When is it okay to start a baby on a cereal?
By adamyzle
@adamyzle (34)
Philippines
July 30, 2010 9:42pm CST
My friend, who is a new mother of a 3month old baby asked me those questions.
This is what I want to told her.
In general, doctors do not recommend cereals until they are six months of age because their little bodies cannot digest it well. When you start cereal you will need to water it down a lot. At first babies are not use to the texture and consistency and will often times coke on the thicker made cereal. So at first, you are feeding them more of a liquid cereal and as they get older and more use to the texture then you make it thicker.
Am I right. Or any suggestions?
5 responses
@coolblu (53)
• United States
2 Aug 10
that is not true.. you can give them a little bit of cereal in there milk because some babies milk just isn't enough for them.. I did it with my baby and the doctor was the one that said it was ok.. Just by added 1 or 2 teaspoon of baby cereal to the milk... My children are now older and there fine.
@ruthsm (222)
• Thailand
31 Jul 10
I started feeding my children with cereal when they were 4 months old. I used Cerelac (for 4months formula). this brand now has different variety and flavor.
I also mashed vegetables and fruit for them. I choose those that are fine in texture and are easy for babies to digest. We have a baby (my nephew) in the house right now, he's 7 mos and is eating soft rice. He has no problem with digestion.
@terriyakeebeybeh (27)
• Philippines
31 Jul 10
Seems right. Even on cereal packages, it states there that they're for babies 6mos old and up.
@shiquitatw (442)
• Jamaica
31 Jul 10
I have to say that I have three children and I started them all on cereal well ahead of what the doctors said I should.I only did that because I personally feel that after a while the bottle is not enough.The best first food is usually an iron-fortified rice cereal. It will provide the iron that is now necessary in his diet, and is a grain least likely to precipitate an allergic reaction. Initially, starting solids is just for the practice of eating and swallowing. Start with very small amounts. One baby-sized bite of cereal at the first feeding is enough. Gradually increase the cereal to about two tablespoons per feeding. I think that it is really up to the mother when they should but I think if the baby is finishing the bottles very fast it might be time to start on some cereal.
@lindaharding627 (1442)
• United States
31 Jul 10
Make sure to tell her not to put it in a bottle but to feed it to the child instead. Putting it in a bottle is not recommended anymore because the child will not sense when they are full and they will overeat. Older adults still often say that is the best way to start a baby on cereal but its not recommended.
