I have just recently started feeding my almost three month old boy a tiny bit of stage one baby food. For example - a total of one teaspoon at lunch and one a dinner. He's loving it!! He hasn't been very keen on his bottle lately, and I decided to try some baby food, and he seems to want that over the bottle. Is this okay and normal?
He's not eating huge amounts of it, and most of his nutrition does come from formula. He's still eating pretty much the same amount of formula every day except during those times when he tries the baby food. And even then he's still drinking about 3 oz after he eats the baby food. The reason he's not a fan of the bottle is because he has acid reflux and frequently projectile vomits. He fusses at it. He's been on Zantac, and that seems to help a tiny bit. He eats cereal in every bottle because his doctor recommended heavier feeds to help it all stay down better. I have tried to give him rice cereal, and he pretty much won't eat it. I've been mixing it with formula when I give it to him. He's on Isomil soy formula, and the combo makes it taste like paste. Thanks for the tip on sticking with the same food at one time. What I've tried have been peas and pears. He hasn't thrown up either, but I'll keep a close eye on any reactions.
It's not normal, and most studies that I read when my son was that age - 2 yrs ago, said that it could cause food allergies later in life if introduced to foods for which their digestive system wasn't ready. It could cause problems with nutrition, because he might refuse the formula later. Every child is different, but I would be extremly careful about introducing food. Also, if he's hungry he'll drink the formula.
It may not be considered "normal" in today's world, but yes, eating at any age is normal!! You will always hear that it is "now considered preferable to wait until 4 months, or 6 months, or 10 months, or a year" before introducing baby food, or cow's milk, or anything other than breast milk or formula. Well, we all turned out just fine raised on cow's milk and eating baby food whenever our parents felt like feeding it to us.
Yes you should stick to baby cereal or stage 1 foods since they are basically mush, and he should continue to drink formula. If he's pulling away from a bottle, you can always try using an infant sippy cup. Or if you are patient, even newborns can sip from a regular cup!!
Mom knows best when it comes to your kid - even the Doctors can only tell you what's average or preferred.
I agree w/ Lynda. The main source of nutrition is formula or breastmilk for the first year. Even when foods are introduced, the calorie intake comes from the formula/breastmilk ingested daily. He should be drinking 2 x's his weight in formula ounces and should not receive solids or cereal until he's reached appx. 28-32 oz of intake of formula or breastmilk per day. I would also seek out a professional medical opinion from your pediatrician.. all children aren't ready at 4 months, all children aren't ready at 6 months - each child is different. But first and foremost - I'd make sure that his formula/breastmilk intake is exactly where it needs to be - or he may miss out on very necessary nutrition even though he enjoys and may prefer the baby food.
Hi C.,
Do what is best for your baby. If he is doing well with the food great. My son did not take to baby formula at all when he was infant. I tried everything, from soy to low iron to anything that was on the market. Finally, at wits in I called my mom in tears and asked her what to do. I also did tried breast feeding and that didn't do well at all. Anyway, my mother told me to forget formula, that she raise 5 kids on Cow's milk and only supplement his diet with baby vitamins(they come in drops). I was so scared, because I was told by other moms that you can't give a 3 month old milk until they were a year old. I was concern because my son was always crying. Well I took a chance and followed my mom's advice. It worked, I would add cereal to his bottles and gave him baby food as well. My son was full at meal time and he slepted through the night. I check with his pediatrician on what I was doing and he agreed that what I was doing was working. My son did not suffer any ill effect. He gain weight and he began to be a very happy baby.
My point is, do what is best for your baby. Check with your peditrician if no ill effect occurs keep doing what you are doing. If he doesn't want a bottle great you are less likely to have trouble. Don't force what isn't necessary. You are right on track.
No it is not normal, but I would think it would be ok as long as he is taking the spoon and not having problems with swallowing. normal would be closer to 6 months, but I don't think they really know an exact time or age. Just make sure he is supported well when you feed him, and that he is not having any trouble with swallowing.
