Starting With Baby Cereal At 4 Months?

by Kristie
(Virginia)

My doctor is telling me that when my baby boy has reached 4 months old that she would like us to introduce baby cereal to his diet. He is now 10 weeks old and 13lbs 6oz and I have heard mixed feelings about when this type of change is appropriate. Some say not to do it because of the possibilities of creating an allergy in your baby. What are your feelings about this?

Baby Help Line Response:

Introducing Solids At 4 Months Old

Do you know why your doctor is suggesting cereal? I don't know how tall he is, but he doesn't seem to be underweight? Or is he?

In my experience, starting too early with cereal may lead to constipation. Rice cereal is not bad from an allergy perspective, but having a baby that cries and has troubles passing stools is not that fun either...

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends babies to be fully breastfed for 6 months. The second best option is formula, since it contains a lot of the nutrition available in breast milk. Rice cereal doesn't have a fraction of all this and cannot substitute breast milk of formula. But it has a mild taste and many babies like it. It is also more filling than breast milk and formula.

Many babies are actually more open to try solids at around 4 months than at 6 months, which may be a reason why your baby's doctor is suggesting it.

If you do decide to start with cereal, go slowly - that's my best advice! And if you're not sure why your doctor recommended the introduction, ask again!

When it is time for your baby to start with solid foods; rice cereal as well as other solids, you'll find many tips, schedules and recipes here.

Hope this helps,

Paula

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Starting With Baby Cereal At 4 Months?

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Jul 01, 2008

my baby is 10 weeks
by: toyah

Hi my baby is 10 weeks ive put him on baby rice he hated it but i now have put him on rusks which he loves he only takes 4 oz of milk but he is on sma white which dont seem to fill him up now i have put him rusks i feels him up for a bit longer u could try that

Aug 31, 2008

baby cereal
by: anonymous

Hi
I have a 3 month old whom has had a very difficult time tolerating any formula. She threw up everything and would stop breathing. We put her on Similac Sensitive and Zantac with 1/2 tsp about 3 weeks ago...we put the rice cereal in her last three bottles in the day everyother one had cereal and she seemed to tolerate this well. We just recently started having problems again with throwing up though. Not sure why this started again.

May 07, 2010

replie to mom with baby that doesnt tollerate formula
by: Anonymous

hi i am a mom of 3 and my 3 month old baby girl gave us the same problem but we put her on parents choice with why protein with omega 3 and 6 all the expensive formula didn't work , parents choice is walmart brand and i am so thankful we tried it. I didn't want to because it is just a generic name but it stopped her from getting sick all together and she is gaining weight better now hope this helps

Oct 14, 2010

Baby Cereal
by: Sam

I started about a month ago with my baby (now &months old) and I am still breast feeding too. I follow my instincts when it comes to feeding her. Sometimes I don't give her cereal at all for the day cause I feel I don't want her to get attached to the cereal and I change the flavors every time I buy more. I feel mothers should follow their gut when it comes to our babies.

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