Starting Baby on Rice Cereal

I remember starting my daughter on rice cereal at about 4 mos old. I was breast-feeding, but I wasn't able to pump, so I mixed a little formula with a tablespoon of cereal. (size-wise she was in the 90% for height & 50% for weight)

Good luck!

I know that they say not to put babies on solids (rice, oatmeal) until 6 months, but my son was hungry too, and my pediatrician actually recommended it when he was 2 months old, but we had already started with very small amounts at bedtime at 7 weeks. He handled it well, and it helped him sleep better. By 6 months, he was eating some solids at every meal. He's 2 years old now, and eating has never been a problem since.

Pediatricians recommend around 5 or 6 months. I started both my children at about 5.5 months. I personally feel 3 mos is far to early.

You really shouldn't give her on rice or anything other than breastmilk or formula, it is way too early!! A 3-month old shouldn't be expected to sleep through the night and you will find every 2 months or so she will go through a growth spurt and act like she can't get enough to eat. If you are breastfeeding you especially shouldn't introduce cereals. Most cereals are iron-fortified and this could really mess with their natural mechanisms to absorb iron. Read this link below, it is well-researched and will explain a lot more reasons not to start solids so young.

http://www.mothering.com/sections/experts/palmer-archive....

I think it's great that you are researching and not just going by what your pediatrician has to say. Some doctors do not keep up with the lastest readings. My mother and I are always at odds because so much has changed in the past 40 years.

Enjoy these days they fly by! Everyone will tell you this but you won't believe it until later!

Good luck!
S.

OK, this is from the AAP. Babies should NOT be put on anything other than breastmilk until 6-to-8 months, or infant formula until 4-to-6 months. Their stomachs and digestive systems ARE NOT mature enough to have even rice cereal sooner than that. That is a medical fact.

The reason that a baby feels fuller after having a bottle with cereal or spooned cereal is because the cereal sits in the stomach like a rock, UNDIGESTED. There is a higher likelihood of choking and inducing allergies. She could still wake at night as well, and cereal at this age could cause digestive upset on top of everything else. There is a higher risk of causing Type 2 Diabetes and childhood/adult obesity.

Your baby, at 3 months old, eats because she NEEDS to eat. If she's waking at night, it's NORMAL. It doesn't necessarily means she's hungry, but if she is, by all means, feed her. Trust your instincts, and don't listen to family and friends telling you to force her into cereal. You're doing the right thing by hesitating.

I started two of my daughters at 6 months old. Another daughter would get 1/2 tsp per ounce of formula from 1 month until 6 months in only two of her bottles per day because of severe acid reflux, approved by her pediatrician. She didn't start any other solids until 6 months old.

Hi, My son is 4 months old and he just had his 4 Mth visit on Monday. He is in the 88% for both weight and height and his doc said that we could start him on rice cereal. We havn't yet, but I'll be going to the store to get some today :)

She recommended one feeding a day (least fussy time of the day). After that if he successfully was eating for a week on rice cereal we could introduce veggies.

I have no experience yet, but just thought I'd let you know what our doc just said. Good luck! I'll let you know if I have any pointers in a week. :)

Hi there, the most important piece is that any baby should be able to hold their head up on their own. Both my sons were able to hold their heads up around 4 months of age. Once i tried the cereal i waited a couple of days to make sure they didnt have any reactions to the cereal. I mixed it with formula and you can mix it with breast milk (if nursing). I waited about a couple-few of weeks to introduce other foods using the same method above. I made my own food which was so much easier. (esp. with first child) not so much with second since my first was a toddler (18 mos apart) good luck. I also purchased a book that gave instructions how to puree foods and also gave a timeline when to introduce certain veggies, fruits, meats etc. Good luck!

I had the same problem with my first child. I just starting adding cereal to his bottles. Not a lot of cereal, but enough that the formula was thicker. This helped him stay fuller longer. I did not want to give him food to early because of allergy reasons. I would try this first before you just give her cereal. I hope this helps.

The book Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron, excellent advice on feeding. It all depends on if you're nursing or formula feeding, etc.

