Doc Says to Start Rice Cereal at 4 Mo

This was probably covered already, but in case it wasn't:

I've read that before starting solid food, breastfed babies should be able to 1) sit on their own, 2) lose the thrust reflex (that automatically pushes objects from their mouths) and 3) take an interest in food. He will show you signs that he wants to eat--watching you eat intently, making chew motions with his mouth, grabbing at your food--when he is ready. Our son (born somewhat on-time) was actually about 5.5 months before we gave him solid food. We were going to wait until six months, but he was curious and kept trying to help himself, and we couldn't resist. :o)

Go with your instinct! It would be hard to start food too *late* for a breastfed baby.

Good luck and have fun!

Hi L.,
I am impressed with your knowledge about allergies and your awareness of your son's needs! As for your doctor, I cannot say the same. My understanding of the guidelines for starting cereal in families with a history of allergies/asthma is to wait six months. That's what I did with all three of my children while I was nursing them. My best advice to you is to keep doing what you are doing: educating yourself, paying attention to your child's individual needs and trusting your instincts. And find a better doctor!

Best wishes from our family to yours.

Hi L.~

The cereal thing is somewhat of an issue with me... not sure why, but your concern caught my attention. I say go with your gut. You know your baby best. I never gave my babies cereal as a main food. I only ever used it when just introducing foods, such as applesauce (unsweetened) and mashed bananas.... probably to mellow the flavor, since cereal has none! Our ped. actually says "it tastes like paper~ who wants to eat that?!" I guess I am lucky that I really like him and agree with his suggestions 99% of the time.

My son was 2 weeks early and in the 5th percentile in the growth chart most of the time. We nursed until he was a year and I really only gave him "real" foods, not that jar stuff. I also didn't start with the mashed bananas, applesauce or any other solids until 6 months or later with both babies. They will show you the signs. If he is content with nursing, I would not rush anything.

Wishing you the best! ~J. B

L.,

By all means wait! Especially if you don't think the little one is ready. My daughter was born 6 weeks early and is a few days shy of 6 months right now. She is exclusively breastfeed at this point. We're going to be waiting a good bit longer to introduce solids - she's not showing any signs of being ready - sitting up on her own (holding the position, not necessarily getting there by herself), losing the tongue thrust reflex, showing interest (she likes sitting with us, but is perfectly happy with a spoon, sippy cup of mamas milk, or toy), and having a pincer grasp (not palmar/raking grasp).

For the first year, solids are really more for play rather than for nutrition. When we do start solids, we will not be using cereal. It's an overprocessed carb with little, if any, nutritional value. We're going to be starting with avocado followed by sweet potato then banana. I'm just going to mush it up with some breastmilk for consistency.

I really think that waiting for her to be ready will be so much easier, not to mention wiser from a food allergy standpoint. By waiting, she can start eating from our plates at dinner and I don't have to really even deal too much with purees. Prior to six months (and that's a generalization with kids falling on either side of it for readiness), which is the recommended start time from both the World Health Organization and The American Academy of Pediatrics (although the AAP does support differing opinions on this), children are prone to having an open gut, where the intestines are not totally ready for solid foods and starting solids early is thought to encourage the formation of food allergies/sensitivites. Also, at 1 year old, only about 25% of the childs nutrition should be made up of solids, the rest should still be breastmilk or formula.

S.

Hi L. --
My son was 9 weeks premature but I did start him at 4 mos and he loved it! He's now 15 yo and no signs of prematurity despite the fact that the neo-natal docs said it would probably show up again in school.

We started fruits about 6 mos.

Enjoy your little guy -- it goes way too fast!

L.

I have a son now 3 years old (also named Brayden)and a daughter 8 weeks old. I strictly breast fed Brayden until he was 6 months old. At 6 months, I slowly started in cereal. My doctor said that it was fine to strictly breast feed for the first 6 months and then after that I should start cereal. My Brayden was in the 95th percentile for both height and weight and is currently in the 95th for height and 50th for weight and has always been very healthy. So, as you can see he did just fine growing with only breast milk for the first 6 months.

I will also only breast feed my daughter for th first 6 months. I feel that the breast is best for the first 6 months and as long as your producing enought milk for your baby than why start cereal before.

I hope this helps.

Andrea

Our doctor also told us to start our second little girl on oatmeal first at 4 months and with our first daughter were not told to start until she was 6 months and to start with rice. We tried this time at 4 months but she had no idea what was going on so we stopped it wasn't worth the mess. At a little over 5 months old we were eating dinner and I noticed her smacking her lips watching us eat. I went ahead and took the chance and she started eating like a champ but was allergic to the oatmeal so we quickly switched to rice with no side effects. She is also on soy formula. We had alot of trouble with the milk based formulas. I don't know much about preemies my girls were 8 lbs 3oz and 8 lbs 10 oz but I say go by his development. I hope everything works out.

Hi L.,

My baby girl has also had intolerances to certain foods and I have been on the soy/dairy/egg/nut/peanut-free diet since she was about 2 1/2 months...she is now 6 1/2 months. Our pediatrician has been very careful about starting foods with her. She suggested trying some cereal around 5 1/2 months, but I waited until she was 6 months old to start any foods. The rice cereal has gone well, but only after buying Earth's Best organic brand as some of the other commercial cereals have soy! Be careful when picking foods. We started oatmeal and white grape juice last week and she had a reaction, so we have scaled back again to only rice cereal and seeing if the reaction subsides before trying another cereal again. Before we felt she was ready to have cereal we noticed that she was much more interested in what my husband and I were eating and drinking. I believe most books suggest that the child can sit up (at least with support), accepts food in his/her mouth, and shows interest in food before starting any feedings with solids. I would suggest speaking to another one of the pediatricians in the practice and discussing your concerns. It has been my experience that better safe than sorry as the reactions they can have can last for quite a while. Good luck with all of this...by the way purchasing an allergy cookbook could be really helpful, in case you haven't already.

Hi L.:
Whether or not you start feeding rice now is up to you. I know I started feeding my daughter rice cereal at this time because she was so small. She was not premature, however, is was the smallest full term baby they had ever seen. She weighed 5lbs when we left the hospital. The rice is not a subitute for breastmilk or formula. Would not start with much more than 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp. I mixed it with expressed breast milk. If you want to do it but unsure just start really small, sprinkle it in like you would sugar in your coffee or salt in pot of pasta. You are the mother and knows what is best. Update-my teeny-tiny baby is 10 now and strong and beautiful. Good Luck-and always listen to yourself, you know what is best for you and your baby.

L.,
I am a SAHM of two wonderful little boys,one is 3years and I also have a 4 1/2 month old. I just took him to the doctor to day for his 4month check up. He also is allergic to dairy products and has severe eczema, my doctor said not to rush anything. Their practice hands out a little schedule to follow for eating, but he said since Dylan is special that we should wait a month or two for everything. If you are concerned their is no benefit in feeding him rice cereal now compared to 1-2 months later. Do what you feel is comfortable. Also, I belong to gerber's website and just got a pamphlet on feeding. If he is not a supported sitter and has not acted like he wants food( I think there was a few others to), not to give your child food yet.
So I guess what I am trying to say is, you are the mom and with his allergy I would not feed him cereal, quite yet. Good Luck!
Stephanie

My sister Jill gave me good advice. She says when the baby starts grabbing for your food, it's time to start giving him some!

