Cereal vs. No Cereal

Luvmy2sons · September 2012

I'm getting alot of conflicting information. With my DS's, I started cereal at 4 months. At DD's 2 month appt. the doctor told me I could start at 4 months also. But here i'm reading the AAP says 6 months. DD is really interested when i'm eating. She watches intently. Everyone asks if i'm starting cereal, I have no idea what to do. She's still waking a few times at night, but I really think she's just looking to comfort nurse. Everyone's like, "Oh if you feed her cereal she'll STTN". I know that's not true, because my DS's didn't, and my DS2 had it from 2 months for reflux. But I also know that my DS's having solids eventually led to me drying up. I want to BF DD as long as I can, as of today (her 4 month birthday!) she is my longest running exclusive BFer. By now with both of my DS's I was already supplementing. I feel like i'm doing awesome, and I even have 70oz. frozen to keep me going. What to do...

chris8940 · September 2012

Dr. told us we wouldn't even discuss solids until 5 months. However due to scheduling issues we won't even see her until 6 months.

Start solids when both you and baby are ready, not when everyone else things you should be. You can always nurse then give cereal if you want to at least try. That way you don't feel like LO is filling up on cereal and not wanted to nurse as long.

vtwd40 · September 2012

I'm a big proponent of "do what's best for your family." I planned to wait until 6 months for solids. DH took her to her 4 month appt and came home with a packet on solids and said the pedi said we could start but didn't have to, and that they were very flexible with whatever we want to do. I started her a couple weeks ago because I felt like daycare was feeding her too much too quickly. Giving her some cereal after her lunch bottle helps her realize she's full and keeps them from giving her 8oz of BM in less than 30 minutes.

Of course, that's not the only reason, but it was a deciding factor. She loves her oatmeal (hated rice ceral). I don't really plan on introducing veggies or fruit until closer to 6 months.

I just had to get over the "this book says..." and "this person says.." People have eaten cereal at younger ages and come out fine, myself included. I know the pedi wouldn't recommend something that would hurt her. And some of this baby research is just to freak out moms and put new books on the shelves IMO. Giving her cereal keeps her happy and keeps me from freaking out that I can't keep up with her needs because daycare feeds her too much. Happy momma, happy baby. All is well. My supply also has not suffered at this point. I actually think it's increased since I'm not so stressed

jacka02 · September 2012

I'm in the same boat. I have the cereal ready to try it out but haven't pulled it out yet. I'm thinking 5 months. The pedi said he didn't start his kids until 6 months but we could start now if we wanted.

BabyMakes6 · September 2012

We have been feeding him fruits and veggies since 4 mo. He really loves to eat with a spoon. He eats solids usually once a day sometimes twice. All of my kids started solids at 4 months. Just do what you think is best for you.

gisa886 · September 2012

Skip cereal and go to fruits and veggies. Wait until she meets most of the signs of being ready for solids.

TrudyCampbell · September 2012

gisa886:
Skip cereal and go to fruits and veggies. Wait until she meets most of the signs of being ready for solids.

This is my plan. V is nowhere near ready and I'm in no rush until she is.

Luvmy2sons · September 2012

gisa886:
Skip cereal and go to fruits and veggies. Wait until she meets most of the signs of being ready for solids.

Since I went right into it at 4 months with my DS's, I never waited for signs. What are these? Sitting up? etc?

gisa886 · September 2012

https://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/readyforsolids.htm

This is a good website and most sites say the same thing.

