Not flaming- just curious- starting food early

darmca · August 2011

I have heard a lot of people (including brother and SIL) say that they started LO on rice cereal early because the baby 'needed it' and was no longer satisfied by formula or BM. I have hear others say that cereals and purees are more about 'practice' and BM/formula fill all the nutritional needs.

What makes people decide baby needs cereal? Does just no amount of BM/formula seem to fill baby or do parents decide LO is eating too much/too often?

Just curious

elisbu · August 2011

it gives the feeling of fullness but doesnt really add calories. So if baby 'acts' hungry, people may decide to give it.

tokenhoser · August 2011

I think most of the time it's people that have been influenced by those with outdated ideas - grandparents and even poorly informed doctors. I don't really believe there are 2 and 3 month olds exhibiting the actual signs they're ready to eat solids, like sitting unassisted and losing the tongue thrust reflex. But it's hard to go against your mom or your doctor sometimes...

NothingLikeBarbie · August 2011

I agree with token. I get harrassed daily by ILs about very outdated advice, like starting foods early. They give my 4 month old neice ice cream cones and watermelon. Yeah.

From what I know cereals don't have any nutrition. All baby's need are Formula/BM for the first 5-6 months. A lot of people I know are skipping cereals all together.

Temp38995750004016 · August 2011

tokenhoser:
I think most of the time it's people that have been influenced by those with outdated ideas - grandparents and even poorly informed doctors. I don't really believe there are 2 and 3 month olds exhibiting the actual signs they're ready to eat solids, like sitting unassisted and losing the tongue thrust reflex. But it's hard to go against your mom or your doctor sometimes...

Yes

Everything medical that I've seen or read says babies need no additional nutrition, besides breast milk or formula, until six months. In addition, there are certain signs like Tokenhouser said, that show a baby is "ready" to start eating. Babies need to hit certain developmental milestones to show their body is ready to digest anything else.

The AAP also says that feeding your baby ANYthing, even cereal, before the fourth or fifth month can actually cause, among other things, stomach distress and they recommend no soolids until 4-5 months.

I"m hoping to not have to deal with cereal and will just start her on some veggies at six months.

AnneShirleyBlythe · August 2011

IMO I think a lot of people want their baby to grow up/advance quickly so they jump the gun on some of those things. Plus it seems "fun" and like something new to do. I know we did with #1. Now with this one (our last) I want her to slow down, and there is no way I am doing it before I am 100% certain she is ready. If that is 5 months, fine, if it is 8 months, fine.

Feeding a baby table food and/or purees is nothing but a giant messy pain in the ass. I am not anticipating it at all.

carissa_danielle · August 2011

We started Layla with cereal at 3 months because of the influence of my very pushy step-mom. I didn't know any better. I was a single and uninformed mom.

We started Lydia on cereal this early because we were CONSTANTLY feeding her. DH and I would get home from work and one of us would sit on the couch with a bottle in her mouth until bedtime. Seriously, she was not getting the satisfaction from bottles. We feed her a little bit of cereal, and it has helped a lot.

I agree with token, it's hard to go against your mom or older peoples' opinions. Sometimes you just do it to make them stop hounding - that's what I did with Layla. This time around, it was our choice.

mellydawn84 · August 2011

NothingLikeBarbie:
I agree with token. I get harrassed daily by ILs about very outdated advice, like starting foods early. They give my 4 month old neice ice cream cones and watermelon. Yeah.

From what I know cereals don't have any nutrition. All baby's need are Formula/BM for the first 5-6 months. A lot of people I know are skipping cereals all together.

I agree with this, and Token. My Brother and his ex are constantly going on about how we should give DS pablum, since he's such a big boy. They give it to her (not my bros) 4mo old so we should too. My MIL also insists that DH was jsut So hungry and she had to too so I should. I won't.

When he is exhibiting signs of rediness we will try. Before that he's stuck with mommy.

kacelle · August 2011

pook:
tokenhoser:
I think most of the time it's people that have been influenced by those with outdated ideas - grandparents and even poorly informed doctors. I don't really believe there are 2 and 3 month olds exhibiting the actual signs they're ready to eat solids, like sitting unassisted and losing the tongue thrust reflex. But it's hard to go against your mom or your doctor sometimes...
Everything medical that I've seen or read says babies need no additional nutrition, besides breast milk or formula, until six months. In addition, there are certain signs like Tokenhouser said, that show a baby is "ready" to start eating. Babies need to hit certain developmental milestones to show their body is ready to digest anything else.
The AAP also says that feeding your baby ANYthing, even cereal, before the fourth or fifth month can actually cause, among other things, stomach distress and they recommend no soolids until 4-5 months.
I"m hoping to not have to deal with cereal and will just start her on some veggies at six months.