Hi K.! Are you nursing her? Breastfed babies sometimes go through "hungry" spurts to increase your milk as their needs change...the "supply and demand". Have you already played around with her feedings - either cluster feed in the evening or see if she'd take an extra ounce in the bottle...at least it's a place to start before cereal. Our doctor said 4-6 months for rice, so I agree to check in with yours. Times have changed - my mother (on the advice of her doctor) gave me cereal at four weeks (!) Just stretch the truth and tell the grandmas' she sleeps like an angel...

If you are going to use rice cereal, I would find an organic whole grain one (one without added bran which can deplete minerals).

My son is 16 months old and still derives most of his nutrition from breast milk. He has slept through the night from the beginning. Of course, I define him sleeping through the night as me rolling over to give him a breast. We both sleep through the night that way.

It worked that way for me with my daughter too, who is now 8 years old. Once I weaned her (close to 3 years of age), she slept through the night on her own, no problem.

I hope this helps.

E.

Hello K.,
I am also a first time mom and I am 27 as well. My daughter is now 14 months old so a little more experience than you not as much though:)
I also started my daughter on cereal early as well and it started a half a teaspoon in her bottle before bed and that was it and then at 6m I started spoon feeding it to her very watery though. Every person has advice and every doctor will tell you different but listen to yourself.Even though we are first time moms we have an intuition and if you feel like you should try it once it wont hurt your baby girl...
Good luck.

K.,

The best food you can give your child besides breast milk is avocados. This is a great first food for babies full of good fats, plant protein (best for digestion) and chlorophyll (green found in plants). In my profession we call this "God's butter" because it is a perfect food.
The thing with any cereal is that it contains sugar which can cause a build up of yeast in the body and create sugar cravings and sometimes other symptoms. Your baby could actually wake up more in the night because of this. Plus, you should probalby give your baby the food with the most nurtition. Avocados are easily digested and will not ferment in the colon. Are you breast feeding or using a formula?

I work with clients on acheiving optimal health through diet and lifestyle. I love working with pregnant mothers and infants. Starting your baby off on the right nutritional path is so important. There is so much information out there, it can be hard to sort through. I would love to help you in any way possible.

Book suggestions. The pH Miracle by Dr. Robert Young.

Best of luck

K. Acton
Certified Nutritional Microscopist
Cape Microscopy
____@____.com
###-###-####

K.,
I think there is a big misconception that if a baby doesn't sleep thrugh the night they aren't getting enough to eat. Sleping through the night is developmental, no amount of food will change that. It sounds like your baby is going through a growth spurt, they do it every few weeks. If you're nursing, try to eat more whole grains and vary your foods more so the milk had tons of nutrients, if you're bottle-feeding you can't really change anything other than being there to feed when she wants it. It is really not a good idea to put cereal in a bottle, or introduce it too soon because it can lead to obesity and a ton of other problems later on. These are tough times for first time parents and to have your parents telling you to do something that's not 'by the book' is confusing! Trust the research, it's still too early. Take care of your little lady, feed her when she's hungry, and tell the Grammys that she's perfect!

My son was also a big baby and always hungary... so I started him on rice cereal at three months and fruits and veggies at four months. The food really seemed to do the trick....he was a much happier baby with a full belly! Good luck!

Babies digestive systems are not ready to digest anything other than mother's milk until at least 6 months...this information can be found right on line for those who are pressuring you to start early. Starting any sooner can lead to digestive problems and allergies. My daughter was not ready until about eight months, even then she was not interested in much of what I gave her. It wasn't until she turned a year old and could eat most of what we were having that she actually participated.

Hi,
I have twin baby girls, six months old. Our pediatrician said we could introduce cereal and food between 4 -6 months. I am a first time mom and like to do things by the book. I introduced the cereal and food on their 5 month birthday. The rice cereal was not a big hit at all but they love their fruits and are getting used to veggies. Instead they get their rice cereal in their formula now. I am not a big fan of believing cereal early helps them sleep through the night. It's their sleep habits that help them to sleep through the night. I have one girl who would sleep through the sound of a jackhammer on just a 4 ounce feeding and the other who would eat 8 ounces and wake if you breathed too hard.

