What Can I Do...... - Livingston,NJ

Updated on May 19, 2010
K.V. asks from Rochester, PA
15 answers

my son is 4 months and i want to start giving him something more then just milk what can i give him...or should i wait...and if i wait how long shoud i wait.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

for the 1st year of life... Breastmilk or Formula, is their PRIMARY source of nutrition... NOT solids, and NOT other liquids. And certainly NOT juice.
Even water if not recommended until about 6 months. They don't need it. They are getting nutrition from breastmilk or Formula.

Bear in mind, that every 3 months is a "growth-spurt" in a baby... and you NEED to feed ON-demand... formula or breastmilk. They need it, 24/7, day and night.

Your baby is ONLLY 4 months old... their digestive system is still developing. You cannot just give him things...

Ask your Pediatrician. You need to do that.
You can't just give a 4 month old things, willy-nilly.

4 moms found this helpful
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T.G.

answers from St. Louis on

4 months old is still too young to give anything but formula or breast milk. Unless your pediatirican has recommened something else, it's probably not a good idea. Now at 6 months of age you can usually start them on a single grain cereal such as rice. But I would not do this until your son has his 6 month visit and the doctor says its okay. Some babies aren't ready to start other items right away. After the single grain cereal, they usually let you start a fruit of veggie, 1 at a time in small amounts. The primary sourse of nutrician should still be the formula or breast milk.

I remember with my first child I was in a rush to start things, for her to crawl, for her to walk . . . . . . now my first baby is 13 and I wish I could turn the clock back.

Don't be in a rush. They grow up way to fast on their own.

3 moms found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I would ask your pediatrician. Most commonly they don't advise starting any solids til 6 mos old. Just call the office--that's what the nurses are there for. Never think twice about calling for advice! Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Portland on

The reason that we do not give babies anything but breast milk or formula until they are 6 months old or older is because their digestive system is not mature enough to handle other foods. To wait until later is especially important if you have food allergies in your family. Often what happens to the baby who eats solids too early is that their body develops an allergy or intolerance to the food.

It is important to know that your baby's digestive system is ready to accept foods other than breast milk and formula. Food allergies have become common. Even if your family does not have a history of diagnosed food allergies your baby can develop them.

2 moms found this helpful
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C.M.

answers from Dallas on

You should stick to formula until your pediatrician says otherwise...it's around six months.

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K.H.

answers from Washington DC on

You need to ask yourself what are your reasons to give him something other than milk? Is it because you want him to start sleeping through the night? Or is he no longer satisfied after just having milk? 4 months is very young to start solids , although they say you can introduce it at that age , if you can it is better to wait a little longer , I would say 5 months at the earliest , although mine were almost 6 months. When you do choose to introduce solids , I would say go with rice cereal as a first food , it should be slightly thicker than the milk , and feed from a spoon and do not mix it into the bottle , first foods are purely to learn the baby how to take food from a spoon , move it around in the mouth and swallow , not for nutritional reasons.

2 moms found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

The best thing right now is to just continue with breast milk or formula. Some doctors say it's Ok to start cereal at this age but most say to wait until at least 6 months. The thing is cereal and baby food are more just to teach your baby how to start eating solids and prepares them for table food. That's why there really isn't a rush to start it. baby food doesn't have the good vitamins and enough calories like breast milk or formula have. So it in no way is better for your baby then breast milk or formula. And actually both my daughters never even liked baby food so they never ate it. I just nursed them until they were old enough for table food and cows milk. And they were healthy, happy, chubby babies :) So don't rush it. I would hold off for now.

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B.M.

answers from Dallas on

I would suggest contacting your pediatrician's office and asking him or her their opinion. My personal opinion is to wait until 6 months to introduce any type of solid. But again, consulting your pediatrician is the way to go before making any changes to your baby's diet!!!!

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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

I started rice cereal mixed with breast milk at 5 months on the recommendation of my pediatrician. Please speak to your son's doctor for information about when to introduce solids and what to introduce.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

i started my dd on solids at 4 mth. slowly with cereal which she was not a fan of so i tried oatmeal the DHA kind and she loved it. she tried veggies a week later then fruit usually giving about 3-4 days inbetween. to make sure she had no reaction. she is now an awsome eater (10 months) old. she eats everthing from fish to sauce and pasta. check with your ped. but just start slow follow his lead they really dont eat alot at each serving, I also had to mix cearal with her fruit or veggies she really was not a fan of the thin stuff. but she always had the breast first then solids. gl

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K.D.

answers from New York on

You should wait for the instructions of your son's pediatrician. There should be a well visit sometime around 4 months. And if you're concerned about your son not getting enough to eat, speak to the doctor. He or she will tell when it's time to introduce solids to your child. But until that time, breast milk and/or formula is ALL your child needs.

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A.M.

answers from College Station on

My youngest is 7 months and she takes four 8 oz bottles plus lots of solids! My pedi wanted her started on solids at 4 months but that was to soon for me bc I felt she needed more milk! Sometimes she only gets 6 oz bottles but is eating a lot of solids and DEPENDING on the foods you give her if they have lots of vitamins or what not! I say call the pedi. At my daughters age she is supposed to get 18-20 oz of formula with solids mixed in. She wants more to drink so she has water! She is smart, crawling :(, holding her bottle and many other things. Good luck and deff call the doc!

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A.P.

answers from New York on

Babies don't NEED anything other than milk. The AAP and WHO recommend waiting until 6 months to introduce solids. If you feel your baby isn't gaining weight properly or the doctor is concerned talk with them about adding more milk to his diet.

K.I.

answers from Spokane on

You can start giving him rice cereal...just thin it out w/breast milk or formula (which ever he is used to) really well and don't be too surprised if it takes him awhile to get used to using a spoon!

R.M.

answers from New York on

My son (1st child) just turned 4 months yesterday. At his 4 month well visit with the pediatrician last weekend, she told us to start with Rice cereal in his formula for his last feeding. This helped us eliminate the midnight feeding, and now he sleeps through the night (10p-7a). She also told us to start with solids, reccomended Sweet potatoes, carrots, pears, prunes, bananas, etc. Since the food isn't meant to give him nutirents yet, just to get him used to eating- we are giving him 1-2 little spoons after his early afternoon bottle. Formula/Breastmilk should still be the baby's main source of vitamins/nutrients. We have had some issues with constipation, so I also started giving him a little concentrated prune juice throughout the day (1 tsp at a time). Please email me if you have any questions, i'd be glad to share my experiences thus far with you.

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