My first son I starting feeding at 8 months and he was fine. I nursed up to then and he had those fat, chubby thighs everyone likes to squeeze.

Follow you're own instincts, they are good.

P.S. My first pediatrician was them same way. She gave me advice but it wasn't from experience. I switched to a female Dr. who has 3 kids and she is great.

P.S.S. You didn't ask for this advice, but I wait until my kids are one year old before giving them any vaccines. It gives them time for their nervous system to mature. Then I only give them one shot at a time with three months in between. The autism link to vacinnes hasn't been "proven" but my instincts say there is a link. Boys are especially at risk.

Do what you feel is best for your child, not what some doctor tells you. They are not gods they are human. and if you do not feel comfortable with her, you need to find a different doctor. with my oldest they were starting them at 4 months with my youngest who is 3 now they said wait till 6 months. even then it was a good two months before he actually started eating anything. and he is as big as most 4 year olds. breast milk is the best thing for your baby and you should follow your feelings on this. and go find a doctor you are comfortable with.

"We must be the change we want to see in the world"
-Gandhi

Abundant Blessings
Trish

You have already gotten some good advice. I never gave my son rice cereal. He didn't have solids until he was a year old and was breastfed exclusively. I say wait. Since you have said that your son has sensitivities, it really would be best if you waited as long as possible before introducing a possible allergan to his diet.

Good luck.

Personally! you are the parent and you know you child health better than anyone. If you want to wait and you feel your son is satisfied with your supply. THEN YOU GO GIRL!
K. B
P.S. for now on when you schedule appt. make sure you do not get that doctor. you pay dearly for those visits. You should get peace of mind.

Hi, I am D.. I am proud SAH mom of a beautiful, active and intelligent 16 mos old daughter, Veronica. Veronica was not a preemie but was small when she was born. At her last Dr. appt she still had not reached 20lbs and that was at 15 mos. The doctors were concerned last fall about her lower weight gain but I know that she is fine. She eats regular food now and she is very active. She is above average on every level. The point of this is that the Dr who was concerned in the fall had me so nervous and scared telling me that something might be wrong and wanted to do tests and all this other stuff but another dr in the practice said that she was just petite and that she was developing fine. I am glad that I went with my gut and heart and listened to the other dr so that roni didn't have any unnecessary tests. God gave you a maternal instinct and no one knows your particular child better than you so I say go with what you think. Waiting to start Brayden on cereal isn't going to do any harm as long as he is still getting enough to eat at feeding time.

Follow your own instincts. My son was nursed EXCLUSIVELY until after 7 months. He has asthma but at 16 is growing out of it. He would have been much worse had he been given processed foods. We made our own and raised our own goats because both my children were allergic to cow milk. While I realize you can't do the Farm thing, you will never regret giving your baby the best..which is your own breast milk. With thousands of new chemicals being created every year, we are in constant exposure to carcinogenic substances. Even the plastic we heat food in the microwave releases such. What new thing will be bad for us next? Your concerns are valid. Follow your own heart and by the way, change doctors to one who will let you raise your child your way. You will never regret it.

L. - I noticed that you are a chiropractor. My cousin is too & he is way more informed than most of the peds in the practice we go to (& I love them). He's always looking for alternatives to medicating, also. That being said, my guess is that you are very informed about child rearing. The best piece of advice I've ever gotten; "Go w/ your gut." GOD gave YOU this baby to raise b/c he thought you would do what';s best for him, not the docs. Being a 1st time mom can make you unsure of yourself & look to the docs for guidance. There are very few things you can do that will harm your child. So, take a deep breath, relax, & listen to you. side note: I nursed my son & we waited until he was 5 1/2 months for rice cereal. I knew it was time to start b/c even after nursing he was still fussy & wanting something else.

Hi L.,

You should listen to your instincts! Dr. William Sears has a chart that tells when to start babies on different types of foods. It can be found at:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T030500.asp

I will try to find some more links for you. My daughter has some information and will send that to me as soon as she is able (she has four children--and one is a newborn, so it may be a little while...lol)

Let me know how things go, okay?

Best wishes,
K.

www.joyfulconnections.net

Please, please, please follow your intuition and delay the onset of foods into your preciously perfect babe's digestive system! He does not need anything but your liquid gold (breast milk). You'll know when he needs and you want to introduce foods. I can't imagine a chiropractor vaccinating their infanct, but please do not do that either, Especially with a child that already shows some autoimmune-y stuff, such as ezcema. Please look into a good homeopath, and try classical constitutional homeopathy. (If you want the name and number of one, I would happily refer you to mine. She's excellent at pediatrics (mother of 5), and adults.) FYI, I am a mother of 4, ages 20 down to 9. I have my BSN, and have unfortunately let my RN license lapse (forgot to send in the $$ with the re-ap and decided I didn't ever really want to practice again). My youngest was also a premie, and had horrible ezcema on his cheeks, starting when he was weaned. I have been holistic since my first child had his first cold, stopped vaccinating completely.... These children have such strong vital forces. Your cutie-pie has a whole lifetime of food ahead of him.....No need to rush. Besides, I agree with you. I do not trust doctors who do not have practical, loving experience in their specialty.

If there is one thing I wish I had done while I was a young mom, it would be to trust in the development and growth of my kids. (I was always controlling their environment, rather than trying to just watch and observe, only to step in where needed.) They have the wonderful god-given gut guidance and SO DO YOU! Just love him and trust yourself. You are a wonderful mother, and you all have been blessed.

If you're in the market for a new ped, Mt. Airy Pediatrics is phenomenal! Dr. Cady, who only takes infants as new patients, is a God send. He's open to parents making the choices for the children, and that includes vaccinations!!! That's a rare quality if you ask me. Our daughter is 10 months old and we've had the best experience with Dr. Cady and the other peds in the practice as well as their great nurse practitioner. In Bucks county there is also Valley Pediatrics; Dr. Barbera. Ultimately we chose Dr. Cady in spite of the distance because he was supportive of our home birth choice and had a relationship with our midwifery practice, which Valley Pediatrics wasn't interested in supporting. But Dr. Barbera came recommended to us as an open minded dr. more in the bucks county area (huntington valley).
Peace, S.

why was the doctor recommending you start him so early? If you don't feel comfortable doing it and he is getting enough to eat then don't start. Does your child suffer from reflux problems? If the doctor was only recommending, you don't have to do what he says. You need to do what you feel is right for you and your baby. I don't think you should start before 5 months, but I am not a doctor. My kids didn't show signs of needing to be fed anything more than my milk to after 5 months.

My doctor told me when my daughter was 4 months old that I should start her on rice cereal, because she was underweight. I did and it made absolutely no difference at all. So for the next three, I waited until I was sure they were ready for baby food before supplementing nursing.

I have a thin husband and all my kids are thin, and they are all smart and developing on schedule.

Staying exclusively with nursing is the best thing for an allergy prone child, especially as you have already noticed some.

I am happy that you have decided to wait on the cereal. Studies have shown that waiting until 6 months to introduce cereal has helped keep children from developing allergies. And since your son has already shown signs of allergies, it's best to do just that. My pediatrition told me to wait until six months to introduce cereal to my daughter. They get enough nutrients from breastmilk (or formula) until that point. There is no need to introduce it. My gastroenterologist also suggested that I wait until my daughter was six months to introduce solids (due to my history of allergies and celiac disease). So I have two doctor's opinions on this matter - and I highly respect both of them.