Hello K.,

My daughter was 4 months old when her pediatrician suggested I try rice cereal. I think if you have any doubts, give your daughter's pediatrician's office a call to find out.

Good luck!

Wait. If you're breastfeeding try to feed her more often. If you need to produce more milk try taking some Fenugreek.
Otherwise, wait on the food. My son is 6 months and was in the 99th percentile for height and weight.
Also, check out www.askdrsears.com for advice on feeding. It is not true that feeding babies food other than breastmilk will make them sleep through the night. I've learned that if I feed my baby frequently throughout the day he doesn't have as much need to eat during the night because he's received enough nutrition. Feeding frequently also makes for a happy baby.
3 months is too young to start on cereal or other foods.
Take care -

Once upon a long time ago our mothers did things differently. (and I am sure we will be "once upon a long time ago" soon too) ANYWAY, wait! I agree that your baby should be 5-6 months old before they start having anything other than breastmilk/ formula in their diet. A 3 month old really shouldn't be sleeping through the night (more than 6 hours) yet anyway, it is WONDERFUL if she does, but not a requirement or normal thing.
Are you breastfeeding? Has your baby had a bottle? Maybe that last feed of the night (the one before the offical "go to bed") try half BM and half formula in a bottle. If you are formula feeding all the way then maybe offer a few extra ounces at bedtime?
Your baby is so little! We know so much more now about what a 3 month old's stomach can handle. The rice cereal will not SEVERLY harm the baby, but it is way to heavy to HELP.

OH! I was also thinging... is the baby starting teething? I know it seems early yet but those first few teeth can take months to come in. (I also have a friend whose son had a tooth at 4 months) SO, maybe?

I just have to say K., that with my only experience was with my girl and she received NO solid food until she was 6 mos. She is real healthy and has better eating habbits than I have ever had. Please try to hold off on the solids - they say the belly is not mature enough yet. The time will pass quickly and you can not go back. Good Luck and enjoy. One day "Your Gonna Miss This" Your gonna want this back, etc. Country song - sorry lol

My very first pediatrician was wonderful, he said people have been doing this for thousands of years, you are their mother and have great instincts, if he's hungry feed him.
Going by this advice, I listened to myself. My pediatrician startedmy oldest at 4 months, he was in the 95th percentile for height and weight and it was time. My youngest was so hungry all the time and was drinking 42 ounces a day and I started him on cereal at 3 months(before bedtime only) and then he finally started sleeping through then night(and back down to 32 ounces a day). My doctor has always started my kids at 4 months, although I have had big babies. People have really string opinions about waiting but What is best for the majority, is not always best for your babyGood luck!

Hi K.,
I'm a mom of 6, and the earliest I ever started them on rice cereal was 5 months, and then only because she had some intestinal issues that I thought might be helped by it. They weren't. Three months is early to start on solids, because there's more risk of developing allergies, and grains are actually one of the harder things to digest, despite what we've been told, because all the things that help us digest them have been stripped away in the processing. Also, she could be waking up for a variety of reasons and wanting to eat because it is soothing, rather than that she's actually hungry. If she's gaining weight, which she sounds like she is, and is otherwise thriving, it seems to me there's no reason to start on solids. For the first year, they're really supposed to get their primary sustenance from breastmilk or formula. She also could just be going through a growth spurt where the waking to eat more often will only be temporary. So, for what it's worth, my take would be to wait until at least 6 months, unless she stops gaining. My 6th refused to take anything but breastmilk for 12 months, and he's been my healthiest yet. GO figure! Good luck.

She is much too young and SHOULD be waking up to nurse/eat at 3 months! My son was was/is also a big baby; that doesn't mean they need cereal! He is 9 months and still nursing several times at night- totally normal. Please don't rush starting solids. And when you do there are much better alternatives to rice cereal!

From what I've heard, adding rice cereal does not help a baby sleep. I would give her formula (or more formula if she is already fed formula), and feed her up more during the day (more frequently or more volume per feeding or both). She is also only 3 months old, and it is normal at that age to still wake up a couple of times a night. There can be a lot of changes between 3 and 4 months, so chances are her schedule will change on its own. If she's breastfeeding, she will likely need ot continue feeding at night for a few more months.

