Starting foods at 4 months??

shannons913 · March 2016

we started Lo on rice cereal last Thursday and everyone is upset that I started to early....what's everyone think about this?

MrsN092714 · March 2016

Reading through all of these threads shows just how much everyone's opinion varies. Personally we aren't starting until 6 months because that's what we were told. I want both him, and his digestive system to be ready for solids. At 4 months, it seems obvious to me that my child isn't ready for solids. The interest isn't there yet. But... That's my child, and my opinion. I'm in no rush to start. Breastfeeding is easy and convenient and he will be eating solids forever!

ColoradoHiker · March 2016

Rhys had his 4 month appt yesterday. The pediatrician said if he was unsatisfied with milk (hungry again shortly after a regular feed), we could try adding some rice cereal to the bottle. If not, she said to keep up with the milk and we would talk about introducing regular foods at his 6 month appt.

I'm in the camp of only BM or formula, unless there is a specific reason to do otherwise at this point. Their digestive system isn't really developed enough for regular food for a few more months. Did your pediatrician recommend the cereal?

edavis926 · March 2016

This ended up longer than I wanted. The short response is: there is no blanket timeframe. If your baby seems ready to eat and you're pediatrician says it's okay go for it. The rest is a combination of what our LOs 2 doctors have recommended/what we're doing.

LOs GI doctor said we could start the cereals at 4 months whenever she seemed ready and add a food every 2 weeks. When I saw him about 2 weeks ago he said she could probably have most of the cereals and a could of veggies at this point. Her regular pediatrician said closer 6 months (for real food) unless she seems ready. She still gave me all of the information at the 4 month appointment so that I could start when ready.

She's 5 months today and we started rice cereal about a week ago mostly to see how she did. She's not getting it very consistently though it's more there's formula left and she's in a good mood so let's practice eating than it is for calories. 1/4 cup of her rice cereal has 60 calories and she's not eating anywhere close to that much. She'll probably get actual food closer to 6 months mostly because SO is traveling a lot this month and I want him to be here. Now that we've started she'll stare down anything you're eating and reach for it. The baby begs more than the golden retriever!

I've always heard that they continue to get everything they need through bm/formula and any food they eat was basically bonus nutrients.

AiramJ · March 2016

Who is everyone (who's upset?)? I don't think it's anyone's business but your husband and yours. I don't let anyone tell me why to do with baby and don't appreciate anyone's opinion unless it's asked for. For the feeding solids part, 17 weeks plus and you can start solids. Before that baby's digestive system isn't developed enough. As long as you don't replace formula/BM with purées, then that shouldn't be a problem. I started giving my bug tiny amounts of mashed up banana. He watches his daddy and me eating and looks like he wants to have some too. He is still figuring out having anything but milk in his mouth and how to swallo it. Enjoy introducing solids! I always said I'll wait until 6 months but to hell with it. It's so exciting to show him all these different foods and seeing him get excited about being fed!

FatPony · March 2016

We started playing around with the cereals at 4 months bc it was obvious my guy wasn't ready. So instead of trying to force him to eat, I'd let him taste it and play with the spoon. Then one day he suddenly opened his mouth and started eating. I was shocked, still didn't think he was ready.

So my recommendation is to follow your baby's lead. You know him better than anyone. As long as you wait until 4 months, don't force him, and don't replace solids with BM or formula, then you're good to go. GL!

solitude1984 · March 2016

Every baby is different. My niece was totally ready for solids at 4 months - she stared at the food people were eating, reached for it, and happily opened her mouth when my sister offered her some mashed banana mixed with formula (to make it softer). My LO, on the other hand, has no interest at 4 months. I tried giving him mashed banana mixed with breast milk, but he wouldn't open his mouth most of the time. He allowed the spoon into his mouth a couple of times, but spit out all of the food. As a result, I'm waiting until next month to try again. And if he still isn't ready, I'll wait until he is 6 months old. His pediatrician agrees that some children are just ready earlier than others.

As for everyone being upset, that's just ridiculous. It's your baby and your decision. I pick and choose what advice I want to take from my family and friends. They can be angry about it all they want, bit I will not change my mind based on that. For example, my mom is adamant that I feed my LO solids even though he isn't interested. I'm not into forcefeedong my baby, so I won't be doing that no matter how much she insists.

amwright33 · March 2016

We starting our baby at 4 months with cereal. Our pediatrician told us we could because she always acted hungry and would reached for our food. She also won't take a bottle but will open for a spoon. She eats rice cereal and just started carrots at 19 weeks. I breastfeed her first and then let her mess with the puree food. Cereal before dinner. Family gets upset with me because I won't let anyone else feed her but me and hubby.

jlynnd75 · March 2016

My son is a few days over 4 months (lurking from November) and at our dr apt yesterday his pediatrician said we have the green light for cereal and baby food. I was expecting the cereal but surprised about the food. He usually doesn't suggest starting food until around 6 months but because my son is eating so much (8 oz bottles every 3 hours) and has been since a little over 2 months, and he weighs 16 pounds he's met the weight limit the dr likes. We figured we would start cereal and see how that goes for a few weeks then maybe introduce a veggie. We honestly are in no hurry to push it but it's really nice we have the option! Everyone's pediatrician is different, and we all know everyone has their own opinion. You know your baby best so I say just follow that mommy instinct it's the best thing you can do

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