Yes

theaustins05 · August 2011

My MIL asked me at 1 month if I was giving her cereal in her bottles? 1)She never gets bottles unless I'm going to be away from her for some reason and gets hungry before I get back. 2)My BM seems to fill just fine. 3)Why waste money on something so unnessesary?

darmca · August 2011

I already knew I wasn't going to do anything before 4 months (despite constant pestering from my mother) but was curious why people felt they needed to. My mom thinks it's ridiculous that my EBF 2 month old eats every 1.5 hours and he 'needs' rice cereal.

I know people in real life who seem to think their kid is more advanced because they 'need' rice cereal at 2 months and go against their doctor's advice and wondered why they felt their LO 'needed' it but didn't want to ask and stir up trouble (especially since they know I have been stressing over my LO's lack of weight gain lately- he's finally up 8oz though in a 2-week span) and I know rice cereal would have been pushed as a 'solution' to my worries.

There are some times he eats constantly (he has been sick and ate monday from 7AM-2PM with about 1.5 hours worth of breaks) but I just figure that's what's normal for now and hopefully he'll slow down eventually.

dahansen85 · August 2011

darmca:
I already knew I wasn't going to do anything before 4 months (despite constant pestering from my mother) but was curious why people felt they needed to. My mom thinks it's ridiculous that my EBF 2 month old eats every 1.5 hours and he 'needs' rice cereal.
I know people in real life who seem to think their kid is more advanced because they 'need' rice cereal at 2 months and go against their doctor's advice and wondered why they felt their LO 'needed' it but didn't want to ask and stir up trouble (especially since they know I have been stressing over my LO's lack of weight gain lately- he's finally up 8oz though in a 2-week span) and I know rice cereal would have been pushed as a 'solution' to my worries.
There are some times he eats constantly (he has been sick and ate monday from 7AM-2PM with about 1.5 hours worth of breaks) but I just figure that's what's normal for now and hopefully he'll slow down eventually.

Good for you for sticking to your guns. We have dealt with somewhat slow weight gain as well, and sometimes it can be tough. They'll do their catching up soon!

morganaday · August 2011

kacelle:
pook:
tokenhoser:
I think most of the time it's people that have been influenced by those with outdated ideas - grandparents and even poorly informed doctors. I don't really believe there are 2 and 3 month olds exhibiting the actual signs they're ready to eat solids, like sitting unassisted and losing the tongue thrust reflex. But it's hard to go against your mom or your doctor sometimes...
Everything medical that I've seen or read says babies need no additional nutrition, besides breast milk or formula, until six months. In addition, there are certain signs like Tokenhouser said, that show a baby is "ready" to start eating. Babies need to hit certain developmental milestones to show their body is ready to digest anything else.
The AAP also says that feeding your baby ANYthing, even cereal, before the fourth or fifth month can actually cause, among other things, stomach distress and they recommend no soolids until 4-5 months.
I"m hoping to not have to deal with cereal and will just start her on some veggies at six months.

Yep, all of this.

kelklump · August 2011

I have given my little one rice in her bottle twice... both times she was constantly hungry before bed and was waking up hungry multiple times a night. She is a bit older, but it does help her sleep... We dont do it every night, but about 1-3 times a week. Dont plan on doing solids or purees until she is closer to 6 mos.

iris427 · August 2011

AnneShirleyBlythe:
IMO I think a lot of people want their baby to grow up/advance quickly so they jump the gun on some of those things. Plus it seems "fun" and like something new to do. I know we did with #1. Now with this one (our last) I want her to slow down, and there is no way I am doing it before I am 100% certain she is ready. If that is 5 months, fine, if it is 8 months, fine.
Feeding a baby table food and/or purees is nothing but a giant messy pain in the ass. I am not anticipating it at all.

And their poop gets so much nastier too.

Lisa Frank · August 2011

iris427:
AnneShirleyBlythe:
IMO I think a lot of people want their baby to grow up/advance quickly so they jump the gun on some of those things. Plus it seems "fun" and like something new to do. I know we did with #1. Now with this one (our last) I want her to slow down, and there is no way I am doing it before I am 100% certain she is ready. If that is 5 months, fine, if it is 8 months, fine.
Feeding a baby table food and/or purees is nothing but a giant messy pain in the ass. I am not anticipating it at all.
And their poop gets so much nastier too.

Peanut butter poop. YAY!!

everam01 · August 2011

kelklump:
I have given my little one rice in her bottle twice... both times she was constantly hungry before bed and was waking up hungry multiple times a night. She is a bit older, but it does help her sleep... We dont do it every night, but about 1-3 times a week. Dont plan on doing solids or purees until she is closer to 6 mos.

