Rice Cereal and Beyond

I like the website wholesomebabyfood.com. (they also have wholesometoddlerfood.com, for when the kids get older!)

They have lots of ideas, recipes, do's and dont's, etc. Their information is very good, healthy, and reliable.

Alot of doctors say try one new food a week. Starting with different cereals then gradually working your way up to pureed fruits and veggies. I would start by introducing a new fruit or veggie mix one or two spoonfuls in with some cereal for the first feeding or two. Then try 1/2 a jar by itself. After a couple days work up to a full jar. Watch for signs of food allergies and report them immediatly to your doctor. Are there any particular food allergies in your family? Be extra watchful when introducing these foods.
H. T.

Sounds like you are in the right direction. I think about 6 or 7 months I started my son on veggies. One at a time and I still continued giving him the rice cereal. Then we went on to the fruit.

Good luck!

Get the book "Super Baby Food":
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=super+baby+food&...
It's fantastic! It breaks it down by age and even has sections for crafts and foods for the entire family. It really helped me learn how to make quick and easy (not to mention, cheap) baby food. I never made our own rice cereal, however. As a full-time, work at home mom, I just didn't have the time. You can easily pick and choose what items you want to buy and what you want to make all while following the easy info for each month. :-)

I'd do that for about a month or less if he's showing the signs of readiness (eyeing food, sitting up are two), then you're supposed to start on the yellow vegetables (squash, sweet potatoes, carrots) for about a month, then move to the green vegetables, saving fruits for last (if you have something sweet first, why would you want veggies again?) I've mixed baby food with cereal to dilute it because my youngest is used to the cereal and didn't seem to like the transition. Good luck!

A.,

I think it's a mostly personal choice. My son (now 4 1/2) would not touch those single grain cereals with a 10 foot pole. My daughter (15 months) tolerated them a little better, but I'd mix it all in her bottle at bed time.

From there we introduced the Gerber 1st foods veggies. Again, with my son he took to it all right away (had a small reaction to sweet potatoes but is fine now), my daughter was a little pickier. Once they had a base with the veggies, and would eat them no problem, we started adding the fruits. The only one my son detested was the bananas (they were awful). When the packaging says fully ripened they mean almost rotten, horrible stuff. My daughter refused all fruits until she was about 12 months old, but would eat anything off of out plates.

Every child is different. Every child will have their likes and dislikes. Obviously be healthy, but take your cues from your son.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

Get a copy of "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron. It is a priceless reference tool for what and when to feed babies and beyond. I have lent out my copy to several friends and each of them have come back saying what a great book it was. It is also really helpful for making sure the parent doesn't accidentally introduce food issues to a child.

Best Wishes.

We started my son on rice cereal when he was 5 1/2 months old and he liked it ok...after he had been eating that for a few weeks I tried giving him some sweet potatoes and he LOVED those! I would recommend starting with something bland like that or squash and serving it for a few days to make sure there's no reactions and then gradually mix in some more veggies and fruits. My son hated applesauce, but I think it was a texture thing and it was a couple of months before I tried any chicken or meat. Expect to get plenty back on you though...makes for great pictures :)

Hi A. ~ Welcome to the fun of exploring new foods with your little boy! I had lots of questions just like you when my son was 5 months. I discovered wholesomebabyfood.com through my siter-in-law and greatly appreciated all the informative info. I even printed out their suggestions of what foods to introduce and at what age. I have used it as a guide and all eating experiences for my food-loving little boy have been super so far. When you have a moment, it is definitely worth checking out. Have fun!

I've always let my children decide where I go next. I have four of them and none of them started on foods (or the same type of food) at the same time. My oldest I started giving rice cereal in his baby bottle when he was about a month to stop him spitting up and to make him more satisfied. My second one didn't want anything or have interest in our food until about six months old. The third one didn't care about anything other then moms breast milk until 8 or 9 months. At that point I had to start pushing foods on her. My four month old started acting unsatisfied when he was fed so I began giving him rice cereal, when that didn't work I started giving him rice cereal with bananas. We just moved into the oatmeal and bananas and he's having a good time with it. I think that it just depends. A lot of doctors will say no food (besides breast of formula obviously), until six months. Some say that when they act interested in what you are eating to go ahead and feed them. Some say nothing until a year. A lot of them think the sooner you start them the more allergies they'll develop. I've (like I said) started my kids out at all different ages based on their needs or wants and none of them have health issues or allergies due to it. I think you know your baby and if he/she seems satisfied then you're doing fine. If he/she doesn't go ahead and add more cereal and less breast milk. That makes it thicker so it sticks in their belly longer. The Gerber first foods say they are for four months and up. If you think your baby is bored with rice cereal (and at age 4mths) go ahead and try the Gerber 1st foods or the oatmeal. Good luck and just follow your instincts. And just so people know, this is my opinion and experience. Don't yell at me. lol