Yes it is normal and I would say go for it. I have a 7 yr old and a 2 yr old and both are healthy as a horse and strong as an ox. (not to mention they are beautiful, lol) I started both of my kids on cereal at only 2 weeks old with breast milk in a bottle to keep them full and help them sleep through the night. Some might not agree and my doctor told me I shouldnt do it but I did it anyways after all sometimes you just have to wings things as a parent and go with gut feelings and I did it anyways and by 5 to 6 months my kids where eating by spoons. But every parent is different. It worked for me though so I would say go ahead if your ok doing it after all anytime you wanna see a picture of my 2 beautiful healthy kids you just let me know cause it sure didnt hurt my kids. My email is ____@____.com
I think it is great that he is showing an intrest in food. My pediatritian recommended starting early with my daughter because she didnt want to drink the bottle as much when she was 2 months old (there was an alterior motive behind it too, she had reflux and was loosing weight). I think that if your sone is showing interest in the things that you are eating at this age, then go for it! Just remember to only introduce one new food at a time so that if he does have a reaction to something you will know what caused it.
Also, my daughter who is now 20 months weened herself off of formula AND her bottle at 10 months. The doctor said that as long as she continued to gain weight it was ok for her to do that.
I hope this helps!
My son did this too, so I cut back on the baby food. He now gets most of his food through formula but he still gets cereal once a day. The doctors will tell you he shouldn't be getting anything but formula until he's at least 4 months...mine said 6. The only reason I started was the formula didn't seem to be satisfying him. Now I'm considering going back to cereal twice a day. Did you try cereal mixed with formula or are you mixing it with water? If you're mixing it with formula, I wouldn't worry about his nutrition. If you're mixing it with water, I'd change that. But I would still try to get him more used to his bottle, than anything else.
My Daughter was the same age she was taking a bottle every 2 hours and not filling her up. So I started feeding her as well but I started with cereal then the vegatables then meat the fruit.
She did perfect. The Dr. said 4 monthes but you as the mother can tell too if the child is handeling it ok.
Be careful. Until 10 months the main source of nutition for your little one should be milk. Any food is just extra to teach him but not for nutritional value. Also everything I have read recommends waiting at least until 4 mths to introduce solids (6mths is preferable) as their digestive systems are not fully formed. He likes it because it is a new taste and he had not been exposed to anything but the taste of milk before - I think that it is normal for him to like it, but I don't think that it is good for him to be eating it.
If he is taking it okay, he may be ready for it. I would go ask the doctor to make sure. My daughters' grandma is german and I know for a fact that over there they do feed babys solid mushed up food at a younger age than most parents do.
I agree with the mom that said it's probably the new taste experience. Have you tasted formula? Yuck! Rice cereal isn't much better, but if you had the same thing every day for months even infant rice would be a welcome change. Definately talk to your son's doc before offering any more. Most don't recomend starting anything more than formula or breastmilk before 4 months and some before 6 months because of the immature digestive system and the increased risk for allergies later on.
Your doctor will tell you that it isn't okay ntil about 6 months. Some babies need more than just milk though. the guideline is "If your baby drinks 32 oz of formula/breast milk a day, and still seems hungry, you may give them baby food." You start with a plain cereal , like rice cereal, and go to vegetables first. Otherwise, your baby will develop a sweet-tooth and not want to have healthy eating habits. Also, at this stage, if you turn him on to a spoon, he may not want his bottle at all. He HAS to drink formula or breast milk for the first 12 months to develop correctly. Once he is about 6 months, you just have to make sure he eats/drinks 32oz a day of babyfood, table food, formula, or whatever else he can eat safely. While encouraging vegetables and fruits. A 2 month old baby is as fickle as they come. Just remember that YOU are the parent and god made this kid smaller than you so you could make the rules. Don't let him run over you.