My daughter got her first taste of solids at six months and she's in the 90 percentile for everything (height,weight). So holding off did not effect her growth at all.

Good luck! And again, I'm so happy that you have decided wait. It's a good decision.

Hi L.!

I would definitely get a second opinion if I was you, even if you have to go to another practice, you should be going to a pediatrician you feel comfortable voicing your concerns and one that you feel you can trust. My daughter is 5 months old and she was 3 weeks early, but she was considered full term because I was 37 weeks pregnant when I went into labor. Her pediatrician recommended waiting until she was 6 months or until she is able to sit up and be feed with a spoon. She said not to give it in a bottle. You shouldn't do something you're not comfortable with. Good luck with your son.

Hi L.,

I think you should definitely go with your gut instinct on this. Nutritionally, your baby does not need anything other than your breast milk until he is 12 months old. The only reason to introduce any foods in the first year is for the experience of different textures and tastes. And especially since your baby was premature - you should probably wait until he is at his due date age-equivalent of 6 months or later. The American Academy of Pediatrics used to recommend starting foods anytime after the baby was 4-6 months old, but in the last year, they changed their recommendation to only start them after the baby is 6 months old. The World Health organization also recommends waiting until the baby is at least 6 months old. Your baby should also be reaching for your spoon and making chewing motions with his mouth before you introduce solids. For some babies this is 6 months, for others it is much later. My pediatrician told me that he had seen many babies not eat any solids until they were a year old and they did fine. Mothers milk is all your baby needs.

Congrats on your new little bundle of joy!

J.

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I have a 5 month old and we have not started solids for him yet. It depends on the baby and the parents, but I believe that delaying until he is ready the best thing for us. Signs that he is ready is that he will take a lot of interest in your food. He will watch you and move his mouth like he is chewing and has lost the reflex to move everything right out of his mouth. (not sure if you have given him tylenol lately, but they will actually swallow it without a fight)

Also, I have another son who was 7 weeks early. He did not have any delays, but since he was premature, he was evaluated at CHOP at 6 months and 1 year. If you have any concerns, you may want to get him checked out. It made me feel better.

Good luck

-Jenn

I exclusvely breastfed my son until he was 6 months old and my pediatrician said that was fine. He was also born about 4 weeks early, but was always in the high percentages for his growth. I only wanted to wait b/c I had heard that babies can be fine on breastmilk alone, plus I understand that the longer you wait before starting solids, the lower risk of allergies. Trust your instincts!

Yes its fine to wait! With my first baby I stuck to what the doctor said.....I didn't want to get in "trouble" for not following their reccomendations. I didn't feel that she was ready for solids at 4 months, but I gave them to her anyway. With my son I exclusively breastfed him, and decided to wait until 6 months to start cereal. It all worked out perfectly. If your baby is content and does not seem to be hunrgy then I would wait!

rice is the 1st cereal to start with. Can try just a little, is he alittle on the small side?

I would definetely find a pediatrician that you are happy with though first and foremost.

Some start kids even earlier though it is usually at aroun 4 months. you have no idea how much he is drinking cause of breast feeding, see with bottles can tell, 32 ounces or not.

Follow your instincts.

There is no law that says you have to give a four month old cereal. There are many babies who are exclusively breastfed at that age and doing fine.

I'm not sure where you're located but you might enjoy a switch to Healthy Steps Pediatrics in Exton.

I started cereal with my son when he was about the same age as your son. try it and see if he can eat it and swallow it. that to me would be a good indication if he is ready or not. a lot of times babies sleep better also when they eat the rice cereal because they stay fuller longer. I like my pediatrician but i do some things that i think my son is ready for and do not worry about what he says. I do not do anything drastic but believe that every baby is different.

I am a part of the local La Leche League (breastfeeding support), and the leaders there would strongly agree that there is NO NEED to begin food other than breastmilk until 6mo old (and even then, rice has very little nutritional value... you could also start with bananas). From what I know about your son's situation (preemie, ezcema, etc.) new foods introduced too early could complicate matters. Your breastmilk is complete nutrition and has so many wonderful advantages that he needs right now! Go with your intuition on this one, sister!

Hi L.,
Listen to your gut! You're the mom, you know your baby better than anyone and I'll just bet you've read a few books about breastfeeding and when to start solids. I have 4 children, the youngest will be two soon, and I've nursed all of them and did not start solids before I knew they were ready. They're all different! I know I didn't start any of them before 5-6 months. My oldest (15 yrs) was 6 wks early and we had no problems. None of the kids have asthma/allergies yet, although they say breastfeeding reduces the chances for ear infections and that HAS proved incorrect with my kids--3 of the 4 have had tubes! My dr is not one to push solids either, so that helped. Talk to other professionals and other moms and you'll make an informed decision for your baby. God bless. S.

L.,
Hi there, starting rice cereal now is normal for many babies, in fact I was a NICU nurse for four years before I went to anesthesia school, and I can safely say that we many times started premies on rice cereal mixed in w/ their bottles because formula was too thin..the rice cereal thickened the formula. Many premies have reflux due to their immature digestive systems. If you have any concerns though, try calling another pediatrician,maybe one who specializes in premature babies (neonatologist/pedicatrician). it seems to me that 1. your just being an overly anxious first time mom or 2. you dont like and thus dont trust your pediatrician, in which case then you need to find another one, and interviewing them is the way to go. I love my pediatrician, he came very highly recommended, and he was the 2nd one I had. My boys love their "boy" doctor..yes he's male.
Good Luck

BTW: are u breastfeeding?

C.

I say if you're not happy with the doctor's advise, do what you think is best for your child. When my daughter was 9 months old I put her on whole milk. The doctor told me not to, but she wasn't keeping the formula down. And, she kept the whole milk down a lot better than the formula.

Also, if you're not happy with the doctor, look for another pediatrition. New Doctors are not necessarily the best for your child. They may be up on "the latest" treatments, but they don't necessarily have the best advice for parents. It's a learning process for them, too.

Hi. My daughter started on rice cereal at 4 months and had no difficulty. I was also breast feeding, and my daughter also has eczema (so do I!) I didn't find any problems when we started the cereal or foods. I did make all my own baby food (very easy) and I eliminated high allergy risk foods (peanuts, strawberry, shellfish, etc)from both our diets- we have a peanut allergy history in the family. As for the developmental milestones, she too was on the slow side for her motor skills- in fact she never did crawl- right from scooting to walking!!! and was always small for her age. I think if her digestive system were immature, we would have had problems long before we started cereal- low weight gain, difficulty nursing, vomitting. Good luck with what you decide!

I have started both my boys with cereal at 4 months. What I have heard is that if they are not pushing the cereal out of their mouth with their tongues that their are ready for it. I have seen, but have not tried, the organic rice cereal in the stores. Hope the info. helps.

