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When and how to start rice cereal?
Bella is just shy of 4 months and I'm wondering when and how you ladies are starting rice cereal. With my son I mixed it in his bottle for the first feeding. Right now she's eating every 2 hours all day long and then one to three times at night depending on the night.
Suggestions?
Thanks!
Suggestions?
Thanks!
I have really enjoyed reading all of the great info. It was a little after the fact for me bc I had already started Cash on solids prior to this post starting.
My brother and I had cereal and fruits and veggies at 4 months and I am 5'7" and 125lbs. My brother is 5'8" and not sure of his weight, but he wears like a 28 in the waist for jeans. Just my opinion, and I believe everyone is entitled to their own, I don't think starting solids early contributes to obesity. Example - me and my brother. However, we were never allowed to just sit and watch tv all the time either. We were always very active - thanks to the direction of my parents and have always been healthy eaters. In fact neither me nor my brother really like chocolate. So I think the trend in childhood obesity can be caused by many other factors than when you start solids.
Again, though, this is just my opinion. I think we all just have to do what we think is best for our little ones. All of our kids are healthy babes and that's what's most important - if that changes then we can make changes.
Just wanted to put my two cents in and to thank you guys for sharing info! I really enjoyed reading it, and it also prompted me to go a step further and do some more research on my own. Thanks girls! Take care!
My brother and I had cereal and fruits and veggies at 4 months and I am 5'7" and 125lbs. My brother is 5'8" and not sure of his weight, but he wears like a 28 in the waist for jeans. Just my opinion, and I believe everyone is entitled to their own, I don't think starting solids early contributes to obesity. Example - me and my brother. However, we were never allowed to just sit and watch tv all the time either. We were always very active - thanks to the direction of my parents and have always been healthy eaters. In fact neither me nor my brother really like chocolate. So I think the trend in childhood obesity can be caused by many other factors than when you start solids.
Again, though, this is just my opinion. I think we all just have to do what we think is best for our little ones. All of our kids are healthy babes and that's what's most important - if that changes then we can make changes.
Just wanted to put my two cents in and to thank you guys for sharing info! I really enjoyed reading it, and it also prompted me to go a step further and do some more research on my own. Thanks girls! Take care!
I don't agree with the argument that cereal makes for over weight kids. I think if your child is inactive and you live a sedentary lifestyle with poor nutrition that your child is at risk. My son started cereal at 3 months and is skinny as a rail.
It's great to see so many moms who are doing research and staying informed! Thanks again for the feedback. I've decided to wait until the end of this month she will be 4 1/2 months old and I'm going to stop breastfeeding at that time. We want to ttc again and I haven't been able to get my period while bfing. At that point I think it will be good to start introducing cereal so that we can progress to the veggie baby food.
It's great to see so many moms who are doing research and staying informed! Thanks again for the feedback. I've decided to wait until the end of this month she will be 4 1/2 months old and I'm going to stop breastfeeding at that time. We want to ttc again and I haven't been able to get my period while bfing. At that point I think it will be good to start introducing cereal so that we can progress to the veggie baby food.
My son is eating a lot of formula and starting baby food has not made any diference in what he eats. I totally agree that if your baby is breastfed not to start solids until 6 months bc of what they are getting from you but those that are on formula aren't at a disadvantage to start cereal at 4 months. Every book that I have read has recommended starting at 4-6 months. My son was ready at 4 months because he was immitating us when we were eating and has learned to swallow. He loves eating his food.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/feed47m.html gives a simple breakdown of introducing solids. You can also consult the AAP website for guidelines. I actually have some links due to being interested in this for a long time, but i have to run errands so i'll have to return and post them later.
cereal in a bottle is what can lead to obesity because the baby cannot control how much rice is taken in. cereal on a spoon is introduced simply for taste and texture. a baby introduced rice early is certainly not going to know how to eat better than a baby that is introduced solids at 6 months. Here's what I have gathered from all of my research and my pediatrician, who closely follows AAP guidelines and does a fantastic job of explaining things.
