Can A 1 Month Old Have Baby Cereal?

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Can A 1 Month Old Have Baby Cereal?

by Anonymous

Can you give a one month old baby cereal? My baby seems to be constantly hungry, and I wonder if I should give him some rice cereal to get full?

Baby Help Line Response:

Rice Cereal To 1 Month Old Baby, Yes Or No?

I would really not recommend giving baby cereal to a 1 month old baby. Before the age of 4 to 6 months, babies' digestive systems are not really ready for solid foods (including baby cereal that are more solid than breast milk and formula) and your baby is at high risk of tummy pain and constipation.

Also, while breast milk and formula contains practically all the nutrition your baby needs, including vitamins and minerals; baby cereal doesn't. Hence, since cereal is more filling, your baby might not get all the nutrition he needs.

Babies grow at an enormous speed during their first three months of living, and then the growth rate slows down a bit. So it is very important that your baby gets proper nutrition in the beginning.

Why do you want to give cereal to your baby? I can imagine (correct me if I'm wrong) that your little darling wants to eat very frequently. You mention that he seems to be constantly hungry. That's exhausting but quite normal for his or her age. Being only 1 month old, his stomach is still very small and the baby really needs to eat quite often. Also, around 6 weeks is a growth spurt, so many babies start needing more milk at around that age.

So really, don't start experimenting with baby cereal yet. You just risk running into problems with your baby's tummy.

I wish you the best! If you need more tips on how to cope with the first, often very exhausting months take a look at our New Mother Section and especially the sleep tips for new moms, which can be of huge help when you are dead tired.

Paula

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Comments for
Can A 1 Month Old Have Baby Cereal?

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Oct 19, 2008

thanks
by: new mommy

my baby is 2 1/2 month old and i was doing research for the same exact reason, he seems like he is never full and i have to feed him every 2 hours or less. Now i know is normal and i just have to be patient.
thank u

Jan 20, 2009

Hogwash!
by: Anonymous

If pediatricians prescribe baby cereal for GERD in infants under 4 months, then it's hogwash that their digestive systems are too immature to handle it. It would be just as true under any condition. Just because someone wears a white coat and a name tag that says M.D. doesn't mean they are right. There's a reason why it's called Dr.s OPINION. If such things were indesputable FACT, then it wouldn't be an opinion. I have four kids, gave them all cereal, from the spoon, at 6 wks. NO PROBLEMS. As did my mother, and hers, and millions of mothers around the world for generations. We started with a tiny bit in the bottle at 3 weeks, then gradually worked up to the spoon. No food allergies, no choking, no digestive problems(in fact it solved gassiness, heartburn and sleep issues), no obesity issues, or anything anyone has ever claimed cereal this early would cause. Always start with single grain rice cereal though. Because it's the most gentle.

Feb 13, 2009

cereal at 2 weeks
by: Anonymous

i started giving my baby cereal at 2 weeks and she is now 2 months i did it for the same reason she drank a bottle of milk every hour she never got full she never had a problem with it she took right to it she is now eating out of a feeder and is doing great the doctor told me not to untill she was 4 months but she would of starved just remember you are the mom you know what your baby needs and nobody else can tell you what your baby needs only you will know

Feb 19, 2009

Her doctor told me to
by: Anonymous

My daughter is a month old and her doctor recommended that i give her cereal to see if it would satisfy her. If it didnt, he would have put her on medicine for heartburn, but she loves it. Not only does she sleep a lot better..she NEVER spits up and is always happy. i give her a tablespoon for ever 2 oz (thats what he told me to do)

Apr 15, 2009

ADvise
by: Anonymous

go ask YOUR doctor you childs health should not be up to strangers also you are the mom God gave you something called mothers intuition and I believe with all my heart in your heart you know what you should do remeber he allowed men/women to be doctors so when we feel unsure we go to them. If you trust your doctor trust what he tells you.