Both my sons were large babies; always over 90th percentile or off the charts. I tried to wait until 6 months to feed my youngest but he would stare at us during dinner and grab for food. I started giving him cereal just over 5 months. At that point I had stopped breastfeeding so he was consuming 30-36 oz of formula a day. Clearly it was time for me to start giving him food. Your 3 month old may be going through a growth spurt. I've heard doctors recommending starting after 41/2 months but never before then.

Hello,
I would always double check with her pediatrician however we were able to start our youngest on baby food when she was 4 months old due to her being in the 85th percentile so she was well healthy enough and actually probably at that time needed a little extra something. I remeber the first couple of tries were hard as it was something she had to get used to, but we have no regrets having her start as early as 4 months. Good luck.

I started both my babies on rice cereal at 3 mo with pediatrician's blessing. Both were waking very hungry and growing very well. Neither of them (now 10 and 12) have any food allergies or other issues that are often attributed to starting foods earlier. Talk to your doc but I wouldn't worry. we thinned the cereal initially and went slowly, neither choked or had any issues handling the swallow of the food. Good luck.

Long term studies have shown that people have a greater propensity towards type II diabetes if they are started on solids prior to 4 months old or after 7 months old. I suggest you wait a while and just keep feeding formula or breast milk.

My son often woke up at night to nurse, starting him on rice cereal made no diffrence!

She is probably going through a growth spurt. Our doc told us to wait until 6 months because it takes that long for their digestive systems to get ready for different foods. He also said rice cereal is a lot like Chinese food...fills you up, then you get hungry an hour later. The cereal is a carb and she will burn it off faster. Good luck!

3 months is definitely too young. Her digestive system has not developed enough. It is a complete myth that feeding them rice cereal helps babies sleep. The general guideline is 6 months and even then some babies aren't ready. Babies undergo such changes the first 12 months, they grow fast, they teeth, they learn to roll over, sit-up, crawl, walk! Her sleeping pattern has probably changed because something is developing. I know its tough but stick through it and she'll be back to her regular pattern in no time. My daughter, who is a great sleeper and napper, goes through these cycles every couple of months as well. It's usually right around the time that she's figuring out how to do stuff. It will last for a week or two and then she's back to her routine, happy as can be.

Hi K.,

It's fine to give your baby a little cereal early. I had a 10 pound baby who did the same thing. I put a little cereal in his bottle & that did the trick. All babies are different & sometimes you need to start them on cereal earlier.

My ped had me start my son on cereal and a few fruits (pears, I think, maybe peaches) at 3 months when my breast milk stopped. Just do one or 2 things at a time so you'll know if there is any allergic reaction. I mixed the cereal with formula for extra staying power. But 3 months is still a little early to sleep through the night. IF you do formula, do soy-based since so many babies don't do well with milk. Good luck!

Goodmorning K.
I see you want to start your baby on ccereal goo thinking, give it to her at night before her bed time so she'll see longer at night and maybe all night start with a teaspoon for few days see how she's doin if not give her a tablespoon,then a bottle of milk, that should do it.
GOOD LUCK AND AMY GOD BLESS

i waited until my girls were 4-5 months, but mine were strictly breastfed, but I have a lot of girlfriends who started theirs (who were formula fed) at like 4 weeks!!!! So I dont think a little at bedtime to fill her tummy up will hurt, but start with really watery cereal so its not too much on her new tummy!

Personally, I wouldn't rush her! If you're nursing, just nurse at night, or give her a bottle. I've heard about giving rice cereal that early, but as far as the information I've read, it's not doctor recommended and I think it's more for the parents' relief! :) Still, think of how small her tummy is, and use your instinct. I have an 8 month old daughter and started her on cereal at almost 6 months. Lastly, I've read you should never give cereal in a bottle - it's food and should be eaten, not drank.

Good luck!