Josephine Ann · September 2012

My pedi said not to start cereal at 4 months but he started my son on fruits at 4 months and when we went to his 5 month visit last week he started my LO on cereal and veggies... He said cereal and friut for breakfast and dinner and a veggie for lunch... My LO loves to sit in his highchair and eat with a spoon... He now pulls the spoon to his mouth... Do what u feel is right for ur LO, every pedi is different and will tell u differently... do realize that the fruits and veggies for Gerber start with a supported sitter which is usually 4 months and the sitter stage is usually at 6 months...

okate0213 · September 2012

I would wait, personally as a fellow EBF with low milk supply last time. I started at five months with solids and my supply went down further. The studies are interesting on the benefits of waiting until six months, with the gut flora being more ready leading to less allergies and problems later in life. BM is all most babies need until six months.

hass2001 · September 2012

Luvmy2sons:
I'm getting alot of conflicting information. With my DS's, I started cereal at 4 months. At DD's 2 month appt. the doctor told me I could start at 4 months also. But here i'm reading the AAP says 6 months. DD is really interested when i'm eating. She watches intently. Everyone asks if i'm starting cereal, I have no idea what to do. She's still waking a few times at night, but I really think she's just looking to comfort nurse. Everyone's like, "Oh if you feed her cereal she'll STTN". I know that's not true, because my DS's didn't, and my DS2 had it from 2 months for reflux. But I also know that my DS's having solids eventually led to me drying up. I want to BF DD as long as I can, as of today (her 4 month birthday!) she is my longest running exclusive BFer. By now with both of my DS's I was already supplementing. I feel like i'm doing awesome, and I even have 70oz. frozen to keep me going. What to do...

You started drying up once starting on solids? Ugh, this is just one more reason for me to wait on the solids!

LesleyT · September 2012

- guidelines are just that- guidelines.

I also EBF and I was going to wait til 6mo but at our 4mo dr visit, pedi said LO seemed ready already. So- like other pp.'s said- "do what's best for LO"- watch for signs (sitting up, interest in food, hunger, shorter seep cycles).

I started with fruits/veggies and was going to do rice cereal last- and due to a mastitis infection and LO's voracious appetite, I started slipping a little rice cereal in the (pumped) bottles recently. Just follow your instinct.

cbiewer · September 2012

From reading everyone's posts, I guess everyone has their own opinions and takes on it. I was freaking out about what to do myself. But my baby dropped in % and I am almost out of freezer stash and can't keep up always with what he is fed and what I pump while at work. So I started having his caregiver, usually my mom, feed him a "meal" for almost a week now. Nothing amazing has happened b/c of it. He does not sleep better, my supply is the same (b/c duh, he is eating while I'm at work), there were no adverse reactions. Makes me wish I hadn't lost sleep over whether or not to start him on solids. I'd say if there is no pressing reason to (like I needed something to supplement) then why bother.

huahualove · September 2012

I put together ds's highchair today. Dh is so excited since he gets off work earlier on Sundays that we are going to go buy him oatmeal for tonight. I want to wait longer, I even tried to much it back a week but dh wanted to do it tonight. If if anything amazing happens, I'll be sure to let you guys know.

vtwd40 · September 2012

2+ weeks on oatmeal and DD is totally gung ho now. She's always liked it, but now she knows what to do. As soon as the spoon is ready, she opens wide and lunges for it. She housed it tonight, but I like to BF her more after she eats so I didn't give her any more. You definitely have to experiment with the consistency. At first I made it real thin like they tell you. But, she does much better with it thicker.

huahualove · September 2012

So, ds had his oatmeal and breastmilk for the first time tonight, and he loved it. I didn't think he would be this ready. He leaned into every bite, he would whine if you were taking to long to give him another spoonful even.

vtwd40 · September 2012

huahualove:
So, ds had his oatmeal and breastmilk for the first time tonight, and he loved it. I didn't think he would be this ready. He leaned into every bite, he would whine if you were taking to long to give him another spoonful even.

I knew DD was ready, but I wasn't sure that she would be THIS ready. She's an eating champ!

huahualove · September 2012

vtwd40:
huahualove:
So, ds had his oatmeal and breastmilk for the first time tonight, and he loved it. I didn't think he would be this ready. He leaned into every bite, he would whine if you were taking to long to give him another spoonful even.
I knew DD was ready, but I wasn't sure that she would be THIS ready. She's an eating champ!

Same here. I feel like I was making a big deal out of nothing. He was like, "It's okay mom, I got this."

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