurse my daughter on demand. Somedays she eats every 3 hours, other days she goes several hours in between feedings. (she's currently 9 months)

If you are offering cereal to your son, give the milk first. Then about an hour after milk, offer the cereal. Idealy other solids should not be started until at least 6 months of age. Also, it really is not necessary to give purees to a 6 month old. Most babies that age can handle soft cooked veggies cut into 'stick' shape. (it's easier for them to handle) The advantage of this is to introduce vegetables and eventually fruits and other foods, that the family eats. Your child is introduced to the taste and texture of the ACTUAL food instead of a watered down mushed up version of the food.

If you google 'Baby Led Weaning' you will get some good info. Also, www.kellymom.com is a GREAT resource for all mommy questions, including when and how to start solids. The main point is, milk is the primary source of calories for the first year. Solids compliment milk... not supplement.

BTW... we have done baby led weaning with our daughter. To date, she has had parsnip, celery, broccolli, zuchinni, carrot, apple, pear, cantalope, honeydew melon, watermelon, brown bread crust, white raddish, and white asparagus. She has not rejected anything. In the beginning of course not much gets 'eaten' ... but it's the experience of learning the taste and texture and allowing her to feed herself. Now, she eats most of the pieces I give her.

Good luck!

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Hi, If you do a search on the internet there are many Dr. sites that give you a general idea but definately talk to your own pediatrician if you are confused or still have questions, but remember every baby is different.

What I do know is that breast milk is their main source of nurtrition until they are a year old. Their body's can't get everything out of solids until that age so breast milk or formula is a must and they need a lot. I always offer breast milk after a solid feeding just to make sure my baby's full. We start solids at 6 months but our schedule looks like this...

Wake-7am-Breast
9am- solids than offer breast again
Our only long nap :)
Wake-1pm-Breast
3pm-Breast
7pm-solids again and offer breast
9pm-breast
Now she cluster feeds (Eats every hour or half hour) until she falls asleep at 12.

My doc says on average babies should be nursing around 8 times in 24 hours but depending on intake at each meal could be as many as 12 times in 24 hours but your baby is unique, if he is thriving than he is getting enough if he is fussy or under weight than he needs more to eat.

Again I'd talk to your ped and get a definate answer for your child.

Good Luck and God Bless
feel free to message me if you'd like to talk more,
K. SAHM of 3

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When my daughter was 4.5 months old I gave her cereal in the bottle (first and last feeding) and through out the day she would eat just formula every 3 hours. When she was 5 months old I started teaching her how to eat cereal from the spoon. I would mix 4 teaspoons of cereal with formula (texture of honey)it's very important to mix with formula not water because formula is veeeery good for babies and right after cereal she would get her bottle. I would do this also for first and last feeding. When she was 5.5 months I notice that she is always hungry during the day so I would start giving her vegetables for lunch (1.5 jar + bottle) and dinner (1.5 jar + bottle). That's when I started her schedule- eating every 4 hours. They always need to have fromula with other food you will give him!! Now she eats at 7, 11, 3 and 7. If she is hungry in between feedings I would give her water - it will fill him up. It works out great. Even if she would wake up at 6:30am I still would feed her at 7am. I stick to my schedule. Babies love schedule!!

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You can look at the gerber.com website.. but that website will suggest feeding he baby lots of baby cereal and lots of jar food. Ther is no way that my kids could have eaten the amount of gerber food recommended by gerber.

All of the baby's nutrition for the first year comes from breast milk.. food is just practice for eating.

So it really doesnt matter when you feed him solids.

Cereal once aday is probably too much cereal at this age..

I wouldnt add a second solid meal until about 6 months..

Babies replace nursing with solid meals- so you dont want him to eat all solids and not want to nurse.

keep nursing it is the best thing you can do..

MY son is almost 1 (6/11/07 and still breast fed. he has never been sick except for colds.. - which his sister brought home form school..

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