Should My 4 Month Old Eat Rice Cereal?

We decided to follow the newer guidelines and wait until 6 months. I never felt the need to feed any of my babies until then anyway, but after I watched a Dr. Phil episode with Dr. Sears on talking about not feeding babies too early, but also suggesting why we even give them rice cereal anyway. He said it was just plain carbs, and to wait until their bodies could adapt to foods with nutritious value. We never did rice cereal with our last 2, and did not really do much with the older kids either, so I agree with waiting. I had happy, healthy, big babies, who all slept through the night at 6 weeks (like 8-10 hours kind of sleeping through the night) so I dont believe that it will help them sleep longer from my experience. At 6 months you can start with some veggies and fruit. But, of course, do what you think is best, this is just my experience talking. Good luck ~A.~

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both of my babies had reflux and i started them on cereal at 3 months...mixed with formula or fruit...and they are 7 and 9 and have no food allergies and no digestive tract problems.

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Rice cereal is the least allergic thing out there for babies. That's why your pediatrician didn't suggest oatmeal or mixed grains.
My daughter had rice cereal added to her formula around 3-4 months to help her sleep through the night (formula alone was not filling her up). She is perfectly healthy - eats everything but nuts (have to wait until she's two) and no reaction to anything!
If you're really concerned look up the statistics of rice allergies. See how prevalent they are and how often attributed to eating rice too early.
Did either of your other boys have rice cereal at this age?
Did you discuss your concerns with your pediatrician (you can even just call and ask to speak to a nurse, you don't have to schedule a visit)?
Hope this helps!

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I agree with Amber and say wait until the 6 mnths.
Food allergies is not easy to live with and if you can help prevent it in any way, then by all means do so.
You can't always just go with what other mamas have done for their babies. Just because their babies turned out fine, doesn't mean yours necessarily will. It's not a big risk giving it to him now but not necessary either.

My baby is currently 5 mnths old and exclusively breastfed. I have not started him on any solids and he is a chunky little guy that sleeps well at night and doesn't need anything more to keep him full.
I say wait til 6 mnths, it's also what my pedi said to do and better to be safe than sorry!
Take Care! : )

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give him the rice cereal...totally fine!

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i think that 4-6 months is the typical age to start baby cereal & move into foods. a lot of dr. are having babies start food later (closer to 6 months) but my kids both started baby cereal at 3-4 months bc breastmilk/formula was just not keeping them full.

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Do what you are comfortable with. If you don't want to start your baby on rice cereal now, then don't. If he is super hungry though, you may want to consider it. Honestly, I have two kids and both of them did not like to eat at 4 months. They were more ready to eat at 5/6 months.

Hi there,

I started adding it to my daughters bottle at that age.
That was the only way she would sleep through the night.

I just did 2 tablespoons of it in her bottle.
She would have a nice full tummy and sleep all night.
My pedicatrician is the one who suggested it.

Some might not agree........ But heck - my daughter is 2 1/2 and healthy as can be!!!

I've heard to give them rice cereal mixed with water or formula starting at 4 mo. and then start them on baby food at 6 mo.

Well I have 2 boys myself one is 2 1/2 and the other is 16 months. And my boys were so big that they bottle wasn't doing its job. So I started them on ceral early. I started my first one at 12 weeks and my second at 8 weeks and they are doing great and my pediatrician said it was fine as long as they still get all there milk..They are now on real food and have been for along time and they have no allergies and no sign of food allergies..I would say go for it it is fine!!! Hope that helps!!

I started mine at 4 months and started baby food at 6 months.The rule I would pay attention to is if when you give your baby a spoon full of cereal and more slides out of his mouth than what stays in he isnt ready but if more stays in his mouth than what comes out then he is developmentally ready.Dont force it if he isnt ready.Good luck and congrats feeding baby is so fun enjoy it while it last soon he will he throwing food at you and all over the floor.LOL!!

When my 7 year old was a baby, my pedi told me to start her on cereal when she was four months old. Five years later, the same pedi told me six months for my now-two year old. Neither have ever had any issues with food allergies.

He'll be fine. All of mine had rice cereal at that age. And it doesn't necessarily make them large babies. I have 4 boys. 2 were big babies and 2 weren't. One was strictly formula and the other 3 were breastfed.

I would say go with what you think is best for your baby. I breastfed all three of my babies. I started the first two on rice cereal at 4 months with no problems. My youngest is 11 months old, and I had heard that a lot of doctors are saying to wait until 6 months. I was going to wait, but at 4 and a half months, her doctor encouraged me to start on the rice. About a month later, her whole body broke out in a horrible rash that took weeks to clear. She was miserable. We figured out that it was an allergy to rice. So I stopped the cereal, and I have not had rice since April. But when she went back to daycare, they gave her some honey nut cheerios that has rice bran in it, and she broke out again. It has been more than 2 weeks now, and I still have not gotten her cleared up. If you are hesitant, go ahead and wait. You've got a mother's intuition. If something does not feel right, don't do it. You will know what is best for your baby.

I know that doctors have changed their ways over the last 30yrs. I started my daughter on rice cereal when she was 2 weeks old. I was breast feeding her and my milk wasn't doing it for her, my mother told me to start the cereal. I did and everything was good.My daughter has always been very healthly and no allergies of any kind. She is a very successful business woman. So I say go for it.

yes they can. I have one year old she was fine when i gave to her. when get a certain age they more milk. You just make sure when you feed him he does not brake out

Nah...there isn't any reason to give babies any kind of solids until they are 6 months old. Just wait a couple more weeks. =)

I started my son on anything and everything I could find that was soft enough to eat when he was 3-weeks old. He was up every hour to nurse or bottle feed and I was helping my husband run our own cafe. My MOL suggested that he was hungry for more than milk (formula came right back up) and needed food - and I needed rest!! He is now 6' tall, 24 yrs old, and out of the Army with a family of his own. And still eats anything he can get - the spicier the better.
Docs make suggestions, but they are never set in stone. Every child is different. (My daughter, 2nd child, would not touch food or bottles until 6-7 months)