Baby Cereal

babym6705 · August 2014

Little Man had his 4 month check up today and his pediatrician was really pushing us to start rice cereal this month. I originally wanted to skip it because I read it's empty calories but now I'm undecided. What is your plan?

AcaAwkward · August 2014

None for us. We do BLWing and skip cereal entirely.

Laroo0220 · August 2014

Our pediatrician was pushing it too since LO is not sleeping well. She was saying she is probably hungry. Yeah don't think so. She eats every 2 hrs and is still in the 60th percentile for weight.

hlm184 · August 2014

Our ped pushed it as well, citing out of date information. It made me lose all faith in her.

No cereal here.

MamaFantastic · August 2014

I put 6m but cereal will be introduced after multiple other fruits and vegetables first, and only as an occasional additive to meals. I don't place any nutritional value in it, so I will not rely on it as any sort of "calorie champion" in her diet. I'm not fundamentally opposed to the idea of giving my baby cereal, though. That's why I voted for the six-month option and not the never option.

Kyllarae · August 2014

I would give it if there was a point to it but there's not.

Holljade · August 2014

My pedi said to mix rice cereal oatmeal (we'll do the oatmeal) with BM at 5 months to help teach him to use a spoon. Then 2 weeks later we can start stage one foods. I'm not big on BLW. We'll do some finger foods and some purees.

jenskurn · August 2014

We have been doing oatmeal for awhile in LO's bottle for reflux, but when it comes to actual eating I'm going straight to fruit and veggies. We had our 4 mo appt yesterday and pedi mentioned based on lo's size (19.5 lbs, 27 in) we should start food.

cjpell0 · August 2014

We started gluten-based cereal along with various purees around 4.5 months

hlm184 · August 2014

jenskurn said:

We have been doing oatmeal for awhile in LO's bottle for reflux, but when it comes to actual eating I'm going straight to fruit and veggies. We had our 4 mo appt yesterday and pedi mentioned based on lo's size (19.5 lbs, 27 in) we should start food.

Why based on size? That's on the larger side, isn't it?

mbethmcgill · August 2014

I'll do oatmeal and fruits/veggies soon. I'm not too familiar with BLW but make my own baby food and quickly move on from there.

nicole mackenzie · August 2014

I think I'll start with avecado. Pedi said I could start cereal at 4-6 months but I'm not ready!

LO is getting stronger but not sitting up completely on her own so I don't think she's quite ready although she does shove stuff in her mouth so I think she'd be good at getting food in there...

Is it ok to wait until 6 months to add solids?

I enjoy the bonding of bfing.

When I do start it will be with fruits and veggies and maybe some of our meals puréed ( one ate a time of course )

hlm184 · August 2014

I am tempted to start solids sometimes, then I think of the diapers and I'm like NEWP!

zazu13 · August 2014

Tried at 4 months and my twin girls had no interest. Tried again at 5 months and one of them likes it. I do 1/2 T per day and offer it to the other twin every few days. I can't wait for "real" food.

hpanabaker · August 2014

I voted 'just see results' because I have no idea. DS isn't 4 months yet and is not sitting on his own yet. I have no real set opinions on what to start with, I'm still researching. I'm not sure about cereals, DH and I are both gluten free for medical reasons and we want to make sure DS gets the best start possible so that he might be able to avoid digestive issues.

ccollins06 · August 2014

I'm a little worried about our 4 month appointment next week. I don't have a good enough read on my pedi yet to know if he'll be receptive to holding off on solids/BLW or will 'push' solids. If it's the latter, how do I respond? Just smile and nod then do what I want?

ambarnett1 · August 2014

ccollins06 said:
I'm a little worried about our 4 month appointment next week. I don't have a good enough read on my pedi yet to know if he'll be receptive to holding off on solids/BLW or will 'push' solids. If it's the latter, how do I respond? Just smile and nod then do what I want?

Your baby, your choice. They just suggest what they think is best. Starting solids now is not life or death. Just do what you think is best for LO

lcr23 · August 2014

ccollins06 said:
I'm a little worried about our 4 month appointment next week. I don't have a good enough read on my pedi yet to know if he'll be receptive to holding off on solids/BLW or will 'push' solids. If it's the latter, how do I respond? Just smile and nod then do what I want?

I'm planning on smiling and agreeing but not starting cereal. Our pedi brought it up at the last appt to start at 4 months so I don't really want to get into a debate.

