Advice Needed.

My son is 5 1/2 months and has been on cereal and juice since he was 3 months. They told me that they recommend not starting cereal until they are 6 months or older bc supposedly its linked to babies developing more allergens. But my mom started me on cereal at 3 months and my husband was on cereal before 1 month old bc thats all his mom could get him to eat and neither one of us have any allergies, so I took it more as a word of advice than as a you have to wait. My son does WONDERFUL on his cereal and loves it.

I started giving my baby cereal around 3 or 4 months...she wasn't so happy about it at first but then she really liked it when she was a little older and we mixed it with some fruits (stage 2s I believe) we also mixed her juice with it...She took more to the juices before the cereal...She has really bad problems with constipation then and now and she is almost 2 so just be careful what fruits you mix with it...she loved the mangos and prunes, yep prunes.....She also loved apple and pear and prune juices and these helped somewhat with her bowels.... hope this helps and congratulations on the brand new baby!!

I would not feed cereal to an infant until they are at least 9 months old. I don't believe their digestive system is ready for food until then and what is the big hurry anyways. I think formula or mothers milk is all they need for the first year. Just think about it they have all their life to ruin there body why not give them something good for as long as you can. Apple juice and yogart juice is the only juice I would give them the first year too. Every mom is different but I feel that we start our kids out way too soon on everything.

I have a three month old too. He would not take cereal from a spoon whereas my girl (she's five now) would take it fine! I bought a cheap bottle and cut the nipple a little (didn't want to cut an Avent nipple, gasp!) make 2 ounces of formula with about 2 tsp of applesauce or pears and some cereal. Not too think but a little thicker than regular formula. I know that doctors might not approve of this b/c they say you are supposed to feed with a spoon, but hey, we'll get there one day! He takes this at night and then he's ready for bed. And above all else rememember, that's YOUR child, YOU know what's best! We haven't started juices yet but I think it's around four months...we might start those in a few weeks. Hope it works out for ya!

I had to start my youngest on cereal at about 4 mos because she had developed diarrhea from her formula ( I had to stop breastfeeding at 2 mos b/c of a surgery). All of the docs were stumped, and I kept getting the "just keep doin what your doing" speech. after about 4 weeks I gave up and added some cereal to her bottles, and she cleared right up. I didnt start my first until about 5 1/2 mos as she was still breasfeeding, and she had a lot of probs transitioning (constipation, I had to use suppositories). I think you're spose to wait a little longer on the juice b/c it can cause diarrhea, but as for cereal, I think it depends on the baby :}

All the babies in our family have started rice cereal between 6 to 8 weeks and juice about 4 months. pear is the least acidic followed by apple. We started with just a teaspoon of cereal in his night bottle and he returned to sleeping thru the n;ight. as he night sleep shortened we increased the cereal until when he was about a year old it was so thick I don't know how he ate it but he loved it. He is a healthy 8 year old and all of my nieces and nephews started the same and they are all fine. IF you baby seems hungry give them some cereal. Don't forget to introduce water to them as well as juice. They need hydration too.

My daughter was drinking 6 ounces of milk the day we took her home from the hospital! She had a very healthy appetite and the dr. told us that feeding her too much breastmilk was worse as far as the weight gain goes than giving her cereal. She would wake up every 1 1/2 hrs. to feed again and I couldn't even keep enough milk pumped to feed her so I had to start supplementing with formula, which led to more feeding issues like constipation and colic. When she was 5 weeks old I was at my wits end from literally only getting minutes of sleep at a time and I almost quit breastfeeding because of it. I started putting a little cereal in all of her bottles and it held her over for about 3 hours. I feel like it was the best thing I could have done because I was able to completely cut out the formula supplementing and keep breastfeeding her. She's 4 now and has never been overweight or ill. She has the healthiest immune system in our family (she's the only one who NEVER gets sick) and she hasn't had any problems with her stomach. You know your baby best and if you feel like she isn't getting satisfied from the milk then you should give her a little cereal. It won't hurt her as long as you don't go overboard with it. Start with only a teaspoon or so and introduce it slowly and she should tolerate it just fine. As for the juice, I would wait as long as possible for that because it is full of sugar and calories. I still don't give my kids juice and they are 2 and 4, we drink Crystal Light or water. Not only does it have tons of calories and cause hyperactivity, but it's not good for their teeth either. Just my opinion. If you do start juice though, make sure you dillute it 50% for awhile so it doesn't upset the tummy.

I started giving my son cereal at 3 months of age do to his voracious appetite. I mix it with water or breastmilk, and add a drop or two of dark karo syrup. I know that sounds weird, but my grandmother told me about that trick and she raised kids through the depression so I trust her judgement (my doctor says it is okay). The cereal also helps them sleep longer at night. It's okay to give your baby watered down apple juice now (one part juice, one part water). Absolutely NO DAIRY products until they are a year old. At 4 months of age, introduce foods. It's good to start with veggies first, and only one new food per week. Hope this helps!