Hello,
The pediatrician told us my son was ready for solids at his 4 month appointment...he is in the 10th percentile for weight, 30th for height (my husband and I are not big people). We waited until 5 months (just the other day) to start rice cereal. I was absolutely going to wait until 6 months, but Miles seemed ready at 5 months. When we ate he was watching every move we made, and he was even "chewing" while watching us. He has also always had great head and neck control, and he is well on his way to sitting up. I think these are all things you should consider...I think every baby is different and some area ready at 4 months, others aren't ready until 7!
By the way...we now know he was ready, he LOVES his cereal! We are still waiting until 6 months for other foods, but this is good practice with the spoon and feeding process.

She might just be going through a growth spurt. If she is breastfed, she simply needs to eat more often since it gets digested faster. The reason they don't suggest solids much before 6 mos (my daughter was ready at 5 months- teething and grabbing my spoon!)is because their digestive systems aren't ready, and you may predispose them to constipation, or even developing a food allergy/sensitivity. You might try "breast compression." I am copying a link below- it has helped a few of us breastfeeding moms to get our babies to sleep longer by getting them more of the fatty, filling hind milk in the feeding before bedtime.
http://www.bflrc.com/newman/breastfeeding/compres2.htm

Hey there! My little guy is nearly five months old and is pretty large for his age. I started him on oatmeal when he was about four months old with the pediatrician's blessing (he's my third and I basically told her I was doing it).

I'd at least wait until she's four months. While she's on the larger side, her mouth muscles may not be ready to push that food back to where it needs to go and you could quickly wind up with a mess on your hands and a sputtering baby.

Why the oatmeal instead of the simpler rice? Rice tends to bind my brood and he was already dealing with a little constipation. So, I made a tiny bit of baby oatmeal (like barely a level tablespoon) mixed with formula until it was a little thicker than the plain formula. I also added some applesauce to it for taste. That's a lot of stuff to give a baby for her first meal but like I mentioned, he's my third and I never had issues with my other two - no need to think he'd react any differenly.

It takes time for baby to get used to "eating." Expect a mess, go slow, have a damp cloth on hand and so on. In the beginning I'd follow a little spoon of cereal with the bottle (immediately) so his tongue would get the food going back and not forward.

Introcuding your little one to new food is a lot of fun. It's a pretty neat experience but one that doesn't need to be rushed. Your daughter is getting everything she needs from her formula/breast milk. She doesn't need the food yet. I went to cereal more because my little baracuda was up to 28 to 35 ounces of formula a day which I thought was a lot. He was ready.

When in doubt, buzz your pediatrician - best piece of advice my sister in law ever gave me - call them about anything, ANYTHING - it's what they're there for and believe me, they're used to it! :)

Hi there,
Based on advice from my pediatrician and other research I have done, I would agree with you on this one. The solids are not supposed to be introduced until a baby is at least 4 months old. It's certainly tempting because many people think they will sleep better. And older generations especially always told me these little tricks too. But, I have actually seen studies claiming that introducing the solids too early can cause problems (allergies, stomach issues), etc. So, if you can get through about another month of very little sleep, I say go with your gut and wait. Both of my children were in the 90%ile for height and weight - I started them on solids around 5 months. Medically, there is no benefit to starting it earlier, according to the Academy of Pediatrics.
Good luck!

Just my opinion - babies this young DO NOT need cereal! They need breastmilk. If she is waking up hungry, she should be fed what her body needs - I don't think they're ready to digest anything more than milk at this point.

I started putting some rice cereal in my daughter's bottle at night when she was 3 months old. My little one was so active and hungry all the time and the doc agreed she was ready. Also we have no history of food allergies in the family.

You are correct!!! Mothers and grandmothers are of a different era and cannot stand the idea that babies are hungry! My pedi (and most out there) highly recommend waiting until 6 months to introduce rice cereal. My daughter was waking frequently at about 5 months so we got the go ahead to do rice cereal. Three months seems way too early for solids. If you have a history of food allergies, you way want to wait. But I would speak to your pediatrician first. If they give you thee go ahead, then enjoy!

