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Preemies
When did your preemie start cereal/baby food?
My daughter just turned 5 months over the weekend, however her adjusted age is about 3 1/2 months. I'm getting mixed answers on when to start cereal. We go to a very large pediatric practice; there's about 15 different pediatricians and therefore lots of different opinions. One of the dr's said we could start cereal when DD turned 4 months (adjusted age), one said 6 months (actual age), another said 6 months (adjusted age).
When did you start your preemie on cereal? How long after did you introduce baby food? DD is definitely showing signs- her hands are always in her mouth, she shoves all of her toys/blankets in her mouth, she chews/chomps when she sticks things in her mouth, etc. She has excellent head control and she is getting really good at sitting up/staying upright.
I'm not trying to use cereal as a means to get her to sleep through the night. She sleeps perfectly fine (and thank God for her 9+ hours of uninterrupted sleep at night!). I'm just wondering if she is ready to start on it. I'm thinking of waiting until she hits 4mos adjusted age- which is only about 2 weeks away. Is that about when other preemie moms are starting their kids?
Thanks in advance!
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Re: When did your preemie start cereal/baby food?
I started giving him cereal in his bottles at about 5 months (3 months adjusted) per the pedi...DS was spitting up a ton and the dr. said it would help him spit up less (he was later diagnosed with reflux).
I gave him his first pureed solid on the day he turned 6 months (actual)...his pedi practice recommends starting solids based on actual age (whether preemie or full term) as long as the baby seems ready. I only just started giving him a solid for dinner every night at 8 months (actual, 6 adjusted)...between 6-8 months actual I would only give him one a few times a week.
BFP 5/21/10, Missed m/c 7/5/10 at 11w3d (baby measured 7wks), D&C 7/7/10
Aug/Sept 2010 - CD3&10 b/w & u/s, genetic testing, SA, HSG, & Lap/Hyst to remove septum
12/09/10 BFP -- 7/05/11 DS born at 33w5d. Came home after 23d in NICU at 37w0d
June 2012 - TTC #2! -- 10/05/12 BFP -- 5/23/13 DS2 born at 37w1d! Yay full term!
Surprise BFP 6/25/14 LO#3 due Feb2015!
After reading these responses I'm realizing we started our lo early. Anyway we started putting cereal in his bottle at 3 1/2 months actual (1 1/2 adjusted) and was given the go ahead to feed cereal and any fruit or veggie at his 4 month well visit (2 months adjusted). My DS did great with it- he's really an eater. But, every baby is different. Without the solids, my lo was starving all the time.
ps- you're so lucky with her 9 hours of sleeping! I'm jealous
Thank you all for your help! I ran to the store today and picked up from rice cereal. I gave her some mixed with formula around 5pm and she did great! Now, how often do I give her cereal? The box isn't very clear on how often she should get it. Do I do it once a day, a few times a day, every feeding? And I assume I gradually increase the amount of cereal added to the formula, correct? Sorry if this is a stupid question haha!
And yes, I am very lucky to have such a great sleeper!! She usually sleeps from 9pm - 6am. It's freaking amazing!!!!
11.2011 - DS1
02.2013 - loss at 6 wks
06.2014 - DS2
10.2015 - loss at 12 wks
03.2017 - DD
exactly. I asked a similar question and got a great mix of answers the other week :-) I talked to our pedi and she said we could start any time. i don't feel comfortable with that and don't think he is ready so we are waiting. I imagine we will start solids on his 6 month birthday :-)