When did any moms started adding cereal ?

[monster67]

My son is 6weeks. He drinks both breastmilk and formula. Sometimes 12ozs or more within a hour. I knows he's growing. And I want to add just a little bit of cereal but his father says no.

[knufrio]

Mweshka is right. I am a PEDs nurse and we do not recommend adding cereal to formula unless advised by your Dr for certain reasons (usually with bad reflux a GI specialist may recommend it, but not often. Or if your baby has a swallowing problem in which case a speech therapist would be the one to instruct you how to do it correctly). Babies do what's called cluster feeding, where they will go through periods of always seeming hungry and drinking a lot more than usual. You NEVER want to give baby cereal in the formula to keep them more full for longer because you are depriving them of the calories and nutrients their body is asking for. It is normal behavior for babies to cluster feed and eventually it tapers off and they go back to eating normal amounts, however during those growth spurts they need the extra sustenance. Also, babies digestive systems are very immature and cannot handle new things very well. Introducing solids such as cereal before the age of 4 months can also increase your child's risk of developing diabetes as they get older. Mothers and grandmas used to do several things that we have learned are no good for baby (heck they used to pit whiskey on a pacifier for teething babies) So again, please please, please, talk to your pediatrician. They know best.

[chellbell1988]

A teaspoon is a good amount. I started about 6 weeks also

[mweshka]

Oh my goodness! !! Listen to your Dr.  He's the one with a degree. 4 months is standard. Babies can choke or even develop allergies if they are given cereal too early. Their tummies are not ready for it until a few months. Please please please talk to your pediatrician.

[daddys_love]

Doctors will tell you not to. But I never listen to them or WIC. I listen to my mom n grandma ;) not sure How old my kids were but just start by adding a little teaspoon so the milk can still be thin for the baby to drink.

[mrspoofy0913]

I started giving him cereal maybe 8 weeks but he didn't like it he preferred the oatmeal

[mrspoofy0913]

When I had my son I had a nurse come every week to check his progress and I asked her about it because I've done it before and she told me that you shouldn't mix cereal in with the bottle because it can cause them to choke. But I know somebody who did it with their son.