Some say absolutely no younger than four months to feed anything other than breast milk or formula (be it juice or solid), but six is an absolute minimum in my book. Otherwise you've got food allergies to battle with. Don't take chances! It's just a few more months!

L.

Most magazines and books say 4 mos, my 1st acted like she wanted it earlier, she got rice cereal at a little over 3 mos. It definitely took practice and she ate very little, but she was completely off baby food by 8 mos. Juice you might wait a bit longer, I think about 4 or 5 mos.

I would say you could start offering the baby cereal at about 4 months if she is ready and shows interest in the food you are eating. If she doesn't seem to be ready try again a few days later. My doctor empahisized that before 6 months is just for fun anyway. I wouldn't start offering juice until 6 months or later.

I started with the rice cereal at 3mos, but that was mostly because she had reflux and the solid foods stayed down better. I used diluted juice from 4mos until she was 3 years; and they should not have more than 3-4oz even if diluted in one day. My daughter is still a healthy eater, and still loves juice, but we took it/and still take it in small quantities.

M. and Amara 8/25/01

plain gerber rice cereal-4months, and no juice until 6months and then only 6oz at most daily

L.
I do think every child is different. My daughter was on cereal at five weeks. The formula simply was not enough for her.If I had left it up to the doctor, he wanted to increase the formula. What is the difference, more liquid or some solid. If you do not overfeed, their systems handle it just fine. She would not drink juices at all. The doctor and the nurses at our local Health Unit said she did not need all those juices. She never had any at all. When she was 6 months old I started her on fresh finger foods, carrots, peas, and soft fruits. She got all the good juices she needed from each of these groups. Dont't worry, just use your instinct. It works great. Start out with small amounts, see what she likes, and go from there. My boy's were 13 years apart. I followed the same pattern with my 23 year old as I did my 36 year old, and they are both very healthy. I also did the same with my 12 year old adopted daughter who is 12 and was a premie, as I did with them, and she is perfectly healthy. She has only been to the doctor for yearly checkups. Good healthy food eating works.

Good Luck You sound like a good parent and Step Parent. I am also a stepparent to 3 grown children. It has been a full time job, but rewarding.

You will hear all types of answers for this one! I have a 2 and a half year old little girl, and I began giving her cereal right around the 4 month mark. Everytime we were ready to eat lunch, dinner, she would wake up, and then she would watch as the fork went from plate to mouth, so I took that as a sign that she was ready. I'm not exactly sure when I started giving her juice, but I know it was before one year of age for sure. I diluted the juice down to one ounce of juice and three ounces of water. She loved it, and her digestive system is fine! I've got a baby who will be 4 months old in a week and I will be starting him on cereal pretty soon. I may wait until I go to his four month old check-up and ask the dr. questions of when he think he should start cereal, fruits, veggies, and juice, and go from there, or I may just start him on them anyway. Just go with your instinct, look at what history has taught us, everything baby-related is ALWAYS changing, people used to give babies cow's milk a long time ago, and now they say not to give them whole milk until at least 1 year old, how on earth have children and people survived this long with what the past has been like? Trust your instincts and go with what you think is right! Good luck!

That depends on why. If you're concerned about weight gain, nutrition, etc then the rest doesn't apply...

Generally speaking, don't start before 4 months old. You want them to get nutrition from breastmilk or formula. Cereal is basically calories, less nutrition. You add the solids to check for allergies and get them used to the new consistencies. Their solid intake will not become the primary source of calories and nutrition until they're about a year old.

I personally do not add juice at all unless the baby is sick before almost a year old. It's too easy to get "hooked" on the sweet stuff. I've breastfed (exclusively) 4 out of 7 kids and started solids at 4 mos with the boys, and 6 mos with the girls based on their desire to eat it. None of them had any additional liquid outside of nursing.

Just my experience. Hope it helps.

I wouldn't start cereal until 6 months. I think that ppl are starting their babies on food so early these days and it can be damaging to their developing guts which is the home of our immune systems. All the good bacteria starts in our guts and attacking it with foods to early can be very upsetting to it. And Ialso don't think cereal has any benefit. You can start with really healthy first foods like avocado or sweet potatoes. They have lots of good fats and vitamins. As far as juice goes, I see no need for it period. It's essentially sugar water and all it does it fill up their bellies and then they don't want to eat any good,nutritious stuff. Juice is a special treat occasionally for my two year old, but certainly nothing regular. He gets water and milk.

Although there are exceptions to every rule, most pediatricians are recommending somewhere between 4 and 6 months for cereal. Many are recommending somewhere closer to the 6-month mark because so many children develop allergies when fed foods earlier.

There is no nutritional reason to give a baby -- or any child for that matter -- any juice. If you do decide to feed juice to your baby or any age child, it should be diluted 50% with water. As a side note, some peditricians will recommend giving juice (again, diluted) to babies who are constipated.

I hope this helps-
L.
www.NannyForNewborns.com
...because babies don't come with instructions

They say 4m is the youngest you should start digestive system wise. The baby should also be able to hold it's head upright without help and show an interest in solid foods. My daughter was around 41/2 months when we started, but she got horrible constipation and we had to hold off for another month after that.