Many people choose to start solids at 4 months. This should not replace any bottle feedings, and if it does interfere with bottle feedings then you need to cut back. The baby's brain develops with the nutrients in formula/breastmilk, not rice, or even the small amounts of fruits and veggies that they may take. In addition, look at why you are starting. DOes the baby truly show signs of readiness, or are you trying because you think it will be fun? Some babies show readiness at 4 months, others don't for many months longer.
I think the debate exists here because some of the babies here are formula fed and some babies are breastfed. The AAP actually has different committees that publish different opinions, and in my research I found that it recommends 4-6 months for formula fed babies and 6+ months for breastfed babies. I think the WHO also recommends 6+ months of exclusive breastmilk. This is because breastfed babies are at an advantage of not having foreign proteins introduced as of yet, and parents should maximize this benefit, as it can reduce the chances of allergies, diabetes, etc... In addition, the nutrition offered by breastmilk is so superior to any solid a parent can offer, the benefits of providing only breastmilk far outweigh the benefits of introducing solids for taste and texture.
Of course, this is not to start a breastfeeding/formula feeding debate. I post this only to explain the difference in recommendations, both based on what I have read and what my pediatrician explained to me so well.
If your baby is not eating much formula, I would recommend that you avoid cereal simply because s/he needs the fats provided by formula for brain development. The calories in cereal may add pounds, but it may decrease her formula intake and defnitely doesn't provide the nutrients s/he needs.
As for me, I am waiting until 6 months since my baby is a very chunky breastfed baby. I actually think I may start with veggies instead of rice because rice has no nutritional value. I am still researching, but i think what I am finding states that cereal is not necessarily recommended as a first food. Maybe they say cereal because it's less messy =P
cereal in a bottle is what can lead to obesity because the baby cannot control how much rice is taken in. cereal on a spoon is introduced simply for taste and texture. a baby introduced rice early is certainly not going to know how to eat better than a baby that is introduced solids at 6 months. Here's what I have gathered from all of my research and my pediatrician, who closely follows AAP guidelines and does a fantastic job of explaining things.
Many people choose to start solids at 4 months. This should not replace any bottle feedings, and if it does interfere with bottle feedings then you need to cut back. The baby's brain develops with the nutrients in formula/breastmilk, not rice, or even the small amounts of fruits and veggies that they may take. In addition, look at why you are starting. DOes the baby truly show signs of readiness, or are you trying because you think it will be fun? Some babies show readiness at 4 months, others don't for many months longer.
I think the debate exists here because some of the babies here are formula fed and some babies are breastfed. The AAP actually has different committees that publish different opinions, and in my research I found that it recommends 4-6 months for formula fed babies and 6+ months for breastfed babies. I think the WHO also recommends 6+ months of exclusive breastmilk. This is because breastfed babies are at an advantage of not having foreign proteins introduced as of yet, and parents should maximize this benefit, as it can reduce the chances of allergies, diabetes, etc... In addition, the nutrition offered by breastmilk is so superior to any solid a parent can offer, the benefits of providing only breastmilk far outweigh the benefits of introducing solids for taste and texture.
Of course, this is not to start a breastfeeding/formula feeding debate. I post this only to explain the difference in recommendations, both based on what I have read and what my pediatrician explained to me so well.
If your baby is not eating much formula, I would recommend that you avoid cereal simply because s/he needs the fats provided by formula for brain development. The calories in cereal may add pounds, but it may decrease her formula intake and defnitely doesn't provide the nutrients s/he needs.
As for me, I am waiting until 6 months since my baby is a very chunky breastfed baby. I actually think I may start with veggies instead of rice because rice has no nutritional value. I am still researching, but i think what I am finding states that cereal is not necessarily recommended as a first food. Maybe they say cereal because it's less messy =P
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