Doesn't this apply to all newborns? Or are mine just little piglets?

rapst1 · August 2011

I gave DS cereal when he was 10 weeks old because he was drinking close to 40 ozs a day, which the Dr suggested the cereal. Although he never had it in his bottle, we spoon fed him from the start. And, at DD 2 month appt the Dr said if we feel the need to start the cereal, we can try it if she is taking too much formula. I still haven't given her any yet b/c she hasn't been drinking an extreme amount of formula (she's still around 30 oz a day). But I don't see any issues with starting the cereal before 6 months if your baby needs that fullness feeling to prevent him/her from having too much formula. My son did great with cereal and it became part of his nighttime routine until he was a year and on regular milk.

3boys=love · August 2011

When we had our little guy (he was due in June but decided he wanted to be a May baby) we asked about when to start him on foods and we were told not to start until 6 months because they are starting to find that babies that were giving food before then had an increase in stomach and intestine cancers. So we will not be starting him on solids (even cereals) until November.

stargzr77 · August 2011

AnneShirleyBlythe:

IMO I think a lot of people want their baby to grow up/advance quickly so they jump the gun on some of those things. Plus it seems "fun" and like something new to do. I know we did with #1. Now with this one (our last) I want her to slow down, and there is no way I am doing it before I am 100% certain she is ready. If that is 5 months, fine, if it is 8 months, fine.

Feeding a baby table food and/or purees is nothing but a giant messy pain in the ass. I am not anticipating it at all.

Yes

We started DD at 5 months and skipped cereals, but I am going to try and hold off until at least 6 months with DS.

Temp38995750004016 · August 2011

rapst1:
I gave DS cereal when he was 10 weeks old because he was drinking close to 40 ozs a day, which the Dr suggested the cereal. Although he never had it in his bottle, we spoon fed him from the start. And, at DD 2 month appt the Dr said if we feel the need to start the cereal, we can try it if she is taking too much formula. I still haven't given her any yet b/c she hasn't been drinking an extreme amount of formula (she's still around 30 oz a day). But I don't see any issues with starting the cereal before 6 months if your baby needs that fullness feeling to prevent him/her from having too much formula. My son did great with cereal and it became part of his nighttime routine until he was a year and on regular milk.

Dumb question, but how do you know if LO is eating "too much" formula or breast milk? LO eats six ounces (breast milk) five to seven times a day. This seems normal to me, not too much. ??

darmca · August 2011

pook:
rapst1:
I gave DS cereal when he was 10 weeks old because he was drinking close to 40 ozs a day, which the Dr suggested the cereal. Although he never had it in his bottle, we spoon fed him from the start. And, at DD 2 month appt the Dr said if we feel the need to start the cereal, we can try it if she is taking too much formula. I still haven't given her any yet b/c she hasn't been drinking an extreme amount of formula (she's still around 30 oz a day). But I don't see any issues with starting the cereal before 6 months if your baby needs that fullness feeling to prevent him/her from having too much formula. My son did great with cereal and it became part of his nighttime routine until he was a year and on regular milk.

Dumb question, but how do you know if LO is eating "too much" formula or breast milk? LO eats six ounces (breast milk) five to seven times a day. This seems normal to me, not too much. ??

I know- it seems normal to me too... LO has been weighed before and after eating and takes just over 4oz. He eats an average of 10x a day. I spend 20/90 minutes feeding most days- because he sleeps great at night I think this is normal.

PinkGirlInCali · August 2011

pook:
rapst1:
I gave DS cereal when he was 10 weeks old because he was drinking close to 40 ozs a day, which the Dr suggested the cereal. Although he never had it in his bottle, we spoon fed him from the start. And, at DD 2 month appt the Dr said if we feel the need to start the cereal, we can try it if she is taking too much formula. I still haven't given her any yet b/c she hasn't been drinking an extreme amount of formula (she's still around 30 oz a day). But I don't see any issues with starting the cereal before 6 months if your baby needs that fullness feeling to prevent him/her from having too much formula. My son did great with cereal and it became part of his nighttime routine until he was a year and on regular milk.

Dumb question, but how do you know if LO is eating "too much" formula or breast milk? LO eats six ounces (breast milk) five to seven times a day. This seems normal to me, not too much. ??

I believe the sort of general rule of thumb is 2-2.5 oz per pound of body weight in a 24 hour period. So if LO weighs 15lbs then you look at 30-37.5 oz a day. I think going a bit over that is no big deal though.

kathrnn · August 2011

AnneShirleyBlythe:
IMO I think a lot of people want their baby to grow up/advance quickly so they jump the gun on some of those things. Plus it seems "fun" and like something new to do.

This. As PPs have said, I think outdated/uneducated advice and overzealous parents lead to giving LOs solids way too early. I have also read that babies really don't need any extra nutrition for at least 6 months. I know some people whose LOs have a very low weight and need help upping it use a little rice cereal in their BM/formula, but that's really the only case where I can see it being necessary.

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Not flaming- just curious- starting food early

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