Tferr02 · August 2014

I tried cereal with DS1 and he hated it. As soon as I offered fruits and veggies, he ate them up. I see no point in the cereal.
I am waiting until almost 6 months though for any food. DH will be back with us a little before 6 months, and I figure we can wait until he is here to share that first with us.

ladygali · August 2014

Our pedi said we could start with rice or oatmeal anytime. I asked if I had to and her words were "what do you want to do?" I liked that!! I said I'd like to wait until closer to 6 months and she was good with that but suggested cereal if he's still not sleeping long stretches at night. Also, she said something about if we start now, the switch to solids can be a longer process but if we wait then it's a shorter process? That didn't really make sense to me. My plan is to wait until he can sit up better and maybe try oatmeal or a purée. He's been watching us eat and smacking his lips lately, so maybe we will try at 5 months instead of 6.

dmosquera4 · August 2014

Our pedi said to wait but if I wanted to give him an ounce just to start training him but not to replace it for a feeding because there isn't really a nutritional value. DH was always like when are we starting so I explained to him all the 6m shinnanigans but he wouldn't believe me. Thank god he went with me to the doctor she said all the same things and then he was like ohhh no we need to wait no rice cereal "the doctor said...."

chichi589 · August 2014

No rice cereal for us ever. I have to look into it further for where to start but he's no where near starting to sit up on his own so I have time to research.

Sisimama10 · August 2014

Not doing blw, but skipping cereal.

Abcollins57 · August 2014

We skipped the cereal and started with purées a little after he turned four months. He's a little chunk and formula alone wasn't really holding him anymore. We did try cereal but he doesn't really like it and it gives him terrible gas.

ccollins06 · August 2014

lcr23 said:

ccollins06 said:
I'm a little worried about our 4 month appointment next week. I don't have a good enough read on my pedi yet to know if he'll be receptive to holding off on solids/BLW or will 'push' solids. If it's the latter, how do I respond? Just smile and nod then do what I want?
I'm planning on smiling and agreeing but not starting cereal. Our pedi brought it up at the last appt to start at 4 months so I don't really want to get into a debate.

Same here, I just wonder if I do that, then at the six month appointment he'll be asking how the solids are going. I suppose I could just say I changed my mind and decided to wait. Ultimately it would just be nice to tell him our plan and get the go-ahead.

alohamel · August 2014

Can I ask why some are skipping cereal? I just listened to the pedi but id love to hear why some are skipping. Maybe ill rethink this...

nicole mackenzie · August 2014

tlp2558 said:

nicole mackenzie said:
I think I'll start with avecado. Pedi said I could start cereal at 4-6 months but I'm not ready!

LO is getting stronger but not sitting up completely on her own so I don't think she's quite ready although she does shove stuff in her mouth so I think she'd be good at getting food in there...

Is it ok to wait until 6 months to add solids?

I enjoy the bonding of bfing.

When I do start it will be with fruits and veggies and maybe some of our meals puréed ( one ate a time of course )

Yes it is ok to wait until 6 months but babies iron stores that they're born with only last about 6 months so it is recommended to start no later than 6 months.

Gotcha thanks

rtv3 · August 2014

At DD's 2 mo appt, my pedi said she'd give us more info about starting food at the 4 mo appt but that lots of parents choose to wait till 6 months. I'm going to talk to her about all the options at the 4 mo but I'm leaning toward holding off. I'm pretty sure my MIL will give her cereal on the 1 day a week she watches her but I won't pick a fight over it. A little cereal 1 day a week is NBD in my book but I won't give it to her on the regular if that makes sense.

jenskurn · August 2014

hlm184 said:

jenskurn said:

We have been doing oatmeal for awhile in LO's bottle for reflux, but when it comes to actual eating I'm going straight to fruit and veggies. We had our 4 mo appt yesterday and pedi mentioned based on lo's size (19.5 lbs, 27 in) we should start food.

Why based on size? That's on the larger side, isn't it?

Yes, he's huge. He's taking 35oz of formula and he still wants more some days. I'm assuming her thinking is try feeding him instead of adding more formula.

hlm184 · August 2014

alohamel said:

Can I ask why some are skipping cereal? I just listened to the pedi but id love to hear why some are skipping. Maybe ill rethink this...

Because there's not really any nutritional value to it. It's just filler.

Emily041285 · August 2014

Our pedi said anywhere between 4 and 6 months, whenever she's interested.

DH tried to give her mashed potatoes the other night (I would've stopped him if I actually thought she'd eat it) and she totally freaked at it near her mouth. So she isn't ready...

alohamel · August 2014

Ok thanks. Maybe I'll hold off.

hlm184 said:

alohamel said:

Can I ask why some are skipping cereal? I just listened to the pedi but id love to hear why some are skipping. Maybe ill rethink this...

Because there's not really any nutritional value to it. It's just filler.

