Rice cereal -- another question, might be kinda personal

LindseyLooMagoo · July 2013

I have read a lot about how rice cereal is bad for babies.. I know this may be a personal question.. But have you or anyone you have known have grown up to be obese or have health issues that were rice cereal fed? I'm really concerned that I could cause these issues for my son if I choose to start him on rice cereal. He is 4months and 1 week old.. Sorry if this is an annoying post.. Just freakin out a bit about it

JenniD2 · July 2013

My mother used to give my siblings and I rice cereal when we were babies before the 6 month mark, and we are not obese. I do not think that because you give your baby rice cereal, your baby will then grow up to be obese. There are so many factors that affect a person's weight that I find it very difficult to pin point that on someone starting solids sooner than 6 months.

I really would not worry about it. If your LO is ready for solids, then go for it.

LindseyLooMagoo · July 2013

Thanks for the responses.. Point taken i suppose just paranoid FTM.. The ped said its ok to start on cereal at 4 months but wait for other baby food until 6 moths

LindseyLooMagoo · July 2013

Thank you I appreciate your input!!

ClandestineX · July 2013

All five of my cousins were fed rice cereal at 4 months or less.. they are all skin and bones basically. I agree not to start off with rice cereal.. if you want to try cereal though, try oatmeal cereal.. at least there is more protein and fiber.

rjeller32 · July 2013

Nicb13:
And IMO, your son is too young for solids. What's the rush?

Yes It's pretty uncommon for a baby to be developmentally ready for cereal this young.

MrsWindyCity · July 2013

DH had rice cereal and was thin, I had rice cereal and was fat. It's really not going to be any sort of deciding factor. Rice cereal really has no nutrition, so if you are going to do a cereal, I would recommend oatmeal. But really, the rec is to wait 6 months and if you are freaking out and concerned, especially, there is no reason to start it so young.

amykins1283 · July 2013

If you lined up a bunch of adults today that were breastfed, formula fed, started solids early, started late, whatever, you would not be able to tell which person was fed which way as an infant. I was formula fed, and started solids early, and I am of normal weight. My first son had severe reflux and had a tablespoon of rice cereal in EACH bottle starting at 3 months so that he could keep his feedings down and his Body Mass Index is in the 3rd percentile. He's skinny as a rail.

If you don't want to do cereals then you don't have to. Wait a little longer, until closer to 6 months, and dive right into fruits and veggies. There is no need to stress yourself over this.

doremi29 · July 2013

We will do oatmeal when we start DD. We did the same with DS and it went well. Plus, he ended up liking oatmeal, in general, so it ended up being a nice healthy option for him down the road.

kgs0505 · July 2013

My oldest hated the rice cereal, so we went with oatmeal instead. We'll probably start that with the girls around 5-6 months or so. As for obesity... since probably almost everyone in america was fed rice cereal as babies, I doubt you could draw a correlation there. The baby cereals are used for such a short time they could hardly cause lasting damaging.

poppyc8 · July 2013

i was a formula fed and rice cereal fed baby and i've always been average to underweight. that being said, im curious to see what other people say here too. we just went to our 4 month appt and my pedi recommended starting him on rice cereal mixed with breastmilk now. i talked to our nanny and she told us that she would prefer to wait until he is 5 or 6 months and start him on mashed fruit or veggies. i'm so confused!

JSS1002 · July 2013

I would listen to your doctor.

We'll be starting LO on rice cereal at 4 months, per my doctors recommendation. Yes, the AAP says 6 months, but that is a broad based generalized recommendation, not tailor-made for you by a pediatrician with whom you and your child have a relationship.

kellopes · July 2013

My LO is also 4 months and is already teething, so because of that she started having some diarrhea, I took her to her doctor and she gave me the go ahead for cereals, to regulate her stools. Even thought I know she is a little too young I thought it was necessary and went with oatmeal instead of rice, I thought it was a little more nutritious. I give it to her just once a day mixed with breast milk. It is working great so far!

mrssoprano · July 2013

I am just trusting my pedi's personalized recommendations. At DS's 4-month check-up, she said he is ready for rice cereal given the amount of formula he's eating (6.5 oz every 3.5-4 hrs).

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