I would say that cereal could be started anywhere from 4-6 months. I would ask your doctor about the juice because I believe that our pediatrician told us not to do juice until almost 12 months. (aybe not that long, but it was much later) There is so much sugar in juice, even just the natural not added sugar is high!! I would stick with formula for now and at some point you can introduce water as well! Good luck!

Ask the adults around you that use Zantac, Prilosec, and Tums regularly when their mothers started them on cereal. You'll likely hear that it was very early. I asked my pediatrician about it when everyone was bugging me to give my first baby cereal. She said it's like giving them chips - it just makes them fat. Both of my girls were exclusively breastfed for nine or ten months.

NO! She does NOT need milk fat for her brain to develop properly. Cows milk is what baby cows need not baby humans. Baby humans need the milk from THEIR mothers. It is specially designed for them. If you are not currently breast feeding her which is seems you are not, and she is weaned, then the only fats she needs are the essentially fatty acids pertinent to humans: Omega 3,6 and 9. The omega 3's are the most difficult to obtain and can be provided with salmon oil, or flax oil in her diet. Olive oil is important for brain health also, and can be used on vegetables or potatoes, etc. Calcium can be obtained in almond milk and almonds when older and they can be chewed, greens such as broccoli. Cows milk is VERY ACIDIC and will lend to a host of illness and allergies. In contrast breast milk is alkaline which is important in preventing disease. Bacteria grows in an acid environment. Alkaline foods are all of the fruits and vegetables, which is why they are so important. Almonds are alkaline also. So you can stop giving her the cows milk and her body will thank you!

B. S. RN CCM

L.,

The Dr. will tell you not to give cereal and juice before 5 or 6 months that's what they told my daughter. But when my girls were babies I went ahead and fed them cereal and puree table food. If he acts hungry even after the bottle try putting a little cereal in his bottle with his milk.
It won't hurt him.

You souldn't be worried about the weight gain from breastmilk. Studies have shown that breastfed babies are less likely to become obese as adults. Breastmilk is the most ideal food for your baby. The cereal issue- American Pediatrics Association recommends breastmilk only for the first 6 months and then to spoon feed the baby cereal. Babies have growth spurts at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months- this means they will nurse very often for 24-48 hours. This is a way of making sure that your body will make enough food for your growing baby. Your baby is eating so often because your milk is so easily digested. Formula 'holds' your baby so well because it takes that much time for your baby to digest it. Think of it as breastmilk is a green salad and a chicken breast- and thanks giving dinner is the formula. Both are good but one is alot healther and digest much easier.
Hang in there with the breastfeeding- you are doing the best as a mom that you could ever do!! Look for a local breastfeeding support group so you can talk to other moms is these similar situations.

L.,

All of the child health agencies recommend waiting until 6 months or later for cereal or any other solids. The longer you wait the better as it helps their digestive system be fully developed before beginning solids. If you breastfeed you actually do not have to begin any solids or cereal until 1 year of age. We began at 9 months for my son and 8 months for my daughter. My son is now three and has never had to have any medication - not even an anti-biotic. I believe it is because I breastfed ofcourse, but I also allowed his digestive system the time it needed... as the gut is a very important part of our immune system.

I am honestly so suprised to hear that some people still at this day and age start their kids so early - since current research shows it is very bad. It is really sad and I can only hope they become educated as the digestive problems sometimes take years to show up. My mom started me on cereal at 6 weeks and I had my problems show up as an adult. My doctor said it was likely caused by beginning solids so early.

My son is three weeks old and hes been getting about a teaspoon of cereal in his milk since before we ever left the hospital. With my daughter I put her on cereal at 6 weeks she is almost 5 years old now and there is nothing wrong with her, and she isnt fat. Youll know if your baby needs more to eat, and not feeding her because she might get fat is not a good reason. I dont know about the juice, I cant remember when I started that with my daughter.

Depends a lot on whether you have a family history of food allergies. Most doctors will say ok to start cereal @ 4 months, but that assumes no history of food allergies or other digestive issues. Lots of moms will start earlier and claim to have no problems, I myself waited until 4 months. I think the biggest thing if allergies are not a concern is to do it gradually and start with the basics like single grain cereal or single fruits/vegetables for a week or so at a time before introducing anything new so that you have ample opportunity to detect possible allergic reactions or digestive issues. Plus too many solids (which they may not yet be able to digest w/ their immature digestive tract) can interfere with their appetite for breast milk or formula that they can digest and need for proper nutrition. I can say with some confidence that my daughter has kind of a sensitive tummy and I definitely wouldn't have wanted to try to introduce them any earlier than I did.

Juice on the other hand, seems more important to hold off on. (I was concerned about creating a juice-fiend/child w/ a taste for things that are sweeet) but more importantly I think the likelihood of interference w/ the volume intake of breast milk or formula is a big concern where juice offers little or no nutritional value and cannot compensate for the necessary nutrients she should be getting.