I can't help but wonder why your doctor recommended starting cereal so early, when it seems like your son is NOT looking for extra "food" besides your milk at this point!? As far as I have ever read/heard/been told by my pediatrician, it's best to wait until 6m to start on cereal. Now, if you had a little one that was fussing ALL the time, and hungry, I think there reason to think about starting earlier, but not if he's not displaying those signs. My first daughter did not start solids until 6m, and really didn't "like" them until about 7m. My second daughter started grabbing our food at 5m and tried to put it in her mouth. She was also crying all day, and seemed hungry. When we started her on solids, continuing to breastfeed, she was so much more content.
I think it's best to follow your gut instinct on this. It is definetly OK to wait longer to introduce solids!! I'd also think about switching doctors, because you should deserve to feel completely confident your son's pediatrician!

Best wishes to you!

L.,
I would go with your instinct and wait. If you baby is content and does not appear hungry after nursing, then he is probably fine. I know times have changed (I have 2 teenagers), but I nursed both of my children and did not give them cereal until they were 7 months old. It's usually around 6 months when they learn to swallow when being feed from a spoon, so odds are, you baby isn't ready for spoon feeding. Also, with the eczema thing, you are definitely better off waiting to introduce new things to the diet. That's the last thing you want to do. If you start and allergies develop, you'll have to stop.

Again, go with your gut. As far as the pediatrician goes, you can always ignore their advice, I did and my kids were fine.

Good luck,
Maria

In kids with food allergies (and it sounds like you may have one by your diet) it is definitely best to wait as long as possible before introducing anything other than mama's milk. 6mo. could even be too early for your little guy. Just keep doing what your doing (nursing) for as long as he his happy, when you think he is starting to need more food then look into starting solids. When you do start solids, do so under the guidance of someone who has worked extensively with kids who have allergies. Rice cereal isn't always the best thing to introduce first, regardless of outdated (but young) pediatrician's advice. Good luck. p.s. I've seen quite a few babies who were exclusively breast feed until almost a year old. Just do what feels best for you.

I would follow your instincts on this one. You know your child better than anyone else.

BUT, that being said, both my boys had reflux and did not BF for long. I added rice cereal to their formula on my Pediatrician's advice at about 7 weeks. (Rice is one food that is the least likely to ever cause any kind of allergic reactiion or food allergy)I then started introducing rice cereal on a spoon at around 5 months. I think because of my boys reflux they each had issues with their gag reflex and it took me longer to get them to swallow, so I was glad to have started trying earlier.

I think that you can try to give your baby some rice cereal - then veggies, fruits, meats (in that order - one at a time - you know the routine!) anytime between 4-6 months, I would not wait too much longer after 6 months. If you start early, she will probaby push most of it out of her mouth anyway, but it is a new way to interact with her - I don't think it will make her skip a nursing session. When you are ready, try it slowly, once a day, for a few days, a week even, then gradually add more food, more frequency. You will know when she is responding to the feedings.

Also, if you feel like the Dr. isn't the right Dr., make the change now. Ask around to find one that one of your friends really likes. I have a great Dr. Both of her kids had reflux, we were even pregnant with our second children at the same time! I feel like she trusts my instincts as a Mother as much as I trusts hers as a Dr. Good Luck dear!

L., My son is 5 months old and we just started cereal a few weeks ago. He showed an interest in it (ie-watched my husband and I as we ate, try to touch our food etc). You know your child best, if you think that he is satisfied with your milk then continue that way. My son was also born 3 weeks early and he is just finally starting to move in the percentiles also. You have to be comfortable. Another thing, our ped asked us not to start baby food (jarred) until he was 6 months old, a recommendation of the Academy of Pediatrics. And I am glad that we are waiting. It gives our son time to adjust to eating and to master a skill that he is just learning. So for now he gets cereal and formula and is quite content. Don't do anything you feel uncomfortable with. Remember, this is your child!

Mother's instinct is often right. The cereal may not hurt him, but why risk it? He definitely does NOT need it nutritionally right now, so you should wait as long as you like. His milk is the most important thing at this young age. Good work being intuitive, and questioning your doctor. I'm sure her advice is fine, but you can't go wrong waiting with the cereal. Even if it doesn't cause problems, sometimes it fills the babies up more so they want less milk, which isn't good.

I waited to start my daughter until she was 5 mos. and then only started with a little bit to give her a feel for the new texture in her mouth. If you're not comfortable, don't rush it.

As far as the doctor in the practice - I too had started out with a doctor in a large practice that I wasn't too comfortable with... I scheduled my daughters other visits with other doctors in the practice (one's that have been there for years), and have been much happier.

If you don't think your baby is ready for solids trust your judgement. My wee boy was not preemie, but very little and I was told to feed him, too. I waited even to try until he was 6 months (this is world health organisation recommendation for breastfed babies) he still resisted (mouth tightly closed and face turned away). He didn't want solids until 8 months. From 4 months on with exclusive on demand breastfeeding he started gaining heaps of weight and became very chubby. Now he's a healthy and happy and normal 3 year old who eats very well thank you very much. You will know best what your baby needs. Trust your judgement about the doctor - babies don't grow by the books!

HI L.,
It's been a long time since I've been at that stage (my "kids" are 16 and 20), but my son was born 3-1/2 weeks early also. I breast fed him for the first 9 months and I didn't start him on cereal until 6 months. He took a year to even get on the scale for height and weight. Anyway, my doctor was trying to get me to start cereal earlier, but I didn't feel comfortable either. My daughter was 6 months before I started her and had no problems. Anyway, my son is now a healthy 16 yr old with an appetite that never ends! He's 6'1" tall and towers over me! I can only go by my experience, but what I've found is to follow your instincts. He is after all your baby. I hope this helps!
L.

Hi L. - I encourage you to listen to your instincts, hold off on the cereal and don't feel guilty about it! In contrast to your story, I started my daughter at around 3 1/2-4 months on cereal because it seemed right for us. She was also growing so fast and seemed to want food. I felt guilty for not exclusively breastfeeding her for the recommended 6 months! It turned out my instincts were right and she was ready. You know your baby the best and can sense what he needs. Hopefully you can see the other doctor's in the practice next time and bounce ideas off them instead.

I always thought it was too early to start things when my ped recommended it. Rice cereal, baby food, finger foods, whole milk... everything. My solution was to allow myself an extra week to get used to the idea. I figured I wasn't hurting anyone by waiting an extra week and it's not as if my son knew what he was missing out on. You'll find (I'm sure) that the texture of rice cereal will be completely foreign to your baby at first, so even if you started giving him rice cereal today, he probably won't really eat too much of it for another week or so. So give yourself a week to get used to the idea and then offer a little rice cereal once or twice a day. In time, I'm sure your son will love the cereal and you'll get to experience all of the great faces babies make when they try new foods. Get that camera ready! As for the ped, definitely go to the doctor you like. We heard so many recommendations for one specific doctor in our practice, but I just didn't mesh well with him. We ended up seeing one of the other doctors from the same practice because she was a much better fit for us. You need to see the doctor you want to see. And unless there's an emergency, it's probably worth it to wait a day or two so that you can get an appointment with the doctor you like.

Even though my children (now 5 and 3) were not preemies and had no food allergies, I still waited until they were 6 months old before starting them on any food. It sounds like you're nursing because of your diet descriptions, so he's really getting what he needs nutritionally. From what I can tell, there's no real reason to make them start at 4 months.
My (older) doctor also told me at their 4 month check- up, and I politely nodded and then waited until they were 6 months old anyway! They've turned out fine.

