Anyone start rice cereal at 4 mo?

funkyfrog · December 2010

My doctor just gave LO the ok to start rice cereal. He said twice a day; 1-2 TBS until 6 months. At 6 months we'll incorporate others.

Anyone start at 4 months? How did it go? Any recommendations for brands of cereal? Haven't even looked yet.

Any tips!?

Thanks

BlueRidge8 · December 2010

I don't see the appeal of starting at 4mo?

funkyfrog · December 2010

Guess just trusting and following my doctor's recommendations?

kimmyt09 · December 2010

We did. He hated it, so we moved onto oatmeal instead, and he loves it. If you're comfortable to start solids see how she does.

McKenna04 · December 2010

The boys doc recommended that we put rice cereal in their bottles (like 1/2 Tbsp for 6oz) to help with their spit-up issues (just within the past few weeks). We went with Gerber cause that is what she recommended. She said to start spoon feeding around 4 months and mix with formula or baby apple juice.. I dont see why some people get bent out of shape with when you start rice cereal.. it's your baby & your choice. Go with it.

mkanderson85 · December 2010

My DD was DEFINITELY not ready at 4 months. We just gave her taste of food the other day and she hasn't gotten the hang of it yet. We skipped cereal all together, but our pedi said don't use rice cereal because of the refined sugar and such.

dlpacker · December 2010

We actually started rice cereal at about 3 and 1/2 months because DD was showing signs of being ready. She was very interested in what we were eating, could hold her head up independently, and could sit up with support. She loves it. She gets about 2 tbsp before her bath each night. We have gone through a few boxes of rice cereal and when this box is finished, we are going to try oatmeal. We also started veggies after her 4 month appointment. If you are comfortable starting this, and your baby is ready, go for it!

emilydholmes1 · December 2010

McKenna04:
The boys doc recommended that we put rice cereal in their bottles (like 1/2 Tbsp for 6oz) to help with their spit-up issues (just within the past few weeks). We went with Gerber cause that is what she recommended. She said to start spoon feeding around 4 months and mix with formula or baby apple juice.. I dont see why some people get bent out of shape with when you start rice cereal.. it's your baby & your choice. Go with it.

This. She didn't ask what you thought of starting cereal at 4 months. She asked for help from people that already have. OP, My LO is not 4 months old yet but we use rice cereal in the bottle for reflux as our pedi recommended.We use Earth's Best organic rice cereal which we really like. I recommend that. A lot of people also prefer oatmeal cereal instead of rice also. Good luck!

pinkmoonlight · December 2010

I started at 4 months, but my DD was ready and I did it with the encouragement of my doctor. My daughter for over a month wanted to nurse all day and began waking up 2-3 times a night to eat after sleeping through the night. I truely felt that she needed something more. So I started her on rice cereal one time a day, however she did not like it to well so I added some banana's and she LOVED it. In fact she gets mad at times if I am not giving it to her fast enough.

We use Natures Best Organic Multi Grain Rice Cereal. Its only a few cents more then Gerber and I like that its organic.

colorguardgirl · December 2010

I have been giving C 1 TBS of homemade rice cereal. It is really easy and more nutritional than store bought cereal. Here is the link for the website with homemade baby food recipes. https://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/cereals.htm

My little guy loves it. Also, if you use 2 C of water with 1/4C rice powder it is thinner and they may eat it easier.

GL.

Indygo517 · December 2010

I started at 3 and a half months in the bottle with formula. She loves it. Morning and nighttime bottles only. I add about an ounce of rice cereal, 2 scoops of formula and 4 oz of water. I cut the nipple to allow the flow. This helped her spit up and seems to satisfy her longer. She really is doing well on it. Definitely not ready for spoon yet.

BlueRidge8 · December 2010

Sorry, I should have clarified. I didn't mean to sound like I was questioning you - I guess I'm curious what the pedi said as far as benefits?

stargazer77 · December 2010

We started when LO was 4 1/2 mths, b/c he was up to 42oz of formula a day and still not satisfied! It was a god-send b/c once we started cereal he was content and not constantly hungry. It was just what he needed. We incorporated orange and yellow fruits and veggies shortly after that.

We use BeechNut Rice Cereal w/o the DHA b/c it is the only cereal on the market that I found that did not contain soy or dairy- DS has a milk protein allergy. The ingredients are rice flour and sunflower oil- that's it! So I felt okay with it b/c he wasn't getting all sorts of other garbage!

Good luck! DS LOVES eating "real food"!!! And to answer any speculations- he is in the 49th percentile for weight!

Nicola42 · December 2010

i started oatmeal first....my pedi said the rice could actually block them up more. He didn't take well to eating off a spoon so i ended up putting it in a bottle....we will try a spoon again in a week or so.....

funkyfrog · December 2010

Thanks everyone for the tips - and the link too! I do want to make my own food eventually, but for now I think I'll do the organic that was recommended.

I know the doctor said to make it super watery. She'll start tomorrow when my husband is home! I hope she does ok!