Abcollins57 · August 2014

jenskurn said:

hlm184 said:

jenskurn said:

We have been doing oatmeal for awhile in LO's bottle for reflux, but when it comes to actual eating I'm going straight to fruit and veggies. We had our 4 mo appt yesterday and pedi mentioned based on lo's size (19.5 lbs, 27 in) we should start food.

Why based on size? That's on the larger side, isn't it?

Yes, he's huge. He's taking 35oz of formula and he still wants more some days. I'm assuming her thinking is try feeding him instead of adding more formula.

They put on weight too quickly when you start getting past 32 oz a day since the formula is so full of calories.

imogenisis · August 2014

Also skipping cereal and doing BLW whenever she's ready! That's what I plan on telling my old school pedi. I could care less what he says, kinda lost faith when he suggested putting cereal in her bottle at 2 months. We'll be switching after we're finished with vaccinations.

abbeylanecb · August 2014

No to cereal or oatmeal. Why would I want me babies first food to have no nutritional value? We wait until 6 months then do blw. We save the unhealthy food for when she is a picky toddler

jenskurn · August 2014

Abcollins57 said:

jenskurn said:

hlm184 said:

jenskurn said:

We have been doing oatmeal for awhile in LO's bottle for reflux, but when it comes to actual eating I'm going straight to fruit and veggies. We had our 4 mo appt yesterday and pedi mentioned based on lo's size (19.5 lbs, 27 in) we should start food.

Why based on size? That's on the larger side, isn't it?
Yes, he's huge. He's taking 35oz of formula and he still wants more some days. I'm assuming her thinking is try feeding him instead of adding more formula.

They put on weight too quickly when you start getting past 32 oz a day since the formula is so full of calories.

Yes, I feel like he's eating a ridiculous amount of formula. I'm not really comfortable with adding anymore so food it is!

Abcollins57 · August 2014

Yes, he's huge. He's taking 35oz of formula and he still wants more some days. I'm assuming her thinking is try feeding him instead of adding more formula.
They put on weight too quickly when you start getting past 32 oz a day since the formula is so full of calories.
Yes, I feel like he's eating a ridiculous amount of formula. I'm not really comfortable with adding anymore so food it is!

That was us also!

Kriztyn · August 2014

We've only been doing rice cereal 1-2 times a day either at breakfast time or dinner time. If you read the nutrition label there are good nutrients in there so it's not empty calories. Our ped recommended to start to help her get used to eating from a spoon. She said once she is good at eating with a spoon we can start puree's but we might wait until 6 mo to start that.

RedDawnsRevenge · August 2014

Kriztyn said:
We've only been doing rice cereal 1-2 times a day either at breakfast time or dinner time. If you read the nutrition label there are good nutrients in there so it's not empty calories. Our ped recommended to start to help her get used to eating from a spoon. She said once she is good at eating with a spoon we can start puree's but we might wait until 6 mo to start that.

So if I take a multi-vitamin with my coke that will make it healthy then? "Nutrients" added artificially are still crap and poorly absorbed.

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/20/get-the-white-out-of-babys-first-foods.aspx

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_ParentingResource/baby-diet-white-rice-cereal-pediatrician-dr-alan-greene-focuses/story?id=12801589

https://www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2011/12/nine-good-reasons-not-to-use-baby-rice.html?m=1

And I think the "learn to use a spoon" argument needs to die. I've taught many a stroke victim to eat again so I think it's a bit of a red herring in the argument.

katiedidthat · August 2014

We wait until baby is sitting unassisted and showing interest, then do a mix of purees and blw. DS1 didn't take a bite of solid food until he was almost 9 months old and he wasn't anemic, overweight, underweight, or struggle with a spoon. DS2 is almost 6 months (4.5 adjusted) and I'm nowhere near introducing any solids. My vote is do what you're comfortable with and don't worry about anyone else.

SoulTermination · August 2014

My MIL insisted on buying us rice cereal for A. I intended to save it and give it to my neighbor when she had her baby, but MIL had her own stash of it as well. When A stayed overnight there last week, MIL gave her a tablespoonful of it just to see what she'd do; she's very definitely DH's child, she knew exactly what to do with the spoon right outta the gate and made impatient grunts if you didn't get the next spoonful to her mouth fast enough!

)

I intend to at least mostly BLW, though DH seems kind of scared of the idea, but if her pedi thinks she's developed enough (I plan to call at some point this week and ask) then we might start some baby food or homemade purée if I ever get the time to make any. She's still kind of wobbly trying to sit by herself, so whole foods/BLW may have to wait a smidge. ^^

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