Hi L., I am a physician and a mom of one. First do not do anything that you are uncomfsrtable doing. Every doc has a style of practicing. If it is a style that makes u unhappy try to schedule another appt with a physician you are comfy with. In future try to keep non emergent appt with the physician of your choice.
you know your baby best. Delaying cereal for a couple of weeks is not harmful. I tried my baby with cereal at 4 mths but she did not take to it. So I tried after 2 - 3 weeks.
Hope this helps. Good luck
A.

L.
My daughter was born 3 1/2 MONTHS permature and she was behind on her growth,I pumped for 3 months but afterwards she was put on Enfamile Lipil formula which has more calories,after about 3 months she started to have reflux due to her system being underdeveloped she was perscribed zantac and various other medications. I then was told by someone to add cereal to her milk and I would add 1 tablespoon of the oatmeal with fruit to her bottle around 6 months and they said since it was a heavier source she would keep it down and it would fill her up at night to help her sleep through the night. I started it slowly and it worked no spit-up and she started to sleep through the night. I would try it to see if it works for you thats the only way to know. The reason for oatmeal instead of rice is for bowel movement. The rice can be binding.We had those problems as well. But in terms of weight gain its a great push. Sounds to me like you should also switch your Ped,there is no law that says you cant. I have to feel like they know what they are doing or I switch right away if you dont feel comfortable with them. I wish you well,you are doing great. Go with your best instincts and you will be fine.

Hi L.,
Until your baby has teeth it does not secrete an enzyme "amalase" necessary to digest grain so in fact what you would be feeding the baby is empty calories and possibly irritating an already comprimised system (referrng to the eczema). There is a wonderful Homeopath here in Elkton, MD named Linda McDonald who has success with babies with eczema, you may want to give her a try. Your baby is fine on breast milk alone 'til at least 6 months...unless you are receving cues from him like following your spoon/fork as you are eating and opening his mouth like he wants some or grabbing food out of your hand and putting it in his mouth. Too many Dr's are rushing things for breastfed babies, who do not grow the same as Formula fed babies do - in fact there is a whole different growth chart for them. You know your baby better than anyone, use your instincts and change Dr's until you find one that matches your holistic style.
Best of Luck, L. S

Is there a reason why the Dr. said to give him cereal? I think that you should wait. You know your son the best and if you have a gut instinct that says that you should wait, then do it. If he is getting enough from your breast milk, then he really does not need cereal yet. You milk has all of the nutrients that he needs right now. I would not give it too him until you feel that it is the right time (maybe 5 1/2 to 6 months). Also, if you are not fond of this Dr. then make a change now before he gets older. You really should have a Dr. that you trust and is knowlegeable about your son and his needs.

Hi L.,
I am a fairly new Grandma for a premie and a mother of 3.
My Grandson was born at 23 weeks gestation and 1.5 lbs.
Needless to say he is a miracle but also I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago with cancer and treated it naturally, changing my diet etc. so I understand your situation and totally believe in it. One of the products I took for my cancer and my daughter also gave to her son was called Xango. It is a natural antiinflamatory
juice. Although we cannot make medical claims this juice is great for eczema also ,safe and very effective. I would love to tell you more if you are interested. We actually have pictures of a baby at 4 months old that had eczema and had great results with this product.
Respectfully...LouAnn M

P.S. I am doing great and our little guy is home now after 5 months in the hospital..also doing great and almost walking. God Bless!!

Unless your son is actively watching you while you eat and looking like he can't wait to start trying solid food, I would not introduce cereal. I have two boys, one born at 37.5 weeks (my 2 year old) and one at 38.5 weeks (my 5 year old). Luckily they were both fine and neither has any allergies either, but the only reason I started cereal for either of them was because they couldn't keep their eyes off of what my husband and I were eating and would even reach for it. My five year old was 5 months old when we started rice cereal and my two year old was 4 months old. I'm a firm believer in mother's know they're kids best. Trust your instincts and wait awhile, it certainly won't hurt anything to wait and starting too early might. Trust your instincts about the doctor too and either find a different practice or make sure to see one of the doctors you like.

If you don't feel comfortable then don't do it. Follow your mom intuition. Doctors try but they don't always listen and understand when your worried. Especially if they don't have children. They just go by what the books say. There's no harm in waiting a few months to start baby food.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said she is not looking at your child like an individual but rather following textbook protocol. I waited till my son was 7 months because his system wasn't ready for solid foods. He is two now and weighs 35lbs, so obviously this did not hurt him one bit. If you are breast feeding that should be all he needs right now, especially with his food intolerances. You know your son better than anyone and you can just filter through what the doctor tells you is best, but ultimately you know what is truely best for him.
Good Luck!

Every baby's needs are different. I'm a mom of 5, including 3 year old triplets who were born 2 months early. A full term singleton pregnancy is 38-42 weeks, average 40 weeks. Your baby would be considered only slightly early. There is no specific date to hit each milestone. There is a window of time for each one. Yours may be hitting his milestones towards the end of the window but still on target, so it may just seem late. As for feeding, this is a judgement call. Are you breastfeeding? Your breast milk or formula technically has all the nutrients that a baby needs through the first year. That's why they want babies to stay on formula for a year. You can start introducing solids at any time before a year, as a training period. They start with rice cereal since it's the easiest on the digestive system. If you feel your baby is satisfied with the food he's getting now, you can wait. I don't think he'd have a problem with digesting it though. If anything it comes down to being ready and able to "chew" and swallow the food. It usually comes right back out in the beginning but you keep trying. They love the texture on the tongue and will play with it. Give it a whirl! He may enjoy it, even if he doesn't get much in. A few spoon fulls to start with.

Hi L.,

Rice Cereal is fairly benign. What I would do is mix it with Breastmilk...make it very liquidy. Small amt of cereal to large amt of breastmilk. Feed it to him one meal a day, I'd think lunchtime would be best- that way if he has any reaction you'll be awake to see it. After a few weeks thicken it a little and keep doing so every few weeks. Keep a journal of any reaction he has every day- include stool info- how does it change, does his temperament change, does he cry for long periods after you feed it to him. Since he seems to be predestined to a life of food allergies (wheat peanuts, etc) it is best to keep a journal of foods and his reactions until you have introduced him to all regular baby foods. Crying can signal trouble, rashes, coughing, wheezing...anything out of the ordinary should be noted. For next doc visit make sure you get one of the docs you are comfortable with- and make sure you are scheduled with one of them EVERYTIME. If you aren't comfortable with a doc, there is a reason.

I have 3 girls ages 6yrs to 15yrs...they are all ready for different things at different times, but it seems that the early cereals are fairly safe for little tummies, even at very early ages- our moms started us on it at 1 month old!

Hi L., if your son was only 3 1/2 weeks early, I wouldn't necessarily call him a preemie. 37 weeks gestation is considered full-term, so he was almost full-term. My son was born at 37 weeks and he is now 2 1/2 and he's 39 1/2 inches tall and 39 pounds! I guess you should do what you feel comfortable doing, but if your doctor told you it's okay to start him on cereal, maybe she thinks it will help him grow faster, you should have really voiced your concerns to her.

It sounds like you are doing everything right. If there is no need, which in my opinion there never is, for the introduction of cereal then do not introduce it. Wheat and rice, all grains are hard for an adult to digest let alone a child. My daughter is 10 months old and she has never eaten any type of formula or cereal. I just don;t see the need to introduce it.