Apr 27, 2009

WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE READY!!!
by: Rissa

We tried giving our baby rice cereal first for reflux (doctor recommended) at 2 months, and then at 3 months because he never got full. Both times it caused a terrible stomache ache and gas. He wouldn't sleep, just cried non-stop until it got out of his system. We tried oatmeal and it did the same thing. we tried it in his bottle and tried spoon feeding. Every time, we got colic. Every baby is different. Our baby just couldn't digest the cereal. He threw it up for 2 days after we fed it to him. It just sat in his digestive track because it couldn't be digested properly. We will now be waiting until he's 6 months!!!! I can't put him through that again.

May 26, 2009

Generations bs
by: Anonymous

I think that these old people are full of it on giving cereal to a newborn younger than 3-4 months. What do you think people in the old days did? THEY FED FROM THE BREAST! Which is what? LIQUID! And what do you think animals in the wild do? THEY FEED FROM THE BREAST! Which is what? LIQUID!!

I just have been pushed with both of my kids (one is 2 and one is a month old) to feed them cereal as soon as they came out cause ohh they are hungry and I just do not agree!

Jun 03, 2009

Do you think that is to much?
by: Anonymous

My little baby girl was always hungry all the time. My aunt and mom told me just to give her a little cereal in her bottle. She was only 7 weeks old. I was only giving it to her once right before she goes to bed. It got to the point where she slapped the regular bottle out of her mouth screamed her head off until she has cereal in with her formula. I put one tablespoon for 5oz. Do you think that is to much? I've tried so hard just to give her a standard bottle but its impossible. What shall I do?

Aug 24, 2009

old hags lol
by: Anonymous

I think I'd rather listen to a dr with an md then someone that hasnt went to college. I think they know better. If something is terribly wrong with a baby and for some reason cereal helps, that is for the doctor and the MOTHER to decide. But I hate it when my inlaws sit there and push to give cereal when my baby is eating and growing just fine without it.

Nov 18, 2009

it worked for me
by: Anonymous

my baby is 2 months old and i been giving him cereal since he was a month old. the reason because he was always hungry i know the dr always asks do the baby eats every two hrs or so sometimes i am forced to lie because my baby always wants something to eat i know this because he turns his head and and cries like i am about to breast feed him or sometimes but other times he just bust out with a loud cry when i put a bottle in his mouth he holds my hand to let me know not to stop when i let it out he cries. cereal made him fuller i give him in the morning and at night when its time for him to sleep.it is verry helpful. my mother did it to me and others in my family have done it for their kids.just start out with a little and see if your baby accepts it.

Apr 21, 2010

cereal
by: Anonymous

As was said before, if its okay for premies with gerd then why not for healthy babies. It's digested the same way. Go for it.

Jun 11, 2010

BABY FOOD EARLY
by: Anonymous

I gave both my kids cereal when they were a month old,cuz they always seemed hungry and the formula just wasn't enough. They both turned out fine,no allergies,and they are where their supposed to be weight wise for their age,and they are both very healthy.. I have a 1 month old daughter and formula just isn't enough for her anymore,so we started giving her cereal a few times a day.She eats it just fine with out any problems,and it doesn't take away any bottles.She's happier and is getting full,if I would wait another few months it would be hard on her. I don't regret starting my kids on cereal early,as like I said they are just fine with no problems!!

Jun 11, 2010

I started my kids early
by: Anonymous

I started giving my kids cereal when they were a month old,they took to it just fine..They are both very healthy kids today,never had a problem with their growth or weight.Formula just wasn't filling them,and the cereal helped,it never took a formula feeding away either,I don't regret starting them early..

May 23, 2011

Too much formula is bad
by: Anonymous

when my boys were little (12 yrs ago)they were drinking too much formula in one day, it was making them collic, so my doctor, when she found out how much formula they were eating, suggested putting a LITTLE bit of cereal (rice) in their bottles once or twice a day. I started out using one teaspoon for 8 ounces...they should NEVER drink more than 8 ounces at one feeding...and i gradually added more a little at a time. Now I have a newborn, and they have changed all the rules! (ie sterilzation etc) and I wasn't sure what to do with my 7 week old, as she wants to keep eating after 8 oz so I did the same thing....FIRST, always trust your motherly instinct, SECOND, ask your doctor if your not sure...but always go with your gut, that has gotten me through three children!

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