My son just turned 4 months old and he does get a little bit of rice cereal before bed (just started that) and he LOVES it! Now, I am noticing he really, really watches us eat. He is really big for his age 27 inches long and 17 lbs 10 oz heavy. I am also noticing he is wanting to eat more often, like maybe my milk isn't enough to fill him anymore? I dont' know, he could also just be going through a growth spurt... AGAIN! Anyway, just wondering if starting other solids is frowned upon at 4 months? What would you do?
Re: 4 Month old interested in solids?
Our pediatrician said to go for it, if they seem ready and do well, there's no reason to wait until 6 months. She said that the theories that starting too early will increase their risk of allergies is not true at all.
If it were me, I'd probably do it. I know a ton of people who started their 4 month olds on solids, and they're all healthy kids today (with no allergies). Most people on this board disagree with that, though.
I started my first two at 5 months and was planning on doing the same with Hannah but she's become very interested in watching me and my two other kids eat and will open her mouth for the spoon so I'm thinking I may start her on rice cereal in the next few days. My first two were never that interested in people eating but Hannah totally is. She follows the spoon/fork from my plate to my mouth like a hawk and will stare at her brother and sister while they eat. I gave her a taste of apple sauce the other day so I think that just intrigued her more because she loved it.
You're going to get different opinions but I always say to go with what you think is best for baby. You're the one that knows the best
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This is what our pedi said too. She seemed ready to us so we tried a few days after she was 4months and figured if she didn't like it then we would wait a few weeks and try again. Well, she loved it and gobbled it up!
I go with the baby. Solids were different with each of my children. Just make sure you remember baby isn't getting the nutrition they need from solids yet, and don't let it affect bm/formula consumption (i.e., solids afterwards not before).
I did this with #2. However, at his 9mo appt, his iron was low, so the pedi said to give the iron fortified cereal... this time I decided to start with that just to make sure his getting some iron (I don't give him supplements).