I assume your doctor thinks the introduction of cereal will help your baby to gain weight but, i believe there is nothing better then breast milk heavy in saturated fats.

Your doing fine just the way things are. You diet sounds great too. I'm glad you noticed the relationship between dairy etc and the ezcemca.

Hi,
My son Terry was in the nicu at childrens hospital for the first two months of his life due to a malformed lymphnode. Although he was a 38 weeker he was still having trouble catching up with the other babies because of not getting all the nutrients that he needed. I'll put it to you this way.. at birth he weighed 8 lb. 7oz. and at two months old he weighed an even 9 lbs. so he was a turkey to begin with but the point being that now he is 8 months in 12 month clothese. So don't worry about catching up it will happen. As for the cereal at CHOP they give premies rice cereal all the time for reflux. I'm of the oppinion that if he will eat it then feed it too him. At 3 months I started my boy on cereal and soon after fruits and vegetables. The nutritionists at the hospital said that that was perfectly fine and the baby was super healthy. Now my son is a piggy last night he had chicken parm and spegetti for dinner and with his 2 little teeth he ate it like a big boy. So I don't think that you should be so concerned. The fact is that sometimes you will give him food that doesn't agree with him but that happens to all of us. I guess its like the old thing with the dirt...the more dirt you eat the healthier you will be and less likely to get sick. I know it is hard to not over protect them (believe me I really do know this) but in the end they will be ok.
good luck
ps Babies have been born since the begining of time and our mothers raised us and we turned out ok. Back then they didn't wait until they were 6 months old to feed them anything and also if you talk to more than one doctor you will find that they do not all agree on certain ages for foods and there are still plenty of healthy babies to go around.

L., Last I heard the American Association of Pediatrics was recommending breastmilk only until 6 months, then adding cereal, etc. I have a 7 month old and we waited until she was 6 months to start cereal. Don't feel pressured to start now, they say that a baby is fine even with only breastmilk until a full year of age, so don't feel any pressure. I started my son at 4 1/2 months on cereal, but he was bigger and seemed hungry. This one was also early like yours, she is on the small side, but catching up. I also wanted to wait until the 6 month mark to start, and I am very happy that I did. So do what you feel is right, don't worry. The baby will let you know if he is hungry. Good Luck.

Hi L.,
As I'm pretty sure was written in earlier responses, I believe the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation is to start cereal at 6 months. Not to say that if your baby is acting very hungry after breast feeding that you couldn't supplement by 4 months. I started my daughter on cereal at 6 months because I thought she seemed satisfied on just breast milk until that point. If breast milk is the best for our babies, why mess with cereal until they need the extra calories? My daughter is 2 now and is growing just fine. I'd say go with your instinct. To be honest with you, there have been a few things my pediatrician has recommended that I haven't followed. (the trivial things only of course!)

Best of luck to you!
D.

Hello my name is K.. I think that when you feel that he is ready to start on the rice cereal, then you start him on it. I feel that the doctors know what they are doing don't get me wrong, but they don't live with you and your family and the doctor doesn't know how he is on a daily basis. Do you know what I mean. I think that you should wait until you feel that he is ready. Why rush it. If you think he isn't hungry after he breast feeds then don't give it to him. I hope as goes well with your decision. Let me know how everything works out.
I started working with this wellness company and they have this great lotion that works wonders on ezcemca. Let me know if you would be interested in that also.
Have a wonderful day and I look forward to your email.
K.

It is alright to hold off until 6 months. Usually they do this only when there are a lot of allergy issues. However, there can be a few advantages to starting now. One is that it can help them to spread out their feeding schedule a little.

Addressing one of your issues about being ready for food. When you first start, you want it to be really runny. Also, when starting new foods, you only want to start 1-2 new foods a week total and you want several days in between starting new foods. This way you can see if the child has a reaction to the new food. It will also take a couple of days to weeks before your child will get proficient at taking in the food. With your reservations, I would probably start the food soon but I would probably only start the rice cereal for the first 2-3 weeks and then add on one of the other single grain cereals.

One of the advantages of starting this early instead of at 6 months is that they have found the babies have an easier time learning to take the food by spoon at 4 months than at 6 months. They will learn at either time but this was something fairly new that I learned this time around (my 3rd child is almost 7 months old right now. His older sister is 8 and his older brother is 3.)

All that being said, if you are really uncomfortable with this doctor and like one of the other doctors better, then before you start, make a phone call. Talk to the doctor you like. No one is saying you have to start today. So call the other doctor and leave a message. Let the office know that you really wish to speak to that particular doctor. When he/she calls, present him with your questions and concerns and see what he/she has to say.

Honestly, it is up to you and what you are comfortable with. Call your doctor and speak with him/her. Get the second opinion from the doctor you trust and make your decision based on that advice.

Good luck.

It is normal for a pediatrician to recommend starting cereal at 4 months but it is ultimately your decision. They typically give the 4-6 month range so that you don't miss the window of opportunity and your baby is adverse to texture. I have always read that if your family has a history of food allergies you are better waiting until 6 months to introduce solids.

Now my family did not have a history of food allergies but environmental allergies. With both of my daughters I held off introducing solids until the 6 month mark. My first daughter only suffers from seasonal (environmental) allergies, but my youngest is allergic to milk. That being said I suppose waiting can not prevent allergies. Maybe she would have had other allergies though if I would have introduced solids at 4 months. I can't say.

I would wait until 6 months since he is content to nurse (which is the best thing for him so good going!!).

I think there is always going to be that one pediatrcian in every practice that tells you off the wall things. For example the one told me I could give my daughter cereal and milk and pancakes at 4 months!! Of course being allergic to milk it would have been the worst thing for her and I am sure we would have learned of the milk allergy REAL FAST! That being said...you learn who that pediatrican is and take everything they say with a grain of salt and dismiss what you instinctively know is not right. Try to schedule all well appointments with the doctors you hold in higher regards whenever possible.

Fortunately for me, 'that' pediatrican left our practice.

I wish you the best of luck! Follow your instincts!

I have been a certified pediatric nurse for more than 20 years.I specialize in Intensive care but have neonatal experience. I gather you are breastfeeding? Is the baby satisfied and gaining weight? If so, why introduce solids at this point? My opinion is if it isn't broken, don't fix it!! If all is well why not wait until 6 months? Also, milestones are guidelines: not law!! Every child is different! My son was "behind" at many things during his infancy. He had an older sister for starters who loved to do for him. However, he is now a successful attorney with a brilliant mind. You seem to have great "mother" instincts so let them guide you. Feel free to keep asking questions. You are your child's best advocate.

Trust your instincts. Waiting a few weeks isn't going to hurt anyone. We started solids at 4.5 months and it was a struggle.

Trust yourself!

Hi L.,
I went through something similar. My daughter was 10 weeks early and the doctors told me the same thing about introducing food. I waited longer besause we also had a rather bad case of reflux. If he isn't hungry after you feed him I would say wait if that is what you feel. I would also get a second opinion from one of the other doctors that you like. Maybe call and leave a message that you would like a certain doctor to call. My daughter went through many digestive problems but her system was much less developed. It sounds like there may be some allergy related issues going on also. I think I would definitely talk with another doctor about all the issues you have stated. I hope this helps you.
L.