Thanks again!

stargazer77 · December 2010

Just a warning... I found when it is too watery DS did not like it from the spoon... he couldn't keep it in his mouth. But if it was more of an oatmeal consistency it was easier for him. It would stay in his mouth until it fully dissolved. After a few times of that he got the idea to swallow it.

Of course it's all trial and error, so see what your LO likes and go with it! Good Luck!

sam222 · December 2010

We tried at 4 mos. DS 's not ready, he just pushes it out with his tongue. Try Earth's Best, it is totally organicc, no salt or sugar and no GEIs.

funkyfrog · December 2010

stargazer77:
Just a warning... I found when it is too watery DS did not like it from the spoon... he couldn't keep it in his mouth. But if it was more of an oatmeal consistency it was easier for him. It would stay in his mouth until it fully dissolved. After a few times of that he got the idea to swallow it.
Of course it's all trial and error, so see what your LO likes and go with it! Good Luck!

Thanks for the tip! I'll play around with the consistency.

haleybeth81 · December 2010

I did with DD#1 and just started with DD#2. It really doesn't matter what you feed them so long as you wait a few days to make sure they don't have a reaction. They've actually just changed their guidelines so you can start with whatever you like (don't have to start with cereal but that does tend to be the easiest to tolerate). As for brands and things it depends on if you want organic, with vitamins, or cheapest. I use the gerber sometimes or the organic stuff as they get older. In the beginning it's probably a good idea to stick with a brand. I've already done rice cereal, banana, and apples. The only one she seems to really like is banana at this point. Oh and fwiw starting solids is like the formula/bf debate, everyone has an opinion and feels their's is the only right one. Just listen to your pedi and do what's best for your LO.

historychick79 · December 2010

We are starting this weekend. DS had/began his 3mos growth spurt 2wks ago and has been insatiable since, waking up most nights just to eat every 2hrs (if he waits that long) must have four 5-oz bottles at daycare, and eats with me non-stop on weekends. He's double birth weight and sitting well with support and loves watching us eat. We're technically jumping the gun about 2wks before his 4mos appt, but instinct tells me this might make all of us happier, and if he resists then no big deal. I have Gerber rice and oatmeal options, will mix a tsp with breastmilk until well-watered down and spoon feed.

erincon8 · December 2010

We started it after our 4 month appt too. Kylie did not like it the first time we gave it to her. So we waited a week and tried again. She loved it then. It took her a couple tries to figure out the eating off the spoon thing. Now she is obsessed with it!

Eckowalski · December 2010

We did. DS was really showing signs of being ready. We did one month of rice and now we're on oatmeal. We're going to do that for a month and then start other solids at 6 months. The pedi asked us to delay other solids because of his milk protein allergy. DS is loving it!

soanxious728 · December 2010

I was getting a lot of crap from friends and older relatives for not starting cereal before 4mo (they all insisted I was stupid for not just giving it to DD in her bottle at 1mo -- they must've been tripping.), but she just didn't seem ready until about 3m, 3w, so I held out until 4mo.

She'd been showing interest in our food for a couple of weeks (reaching for food, trying to hold spoons, etc.). We decided to go with Gerber Rice Cereal (Gerber is all I know). When we finally tried to feed her, she was more than ready!!! She readily opened her mouth and leaned toward the spoon. She didn't get much down for the first couple of weeks, but otherwise, it went great; she kept trying to bite/chew the spoon. I think she thought it was a new game. :-)

For the most part, just make sure you're comfortable with starting your LO on solids, play around with it, and if it doesn't go well at first, don't get frustrated!

funkyfrog · December 2010

soanxious728:
I was getting a lot of crap from friends and older relatives for not starting cereal before 4mo (they all insisted I was stupid for not just giving it to DD in her bottle at 1mo -- they must've been tripping.), but she just didn't seem ready until about 3m, 3w, so I held out until 4mo.
She'd been showing interest in our food for a couple of weeks (reaching for food, trying to hold spoons, etc.). We decided to go with Gerber Rice Cereal (Gerber is all I know). When we finally tried to feed her, she was more than ready!!! She readily opened her mouth and leaned toward the spoon. She didn't get much down for the first couple of weeks, but otherwise, it went great; she kept trying to bite/chew the spoon. I think she thought it was a new game. :-)
For the most part, just make sure you're comfortable with starting your LO on solids, play around with it, and if it doesn't go well at first, don't get frustrated!

Thanks! I feel like she is going to love the spoon. When I give her the reflux medicine, she opens her mouth and sucks away. It's the cutest thing. We are going to try tomorrow morning when my husband is home. Thanks !!

peterson* · December 2010

McKenna04:
The boys doc recommended that we put rice cereal in their bottles (like 1/2 Tbsp for 6oz) to help with their spit-up issues (just within the past few weeks). We went with Gerber cause that is what she recommended. She said to start spoon feeding around 4 months and mix with formula or baby apple juice.. I dont see why some people get bent out of shape with when you start rice cereal.. it's your baby & your choice. Go with it.

I AGREE!

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