Mom Needs Advice on When to Start Cereal

Similar to what some were saying, I didn't start my son on solids until around 6 months. I was exclusively breastfeeding also and breastfed until he was 18 months old. I know many people will start earlier but they really could be exclusively breastfed the first 6 months of their life.

T.~
The iron in mama's milk is much more absorbable than the iron-fortified cereal. The best foods to start with for breastfed babies are: avocado, steamed/baked sweet potato, and banana. These are highly nutritious, already a mushy consistency, and very rare allergens. Believe it or not, pureed meat comes after that, for protein. Breast is best, so of course you want to supplement with something very good for your baby. Best wishes!
~C.

T.,

This is a great question to ask.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months before introducing complimentary foods. Breastfeeding should continue to a minimum of one year (with 75% or more of nutrition coming from breastmilk at 1 year) and thereafter as long as mututally desired.

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and continued breastfeeding with complimentary foods to 2 years or as long as mutually desired by mom and baby.

Developmental signs of readiness for solids include the following:

1. At least 6 months of age
2. Able to sit up unsupported
3. Developing a pincer grasp
4. Showing an active interest in eating. trying to put food in mouth, mimicking chewing motions, etc.
5. Loss of tongue thrust reflex.

Is there a reason you want to start with cereal? It is not necessary to start with cereal, or even with purees. The wikipedia page on Baby-Led Weaning (offering appropriately sized pieces of table food believeing that if the child has the skills to pick up the food and put it in his or her mouth, they also have the skills to chew and move the food to the back of the mouth for swallowing) is a great explanation. Cereal is a carb loaded filler with little nutritional value aside from iron which is more bioavailable in your breastmilk. Starting solids too early is thought to increase the incidence of food allergies. Check out the information on "open gut" in infants. There's no harm in waiting to introduce solids.

We started our daughter on solids at 6.5 months. She got chunks of banana, avocado, and sweet potato (spaced out appropriately). We have had minimal issues with gagging (which is a normal part of learning to eat) and no problems with choking. At 9.5 months she's eating a pretty good variety of table foods already. It's also a lot easier and less expensive to feed her what we're already eating.

S.

4 months may be too young, but give it a try. 4-6 months is the average time for first spoon feeding. I'd start with rice cereal, just enough for a couple spoon fulls to see how well she can manage the spoon and swallow. It can take time. Some babies like to play with this new texture and the spoon with the tongue. Be patient. Let her explore. As you see she's doing well, make her a bit more and use it as part of her breakfast routine. Later, switch to the baby oatmeal, as it tastes better and is heartier. Later, you can add a little fruit to lunch, and veggie to dinner. Have fun with it and take your time!

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisburgPAChat

From what I have read and what I have been told 4 months is when to start cereal. Good luck.

Hi T.,

In the last 2 years the American Academy of Pediatrics changed their recomendations on when to start cereal. They used to recommend starting at 4-6 months. They now recommend starting at 6 months or later. For the first year of her life, your daughter can get all of her nutrition from your breastmilk. The only reason to start solids prior to age 1 is for the "experience" of different tastes and textures. She should still get the majority of her nutrition from you. Starting too early has been shown to lead to allergies and digestive issues. I would recommend waiting until she is 6 months old and only starting once she is showing multiple signs that she is ready (she opens her mouth when you put food in yours, she can pick up small items like cheerios with two fingers, she is reaching for food when you are eating, she is sitting up on her own - unassisted, etc). If you want to see a good article on this, please look at this website: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-when.html

J.

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Hi,

I breastfed my boys (now 2 1/2 and 5 1/2) exclusively for 6 months and then started the rice cereal. It worked well for them. A friend recommended that I give my older son breast milk on a spoon before I started the cereal to get him used to the idea. He was (and still is) a great eater. I don't think it made a difference but if you have trouble, it's a thought. I waited until 6 months because everything was going well, my kids seemed happy and like they were getting enough food and my pediatrician said I could wait. I felt they got the most out of the nursing by waiting. Go with what feels right for you and your child, every pair of nursers is different!
good luck!

My doc had us waiting until close to 6 months old. (I also exclusively breast fed, 16 months and 2 yrs, respectively, for my 2 kids.)

I started all 3 of my kids on cereal right after their 4 month checkup, after getting the greenlight from my pediatrician. Just take it very slowly, expect lots of messes, and she'll do fine.

I started my son at four months. start off with rice cereal. start off with a little bit and see how she does. may be try about 4 tablespoons.

My pediatrician recommended between 5-6 months and not much later for starting rice cereal. Mix with water, breastmilk or formula. Most baby's will push it out of their mouth with their tongue the first few times until they 'get it'. Have fun!

With my first two (baby #3 is on the way) I followed a chart that I got from my Pediatrician. It says cereal can be started at 4 months. I also was told to introduce foods when the baby shows an interest. Watches your food from plate to your mouth, licks lips when you eat, reaches out for your food, things like that. If she is happy to sit with you durring meal time, I would start testing things out with some cereal. Good Luck.
R. N.

Don't start to early...otherwise you'll end up with digestive/bowel issues...I didn't start putting it in with our sons bottle (mixed with breast milk) until he was 7-8 months, but didn't give him a bowl of it until he was at least 10-12 months. My sister-in-law gave "solids" to her kids waaay to early & their daughter ended up with major bowel issues...so I learned from her. Don't rush it ;) Their little bodies aren't quite developed for those things yet.

I have a 4 month old as well and we just started her this week. It really should be up to you and your pediatrician. Is your baby showing signs of wanting to eat solid foods (interest in food when you eat it)? That should be the case, and the baby needs to have at least doubled his/her birth weight. But really I wouldn't rush- the only reason I have started my daughter is she has reflux and very loose bowels so her ped thought the cereal might help. So far she is just spitting it out but it is a process. If my daughter didn't have these issues I probably wouldn't rush to start solids though. Hope that helps!

S.

I know that most peds say wait until they are 6months old to start solids but me i started my kids on cereal at 3months.By 6months they ate 3meals and by the time they turned 9months all 3 ate table food the same as what we ate.......
every child is different,you could try it now and if she's not ready for it than wait a few and try it again.....good luck.

Hi T., It sounds like right about now would be a good time to start cereal. But don't make it too thick, add some juice (white grape works well) or breastmilk to dilute it a bit. That way it will be easier for her to swallow. Enjoy your baby and best of luck.
W.

T.,
If she seems interested in table food, I would try cereal (very thin), and see how she handles it.