When my son was 4 month old I was told he could have rice cereal as well.
It turned out he never liked it and barely ever ate a full serving of it, so I stopped trying and forcing it and tried over later again around 6-9 month. He only ate it with applesauce and fruits mixed in.
Seeing that your child is a premee I would not try and force it at all. Developmentally he should be at a level of a 3 month old baby and waiting to start the cereal will not harm him.

I also think you should look for a new doctor. It is so important to feel comfortable and good about the doctor that takes care of your most precious posession.

Hi L.. I have a 6 month year old and feeding solids was a big deal for me too. Your baby is getting everything he needs from your breast milk and solids right now are really just practice now anyway. Don't stress yourself out about cereal yet if you don't feel comfortable. I didn't start cereal until 5 months and am now just introducing vegetables. You'll know when your baby is ready by his cues.

I recommend a book called "Baby Bites" by Bridget Swinney. It has all the info you need to start this new eating adventure. It has really helped me a lot.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi there,

I waited to start my son on rice cereal, but with my daughter we started her at 4 months just because of her size and she did seem ready for it. I'd say do what you feel comfortable with. As for the exzcema, my daughter also has it and I found that the new Aveeno for Exzcema works great on her and is very gently. The hydrocortizone didn't help much for her.

First off if you are not comfortable with your pediatrician then you need to change docs immediately or you will be constantly second guessing her.

Secondly just because he was 3 weeks early does not mean he cannot start cereal at 4 months. All four of my children were on cereal between 6-8 weeks of life by the pediatrician, I had a 39 weeker, a 37 weeker, a 36 weeker and a 35 weeker all handled the cereal they were given just fine. Each pediatrician is different, the two I trusted greatly were the ones who put my sons on cereal, then another FREAKED because they were on cereal (one I did not trust so well) before the 4 month mark....you will most likely get a different view.

Did your son have major issues after being born?

If you are not comfortable, get a second opinion. But to me unless your son and some major digestive issues due to being early (also if he was 37 weeker he is not classified as a preemie - 37 weeks is still term) then I don't see how cereal would harm him.

Starting rice cereal at 4 months is pretty standard these days. However, my pediatrician said that since my daughter is breastfed that it would be ok to wait until 6 months if I wanted to. So, since it sounds like you're breastfeeding, I say you're fine to wait. Not sure what to tell you if you're bottle feeding.

If you're not comfortable with that dr and you don't agree with his advice, seek another dr. Honestly, where feeding is concerned I follow my gut. I nursed and had intended to nurse exclusively for 6 months (no other foods), but my baby was lunging at my food and mimicing chewing motions at 3 months. By 4 months he was loving mashed bananas with expressed milk. At his 4 mos appt one of our peds said we could start on rice cereal, and I told her he loved bananas, and she was thrilled we had followed his cues and started with fruits/veggies.

Rice is offered because it's mild/low allergen. Honestly - my son hated cereal at first, and it took a couple of months before he liked to eat it. I had considered skipping it entirely, and only feeding him fruits/veggies (he never touched jarred meats - I think they're gross), but there are additional vitamins in the cereal I felt he needed.

I wouldn't worry about urgency in getting your baby on baby food just yet, although I think 6 months is generally a good time to make sure they're learning to eat from a spoon and eating foods besides milk.

Remember: doctors are well-educated and base opinions on what they see in a sample of the population. YOU are the expert on your baby. You need to work as a team (and you get veto power) to care for your baby.

L.,
Both my kids started cereal about 4 months, so I believe that that is standard. However i do understand your concern with your son being a bit behind, my best friend had her first a month early and he is still (at 2 1/2 yrs) a bit behind, but nothing major. Anyway, she did find that he tended to have more gastrointestinal issues than typical babies. If you had a doc you trusted completely and you had expressed your concerns and he/she had a good answer for starting at 4 months then my advice would be to give it a try. But since you don't feel 100% comfortable with your pediatrician, I'd say wait until you can talk to a doc you trust and feel comfortable with their answers. As a mother of two, the concern that you're experiencing is mother's instinct and I have learned to trust it every time! Don't ever hestitate to call the pediatrician, often they can answer minor questions over the phone or at least call you back. I would say not to wait months before starting a cereal there is more to it than just adding bulk to his meals, but waiting an extra fews week to a month I don't think would hurt, especially with his sensitivity to so many foods. Good luck and don't worry. Jennifer

My advice to you is this. Do what you feel is right for your child and family. I started cereal with my son at 4 months. He was on a feeding tube for the first three months of his life. As soon as he was off the feeding tube I started cereal with him. He did well and loved it. He is now a happy and healthy 32 month old.

Hello L.,

I exclusively nursed my 6 month old daughter until she turned 6 months a week ago, per my pediatrician's recommendation. My pediatrician said that she doesn't really need anything more than breastmilk before 6 months and benefits more from exclusive nursing for the extra couple of months (since many/most do start introducing cereal at 4 months).

In reading your statement, I believe you answered your own question! Find another pediatrician! You'll get another opinion from a professional. I don't believe it's harmful to start cereal at 4 months, but only you and your doctor should be making that decision based on what's best for your child.

L.,

If you read back over your question I think you'll find that you've already answered it for yourself! You're not really comfortable with the doctor (by the way, just because a doctor suggests something doesn't mean that you have to do it!), your baby doesn't seem to be hungry after nursing, and he has many issues with allergies etc. You know your baby is getting enough food, so why rush to introduce solids. Rice cereal is usually first because it has the least potential to produce allergic reactions, but why start new foods earlier than you need to?

I had twins 3 1/2 weeks early as well. I did start my kids on rice cereal at about 4 1/2 months and had no problems...but they had no allergies and, while they were perfectly satisifed with the breast milk they were getting and growing like crazy, I needed some of the food production taken off of my shoulders. I was wasting away to nothing!

My advice...do what you feel is best for now. You're obviously an intelligent, well-educated woman. As long as your baby is growing and thriving, trust yourself and put cereal off for a month or two.

If you have doubts, trust them! It can't hurt to wait if Brayden is healthy and gaining weight. I had planned on starting solid food at 6 months with both my children. However, they both broke their first tooth at around 4 months and seemed to be watching us eat longingly. I took it as the body's natural cue that they were ready to eat.

Hey L.. If there is an issue that causes more angst to new parents than eating, I don't know what it is! Did you ask your ped. why she recommended starting cereal, or share your concerns with her? I would hate to tell you to ignore her advice if there was a good reason behind it that we just don't know. On the other hand, it may have been a generic recommendation that she would be willing to modify if you shared your concerns. I would at least seek a second opinion from a different ped.

If you do decide to go ahead with the cereal, I would suggest you look at Earth's Best's rice cereal. Many of the traditional brands have barley in them, which would not be something you wanted to introduce if you're trying to keep him gluten free.

Good luck. I started my babe on cereal at 3.5 months on the pediatrician's recommendation (for good reasons I totally agreed with) and he's done great.

Hi L.,

My doctor wanted me to start my Julia on rice cereal at 1 month! He was very aggressive when it came to starting solid foods. However, I ALWAYS followed my own instincts and I would normally start whatever he told me to do a month later than he instructed. You know your baby is getting everything he needs from you, so I wouldn't rush the cereal if you do not feel he is ready. Mommy knows best!! :)

i say your instincts seem right on to me. it sounds exactly like your doctor is just "going by the book". amy doctor told me that food is just for fun at this age and your baby is still getting all of his nutrition from breastmilk so you can start any time between 4 and 6 months - oreven later! don't be afraid to take things at your own pace and trust yourself. i started my girls on rice cereal at 6 months and it worked out well for us.

