Feeding Baby Rice Cereal

[Whitneylauren]

Hey ladies!

Maybe you can help me with something. Mark will be three months old on the 9th, and he has an enormous appetite. He drinks 6-8 oz of expressed milk (or empties one breast) every 2 hours. I am not having any trouble with production of milk, but I am wondering whether I can start him on rice cereal or not. I know the usual age to start is 4 months, but if I can I would rather start him now so he remains fuller longer.

My first was so different- he only drank 4 oz every 2-3 hours until he was one. Micah weighed 15lbs at one, but Mark is already 12.5 lbs..... they are so different!

[Xhavierz]

We started rice cereal a couple of days ago. Our Pedi said I can start solids anywhere from 4-6 months, my choice. I started 'cause my son can sure chow down Lol. It's been a little rough w/ the rice cereal though (We're spoon feeding like our Pedi said). He doesn't open his mouth too wide, and always has his tongue in the way Lol. They get used to it eventually. I just prop him up in his carseat or bouncer, and feed him that way. I feed him a few spoonfuls, then I let him wash it down w/ his bottle and repeat.

[kele1129]

Whitney-In no way was I judging you just so you know. Every situation is different.

[Whitneylauren]

Thanks ladies for the responses! I have decided to hold off  until he is 4 months- just following the docs recommendation.

Kele-
I normally would totally agree with you- in fact I did nurse my first until he was 18 months. In my current situation, however, my little Mark eats all the time. I have a 4 year old and when I am spending an hour every 2 hours feeding Mark, Micah (the 4 year old) feels left out and ignored.  I have to juggle time between the two and make sure it seems equal. If feeding Mark rice cereal once a day will help me do this than I am all for it. ;)

[kele1129]

It has already been discussed with Phin's Dr and he wholeheartedly is in agreemenyt with our decision.

[AmyC311]

Rice cereal is recommended over oats or wheat because there is less of a chance your baby could be allergic. It is a lot easier on their stomachs and digestive track too. No matter what you decide to start off with...or when to start...checking with the pediatrician is probably the most important factor in your decision vs what we say on these forums.

[kele1129]

We plan to hold off as long as possible before introducing cereal and when we do it will be oats or wheat not rice. No offense meant to anyone but we prefer getting up with Phin to give a feeding versus giving him empty calories as a filler for longer sleeping. I understand cereal for reflux babies but not for others.

[evthing4reason]

In Canada we do not give then anything other then breastmilk/formula until they are 6 months old unless reccomended by the Dr because it actually changes the digestive system and then they don't absorb the nutrients from the breastmilk/formula as well.

[AmyC311]

I thought you couldn't give them cereal until they were at least 4 months because of the head control issue? Like if they can't hold up their head for that long then they can't have food yet. Blake can hold up her head for a long time but if she sits in her bumbo too long she starts to slouch and I can tell she has had enough. I also read that they have to learn how to do something with their tongue...like learn how to move it away from the roof of their mouths. I can't remember what the book said about when that was.

I agree though that every baby is different. Some babies obviously have had success with eating the rice cereal younger than 4 months. Honestly I would just give a call to your pediatrician. That way they can lay it all out for you as to why you should or shouldn't feed them cereal yet.

[mim181]

Our little one will be three months on the 10th and we started rice cereal tonight.  We had been only breast feeding. I'm a teacher and went back to work for three weeks to wrap up the school year and her pediatrician told us to give her half her birth wt in ounces of expressed milk every 3-4 hours but wait until 4 months for cereal. She was 12lbs 8oz so she ate 6-7 oz every 3 hours--could not make it to four very often.  When we nursed when I got home from work, she would want to empty both breast and take almost an hour.  Now that school is out we went ahead with the ceral--something my sister had been trying to get me to do since she was 6 weeks.  She has four very healthy kids and had them all on cereal by 3 months depending upon how they were eating some were closer to 6/8weeks, but I did not feel comfortable until just now and she LOVED it and I could tell she was satisfied after nursing only about 20 minutes instead of her usual 40 minutes!

[ovaz129]

So funny you asked this question... my mom was telling me to start her on it and see if that helps with her sleeping.  I haven't though... I am still only putting it in her bottles when she is having reflux.

She was also telling me how she found a photo of me the other day at 3 1/2 months eating rice cereal for the first time.  So, I don't think you would be off base if you wanted to start him on it now.  I know our pediatrician says 4 months, but every baby is different and what you want to do with yours is your choice.  I would love to get her eating it, but she still has an itsy bitsy appetite!  haha... (we are only at 2-4 oz. every 3-4 hours)

[justice6920]

I have just started (about a week or a couple days ago) putting Rice Cereal in Noah's bottle and he will be 3 months on the 6th... I have noticed that he has been sleeping a little longer (not sure if its from the cereal)!! I only put it in his night time bottle before bed... I do 2 tsp for every 4 ounces... I am sure he will be just fine with the cereal..... I think most the ladies on here have already started there babies on cereal too! Maybe try a bottle and see how he does! I would say go for it