Cereal More than Once a Day?

At 4 mos. cereal feeding is more of a physical skill building activity (learning to use a spoon) and has about zero nutritional value. Four times a day is a lot of empty calories for a growing baby. As long as she gets enough breastmilk or formula (has enough wet and dirty diapers a day) then if she wants and enjoys the cereal, go for it.

As far as increasing the consistency or the number of times per day first, I don't think it matters which one. Just watch those diapers to see how she's responding. The last thing you want is constipation.

Wow - 4 times a day seems like a lot, but then again every child is different. We also started solids at 4 months, with cereal for breakfast for a week, then at breakfast and dinner the next week, then all the yellow veggies at lunch, finally followed by the green veggies at lunch. My 7 month old is still only taking 2 tablespoons at breakfast and 1 tablespoon with some fruit at dinner.

Every baby is different. If you have the blessing of your pediatrician then go for it!

I know it's easy to take the Dr's advice really literally, but what we did with my son was give him cereal when he was the most hungry and then just look for meal times when he wanted more. I started him on cereal at dinner first b/c he stopped sleeping through the night and was waking up hungry, then over time I added a little to lunch and I think breakfast was last for us. I always though that my son was really good at telling us when he was ready for all the new stuff (as long as we could figure out his signals!) so just try your best to watch her and see when she wants more.

L.

since consistancy(sp) is as much to do with her getting used to something semi solid in her mouth as it is how much food she is actually getting i would start with the number of times a day she gets it and then gradually increase the thickness as she gets older. follow her cues though if she is really gumming the cereal and seems like she would like it thicker go for it but if she starts to gag on it then it's to thick (no duh right. she'll let you know what's best. good luck.

Hey:
I'm not going to argue with your doc, but after everything I've read, I think that 4 months is pretty early for cereal. Studies show that healthy babies really don't need anything other than breastmilk for the first 6 months. We started our baby on cereal mixed with breastmilk in her bottle at around 51/2 months and didn't step up to spoon feeding a thicker consistency until 61/2 months. My opinion (for what it's worth) is that there's no need to rush into it! Take your time and enjoy this much-less-messy stage in life. :)

4 x's a day is ALOT, especially at such a young age. I don't think her little stomach would even accept that. On top of that, there are better things to feed infants than the cereal since it doesn't include many essential ingredients. As someone else mentioned, I don't want to underestimate the doctor, but 4 months is early for any types of "solids."

That being said, I wouldn't worry about consistency at this point. If your doctor wants her to have it several times/day, I would just increase the number of feedings. You'll be able to tell when she's ready for a thicker mixture.

Is that doctor "approval" or doctor "suggestion?" He may say "OK go ahead if you want to" but that doesn't mean it's BETTER if you do.
Just keep in mind: Doctors have VERY LITTLE training in nutrition (I probably have more than most doctors!) so I would first of all question where your doctor is getting this advice? Is he going by old ways of thinking? Is he reading an article in a journal (that could be legit)? etc etc There might be some special situation you're in, but 99% of the time you should not be feeding a baby that young with solids, so I would definitely at least question why.
So, if you are doing something different from the norm, most of us will not be able to tell you how to do it. I would agree with those that say increase the frequency first, though, as the texture is the part they have the hardest time with at first.
Hope that helps!

I'm honestly a bit in shock... FOUR times a day for a 4-6 month old baby, *especially* a breastfed baby (breastmilk is such awesome nutrition) sounds like waaaay too much to me!!!

I agree w/ the other moms - at 4 months, a breastfed baby HAS NO NEED for solids *unless* they're showing developmental signs of readiness like sitting up *sturdily, all on their own* and being able to use their thumb + forefinger to pick small things up (called the "pincer grasp"), etc.:
http://kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-when.html#dev...

Truthfully, if my ped told me to start feeding my breastfed 4-month-old rice cereal 4 times a day, I'd try not to look at him funny (breastmilk & formula have MORE nutrients than that cardboard-tasting rice cereal stuff!). And then I'd just nod and smile, go home, and NOT feed rice cereal to my baby at that age unless they were showing the signs of readiness discussed in the kellymom link above.

Shoot, why the rush to start solids? It only makes their poop turn from harmless breastfed baby poop to very stinky poop and can even constipate them, especially at that young age! Honestly, my opinion is to do your own research to see what other pediatricians say, and then do what YOU think is best for your daughter. Here's one well-respected pediatrician's opinion on starting solids - he's a very breastfeeding-friendly doc:
http://askdrsears.com/html/3/t032000.asp

Bottom line: Moms are the experts on their own babies, esp. when it comes to things like breastfeeding and solids (which MOST peds aren't even really trained on in med school, seriously!). If you think that much cereal sounds funny, trust your instincts and wait until you think you're daughter is showing you that she's ready.

I would work up the frequency first, you don't want to advance consistency very fast, espeically at such a young age. Probably some days she will do very well, other days not as well. It's ok - I know I stressed out big time with my son over it, and all for nothing. He reached a point (at like 7 months) where he wanted it, and now he is a BIG eater! Just go slow, there is no rush!

I had my son eating solids before the "recommended" age (2 1/2 mths) because he was hungry. If your little woman is eating what you give her, keep giving it to her. She is probably hungry. At some point for these guys, the liquid diet isn't going to be enough. As long as she is nursing or drinking milk as she should for her age, then there is nothing wrong with the amount of cereal. And she will let you know when she doesn't want more. I know kids at your daughter's age who eat cereal for breakfast lunch and dinner and still drink the milk necessary for brain development and growth. Trust your instincts. You know when your little woman is hungry. The worst that can happen is that a bowl of cereal goes down the drain because she didn't want to eat it. Maybe you should ask the doc how he or she suggests you accomplish the task and how long it will take to get the point of eating cereal four times a day. I bet you are doing it just right.