Please wait before giving your baby solids. 6 months is the recommended age to begin feeding solids to our little ones, based on when their digestive system are "ready" for it and to help prevent allergies. The AMerican Pediatric Association now supports this, although there are still some "old-school" dr.'s who will say it's ok at4 months. However, this is not scientifically supported. A good rule of thumb is not feeding them solids until they can sit up themselves. 3 month olds shouldn't generally be expected to sleep through the night. I know there are those blessed individuals out there 8-)but - dealing with it is just about parenting - not trying to find quick-fixes.
You don't want to wind up with a kid with allergies or digestive problems, so just hang in there. Waiting until your sweet girl is 6 months old will provide her with the best care you can offer her.

Hi K.,
I was in the same position 3 years ago. My son was eating constantly. You could tell he was hungry. I called the doctor and they said it's not recommended to start food until 3 months, but if I did, they would mix a very watery mix of cereal and breastmilk. We started him on cereal at 3 months and it worked great. He still woke to feed, but it was normal feedings, not like before when he was starving. We kept up with the feedings and gradually added more fruits and vegetables after he hit the 4 moth mark.
Good luck with everything.

Hi Christine~
Babies go through growth spurts about every 3 months and when they do their appetite increases. If you're nursing it will take a little bit for your milk supply to increase to meet her demands. Once it does she should start sleeping through the night again. If she's already in the 80th percentile it seems to me that she really doesn't need the cereal. Make sure that she eats really well before she goes down for the night. If she's falling asleep before she gets full maybe try feeding her a tiny bit earlier so she gets enough to fill her up.

I had to do the same with my son at 4 months. It's ok to start with cereal...I'd start with Barley, can't remember why but that's what I was told. And for later...give veggies before fruit or they might not eat veggies.

Before you give her solids I would reccommend reading "healthy sleep habits, happy child" It is quick to read and very very helpful in getting your little ones to sleep well. It worked wonders for me and my son in only 1 day!! Its been great. If you have no luck with any of his ideas/methods then maybe give rice a try. I started my son at about 4.5-5 months and he really didnt tolerate well until just a couple weeks ago, now he LOVES it and has no belly issues at all. Hope this helps!

i started all three of my kids at 4 mos. i should have waited with my daughter, i dont think she was quite ready. but both of my boys took it great. i always looked for signs that they were ready too. give it a try!

When my son was four months, my doctor asked me how much formula he was taking in and I told her 36 ounces a day and she told me I should start giving him single grain cereal and start stage one foods. She told me that he was taking in too much of just formula so you might want to take that into account.

Hi K.,

my doctor said four months was ok. I noticed all of the breast feeding folks are very big on waiting until 6 months. I breast fed but always had low supply and supplemented with some formula. My baby seemed hungry at 4 months too so I started her on cereal. She loved it. The only problem I had was that she got a bit constipated so we usually give her prunes and we switched to oatmeal cereal instead which was better. Another issue I had was that my milk supply seemed to drop a lot after starting her on solids. (I think that's why the lactation people want you to wait). But I also got sick around that time and I work full time. I managed to breast feed up until she was six months old. By then she was eating two meals of solid food a day and I was having a hard time pumping at work. So now I just breast feed first thing in the morning and just before bed. No more pumping. So even though my supply dropped I didn't mind too much and it worked ok for us. I liked having the feedings as something else to do with her and she was definitely ready at 4 months.

good luck with your little one

E. M.

Hi,
Deciding when to start your baby on solids is SUCH a hard decision!! I feel your pain. My daughter is 6 mo old - I started her at 5 months, my ped OKed it and she was showing all the signs of being ready.
Giving your baby rice cereal before bed will not help her sleep longer at night - that is a myth that our mothers thought was true "back in the day". Your baby's tummy is not really ready for rice cereal or any other solids yet. Occasionally I've heard of peds. OKing cereal for babies with severe reflux issues - but never for sleeping. Ditto the other ladies that 3 month olds aren't supposed to sleep through the night - even if they once did, it doesn't mean they always will and theres nothing wrong if they start not sleeping through the night all of a sudden. Feed her when she's hungry - don't worry about her percentiles unless your ped. is also concerned. Always talk to your ped before starting any foods with your child. He/She is your best resource.

Best of luck!! Enjoy your beautiful bundle!