9Mar/1019
How early can I start my baby with soft cereals?
How much earlier than 3 months can I start my baby with soft cereals? Someone told me that as soon as they can coordinate swallowing and pushing the food back with their tongue... Is this true?
March 9th, 2010 - 20:35
I wouldn’t start it before 5 months unless the baby has reflux problems. Starting cereal too soon can cause allergies if the baby’s immune system isn’t developed enough.
March 9th, 2010 - 21:14
Please don’t do that………they are waaaaaay too early for it.
It’s different now then when we were growing up with our parents….
remember they used to feed us at 1 month old….and give us like sugar water…..and put us to sleep on our stomachs….
NOT ANYMORE!!
American and Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that you do not feed your babies till at least 6 months old……
they don’t have the digestive system matured yet to take food.
You will just give them upset stomachs and gas.
You will have a TON of opportunity to feed your child…..you have to feed this child for the rest of your life remember???/
so why the rush?
I don’t know why people are all rushing to feed their babies at 2 and 3 months old……
Age: Birth to 4 months————
Feeding behavior
• Rooting reflex helps your baby turn toward a nipple to find nourishment
What to feed
• Breast milk or formula ONLY •
Your baby’s digestive tract is still developing, which is why solid food is off limits for now.
From 4-6 months————
Signs of readiness for solid food
Your baby probably won’t do all these things — they’re just clues to watch for.
• Can hold head up
• Sits well in highchair
• Makes chewing motions
• Shows significant weight gain (birth weight has doubled)
• Shows interest in food
• Can close mouth around a spoon
• Can move food from front to back of mouth
• Can move tongue back and forth, but is losing tendency to push food out with tongue
• Seems hungry after 8 to 10 feedings of breast milk or 40 oz. of formula in a day
• Is teething
What to feed
• Breast milk or formula, PLUS
• Semi-liquid iron-fortified rice cereal, THEN
• Other grain cereals like oats or barley
Source(s):
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/ba...
March 9th, 2010 - 21:55
Rice ceral can be introduced anywhere from 4-6 months. The only time a doctor suggests doing it earlier is if the baby has reflux. It’s recommended that you not put it in a bottle as it can cause choking. It should be fed with a spoon, while the baby is sitting in a high chair. if the baby is not yet able to sit well in a high chair it’s recommended you wait longer. Many people will tell you that they put it a bottle when their baby was 2 months old, but that is not what is recommended by doctors, and other people in my field. Talk to your doctor.
March 9th, 2010 - 22:17
the world health organization does not recommend giving baby’s any solids before 6 months as there kidneys are not mature enough till 6 months
March 9th, 2010 - 22:37
I started my kids on rice cereal at 2 months if your child has problems swalowing you can also mix the cereal in a bottle with formula oe breast milk they sell nipples that are just for that
March 9th, 2010 - 23:02
you need to ask and listen to your babys doctor 4 months is the norm
March 9th, 2010 - 23:31
I have heard of a doctor putting a 2 month old on cereal that was very watered down b/c the baby wasnt getting full on just milk, but I dont know about much younger than that.
March 9th, 2010 - 23:38
Check with the baby’s pediatrician. All mom’s will have an opinion starting from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. Heed the advice from the Baby’s Doctor/nurse/nurse practitioner.
March 10th, 2010 - 00:23
I would say no sooner than three months should you try. Test your baby with rice cereal softened with breast milk and try a few little tastes. If she can’t get the concept of swallowing it or pushes it all back out, then wait a week before trying again.
If she does eat something, watch her for the rest of the day for signs of allergies.
March 10th, 2010 - 00:57
well pablum CAN be put in a babys bottle with formula from birth but doctors dont recommend anything but breast milk or formula prior to 6 months old
March 10th, 2010 - 01:27
I wouldn’t start before 3 months, for just that reason. So start with a teeny, tiny amount on a baby spoon to see if your baby can do it. If he/she can’t then try again in a couple of weeks. I’ve read where people say that cereal will help keep them satisfied longer than formula/breastmilk, but that wasn’t true for either of my kids. Good Luck and trust your instincts…you know your baby better than anyone else!
March 10th, 2010 - 01:47
i dont know for sure but my baby cousen didnt start eating soft serials till he was 5 months and he still had a hard time swalowing it!!
so i think u should stick to the formula or just the regular baby food or whatever u have him on!!
but my aunt kinda experimented w/ my baby cousen……give him a soft serial and watch him….if he starts to act weird or cant swallow right then u can always stick ur finger down his throught and get it out….but experiment and if it doesnt work out u can wait a couple months…….but i think he will be more wanting to suck on it!!
March 10th, 2010 - 01:58
I wouldnt start with the soft cereals until at least 3 or 4 months. It has nothing to do with being able to swallow, its the digesting part that you need to wait on. Its harder for babies to digest cereal that early. They can most def swallow it but he/she wont be able to digest it. I would wait until the baby is at least 3 or 4 months old.
March 10th, 2010 - 02:27
You should not start solids at all until 6 months of age. Starting earlier puts your child at risk for allergies, diabetes and obesity. A 3 mos old baby can’t properly digest anything but formula or breastmilk. He doesn’t have the enzymes in his belly to properly digest solid foods yet. He needs to be sitting up well and have lost the tongue thrust reflex. The AAP says no solids until around 6 mos of age.
March 10th, 2010 - 02:40
3 months is way too early. Allergies can develop; the baby’s digestive system just isn’t ready for solids until 4-6 months. If the baby is pushing the food back out with its tongue, that’s a definite sign the baby isn’t ready. You’ll know when the baby is ready when s/he starts demanding to be given what you’re eating! Then you can mush up whatever you’re eating and give the baby little tastes. Infant cereal is *worthless*. First, it’s so refined that it’s devoid of any nutritional value; a good way to start on the road to obesity. Second, it’s constipating. Third, feeding the baby such bland food will only lead to pickiness later. Start the baby out with real food!
March 10th, 2010 - 03:18
you are supposed to start putting the rice cereal in the babys bottles at 3 months. most babies can’t tolerate solid foods until 5 1/2 months to 6 months. this could increase any allergies the baby might have. i would talk to your babys pediatrician before giving solid foods.
March 10th, 2010 - 03:59
Yes, that is correct. I started feeding my twins cereal at 6 months though. I have been told, and I am not really sure if it is true, but the later your start the solid foods, the less likely babies will have allergies to foods.
Hope this helps you.
March 10th, 2010 - 04:59
Most Dr.s will tell you at least 3-4 months, but lets be real-I have had 5 kids, and ALL of them have been eating baby cereal since they were at least one month. What I do is in a 6 oz. bottle, fill the baby cereal about 1 oz. then put 1 scoop of formula in with it and fill with warm water. It thickens the milk and fills the baby up better, however watch for gas. Make sure to burp the baby and if needed, they sell over the counter gas drops for baby’s. but you probably won’t need to worrie. if the bottle gets clogged, you might need to make the hole a little bigger with succors-not too big. But you will be amazed at how much better the baby will sleep from being full. Do not give the baby oatmeal-look for the rice. It’s easier on their little tummies.-good luck
March 10th, 2010 - 05:21
Yes this is true. I waited until my son was about 4 months old before I started him on rice cereal. You probably want to talk to your doctor before giving your baby rice cereal.