Cereal at just 4 months?

We just had a four month (4 and a half month) check-up today and the girls are doing great.

I'm a little confused about starting cereal now, though. We didn't start cereal with DD until she was close to 6 months old. The nurse said we should already be giving the girls cereal?? So I asked the doctor and he said he highly recommends it, especially for babies who are breast-fed (since they don't get as much iron?). Well, my girls are about half breastmilk/half formula now. I guess I thought that at this point, it would only be for "practice" if people give their babies cereal, especially since the digestive system isn't quite developed enough to actually absorb much from "solids."

Then a friend of mine researched some stuff and said that it's actually better to start babies on veggies, since they hardly absorb much from cereal. I'm pretty confused now about when/what I should be feeding my girls!!

 

Our ped starts giving cereal at 4 months as well. But very runny. But like you said, usually for a few weeks it's just practice at this point until they really get the idea of eating it. You could go ahead and start it not, just make sure it's very runny and see how they do.

 

I started my girls about 4 mos. My ped was swaying for a later time - but I went with my gut. It seemed they were ready and they were. Yes at first it was "practice" and the faces they made were hysterical. But they got the hang of it quick and I loved feeding them. cereal is easy on their little stomachs too. I didn't start fruits and veggies until 5 mos.

 

We started just after our 4 month appt and mine were ready for it. I made it runny for a while and than thickened it up and they loved it. They are formula fed babies from the start so they did have enuf iron but Dr recommended starting them.

 

we started ours a week before 4 mos and they loved it!

 

We didnt' start until 5 months. I didn't think they were ready.

By the way... I think that is untrue what he said about breastfed babies needing more then formula fed!! I totally disagree! JMO!

 

We started all three of our girls when they were 4 months old. Do what you feel is right.

 

I think most peds recommend starting between 4 and 6 months. I started at 4 months with all of my kids. We quickly moved from cereal to veggies and fruits because they were not big fans of plain cereal. Good luck!!

 

We just started DS on rice cereal as well...he is taking to it very well actually. I had to make it thicker for him last night. I don't know about starting other solids yet at this point, I might just keep with the cereal until he hits 5 months or so. So far, we are just doing it at night to see if it will help him sleep better (stick with him longer) but I think I might start incorporating a morning and afternoon feed as well.

 

We must be the odd-ball b/c with DD we started at 2.5 months. Our ped had us start baby food at 4 months. She did fine on all of it. She was ready for cereal too at that age. She started coming out of her colic when we did this. Not sure about the girls though. We have a different ped now (for another reason) and DD wasn't with them til she was over 12mths old. So I have to ask.

I do admit though many family memebers have started earlier than that. My sis had to start my niece at 2 months cause she was gaining so fast. Our peds have told us to put rice in their bottles for AR, but haven't yet. We somewhat solved that situation on our own.

April

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Sep 24 2007, 02:13 PM) [snapback]421163[/snapback]
Our ped starts giving cereal at 4 months as well. But very runny. But like you said, usually for a few weeks it's just practice at this point until they really get the idea of eating it. You could go ahead and start it not, just make sure it's very runny and see how they do.



that's exactly what we've been told to do and are now doing. Some days they'll eat a little bit, and some days they look at me like I'm nuts for even trying . . .

 

QUOTE
The nurse said we should already be giving the girls cereal?? So I asked the doctor and he said he highly recommends it, especially for babies who are breast-fed (since they don't get as much iron?). Well, my girls are about half breastmilk/half formula now. I guess I thought that at this point, it would only be for "practice" if people give their babies cereal, especially since the digestive system isn't quite developed enough to actually absorb much from "solids."


The lone voice of dissent here:

You're right, the nurse & pedi are wrong. I'm shocked that medical professionals would display such ignorance.

The AAP and other major health organizations recommend waiting until at least 6 months to start solids, for a number of reasons (see here). And babies have enough iron reserves to get them through at least their first 6 months (see here). They have no need for anything other than breastmilk/formula that early.

I'm waiting until my babies are 6 months corrected age to offer solids.

 

QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Sep 24 2007, 11:11 PM) [snapback]421711[/snapback]
The lone voice of dissent here:

You're right, the nurse & pedi are wrong. I'm shocked that medical professionals would display such ignorance.

The AAP and other major health organizations recommend waiting until at least 6 months to start solids, for a number of reasons (see here). And babies have enough iron reserves to get them through at least their first 6 months (see here). They have no need for anything other than breastmilk/formula that early.

I'm waiting until my babies are 6 months corrected age to offer solids.



Thank you so much!!! I was thinking I'd get more responses like this... We didn't start DD 1 on cereal until about a week before 6 months, and now I'm remembering why. Those links are great!

 

You're welcome! Glad the links helped.