Everything I ever read from sources I trust said to wait at least until 6 months. If he is fulfilled through breast milk, you can even wait longer. Do what you feel your child needs. Doctors are only human and really, they learn from books just like we can. Better to do what you feel is right than to trust some doctor who you already feel isn't giving you the attention your family deserves. You and your family will be living with the decision - not her.

I have heard different things about when to start feeding them cereal. When I asked my Dr. about it, he said that babies who are breastfed do not need any other food until they are six months (they get all the nutrients they need from the breastmilk). He recommended that if we wanted to and our son was developmentally ready for it, we could start introducing him to a little cereal at around five months. My son was definitely ready by that time, but I know other babies who are not. If your son is not develpmentally ready, he will just push the food out with his tongue, instead of swallowing it. Rice cereal is the least allergenic, and is therefore the best cereal to start with. When you are ready just mix it with breasmilk of a formula that he can tolerate. But I wouldn't worry about giving him any solids until he's closer to 6 months.

I am a mother of 2 - one is a 3 year old boy, the other a 7 month old girl. I have also been a nanny. Each child is definately different, and I firmly believe that you, as Brayden's mother (especially one who is the child's primary caretaker) have the best grasp on what he needs/doesn't need. When it comes to food allergies, I can understand your need to be careful. If you truly have a concern about the cereal, wait a little longer and try it at 5 months... especially if he doesn't seem to be hungry after feeding. WHen it does come tim eto start on baby food, just mix a little bit of the cereal - about a teaspoon - with his milk/formula (whatever you usually feed him). It should be very thin. Then, you wait about 2 days before giving him something else new.

My pediatrician always says he defers to the mom before he makes a decision on the care of a child - he has seen how much of a difference it makes in his practice.

Good luck!

If you are really that upset about it, try and set up an appointment with another dr in the practice or try a phone consult with another dr.

As long as he is nursing well, putting it off for a few weeks shouldn't hurt. My son dabbled in 'people food' but was not happy until he got his teeth and his finger food.

Did you need to cut out all that stuff from your diet? Maybe he is starting to need more nutrients and the dr is worried about him not getting enough from nursing with such a limited intake availability.

Good luck, and if you need to talk, I'm here!
~meg

Hi. One thing that I have not seen mentioned is that if do choose to start foods before 6 months, you should only give rice cereal not oatmeal or other grains, because the baby's sytem is not able to digest the others until then and can create allergies to the other grains. If your child already has sensitivities to what you eat, then I would definately be extra cautious. Did you ask your ped why she recomended starting the rice? Maybe she has a good reason, but you could find another solution. Anyway, best wishes. You know your child best. Do what you feel comfortable doing.

Well...from my own experience I have found it to be very true that EVERY child is different! I have three boys, my oldest is 7, the middle is 2 and the baby is 2 months. With the 7 year old I followed the books. The 2 year old never ate baby cereal or baby food! He went straight from formula to table food. The baby who is 2 months I started on rice cereal last week. I am very happy with my pedatrician whom we have been with since the 2nd child was born. He told me that as long as the baby doesn't have trouble digesting whatever you are fereding him/her it is not a problem. Or you know, if the something isn't broke then don't fix it. You will know when Brayden is ready! As far as those growth charts...huh! I don't buy it, unless it is very obvious that a child is over/under weight. They all grow and develop different! They told me my first child was overweight for the first couple years. But, what they weren't taking into consideration was that he was a husky child. By no means was he fat. Those graphs don't take everything into consideration. As long as you aren't starving your child or forcing him to eat, I don't think you should be worried!

We moved a few times when my kids were newborns so we had them at 2 different peds. Each of them recommended waiting until 6 months until they had better control of their heads (holding them up) and swallowing thicker foods. They each felt there was a risk of them choking at 4 months. If you aren't having any trouble satisfying your son's appetite and you are concerned about food sensitivities I would discuss those concerns with a doctor you feel more comfortable with.

I don't normally respond to these, but this one I couldn't ignore. Four months seems way too young! We waited with my son until he was 7 months and he was fine. He's strong and healthy. Even most of the books say to wait till 6 months. If I were you I would go with my gut and wait. Unless he's not gaining enough weight or isn't nursing enough, there isn't any reason why the doctor should be advising you to do this. You may want to speak to one of the other doctors at your practice and ask them for their opinion too just in case.
Good luck!

L.,
I'm a grandmother and a retired teacher of behaviorally disordered children. I am not, however, a doctor. I have opinions mainly due to observation and those with whom I worked.
There is no reason to put a baby on rice cereal or anything else, for that matter, except formula and/or breast milk until the first birthday. There have been several studies done which have proven that a percentage of children display various allergic reactions (rash, diarrhea, eczema, hives etc.) when solid food is introduced. The year mark is their guideline when the trend changes for these children. If you check on-line I believe you can find the study under baby nutrition.
I have observed perfectly calm children in my class who after a snack of something sugared go into what I call a sugar frenzy. The majority of the class was literally bouncing off the walls. This wasn't a one time thing. Approximately 15 min. after the snack, the behaviors would begin to get out of control. This was every time the snacks were given.
If you observe your son and continue to monitor his diet, I think that is the most important thing. Oh, make notes of any changes that you see or questions you need to ask.

J.

I'd ask for a second opinion. When my children were young, most pediatricians recommended waiting until the baby is 6 mos. old to offer cereal. Our doctor recommended Eucerin Cream for the patch of ezcemca my son developed on his arm when he was about 9 mos. old. It was a thick cream and I'm not sure if it was a prescription or if you can get it over the counter, but it was thicker than the Eucerin I recently bought for myself at the drug store. He also recommended that I not give the baby a full bath daily during the dry winter months - just hand wash certain areas and give a bath every other day.

Hi L., I would have to agree with some of the other comments here. Find a pediatrition that you feel comfortable with. That it so important. As far as the feeding I wouldn't do it until you feel he is ready. He is only 4 months but some say wait till 6. I did start my little girl at 4 months but that's because I asked the doctor and I felt she was ready. You need to do what your comfortable with! Also, I noticed you mentioned that he gets bad ezcemca at times. I have something that works amazing on that and it's non persription and safe enough for babies. Let me know if you interested in more info!
Good Luck.
A. P
www.greensthewaytobe.com

I started my son on rice cereal at 5 1/2 months. I wanted to exclusively breastfeed for as long as I could. He was ready for cereal (sitting up, watching us eat) and loves it now (took a few days for him to want it). Everyone is different though, so do what you feel is best. I don't think it's a problem to wait until 6 months. My doctor said anywhere between 4-6 months. Baby food is fun! If you are into natural things, I am using Earth's Best organic baby food and like it so far! Sold at Walmart and Babies R Us.

L.-
The number one rule to remember is follow what your motherly instincts are telling you! I have three children - 8, 5, and 3. Do what you feel is best for your child!
I did begin my children on rice cereal - mixed with breastmilk - at 4 months. My children were introduced gradually - and did fine.
My children also suffer with ezcema - Elidel has been such a blessing!
I take my Children to Pediatric Alliance in Pinebridge Commons - I highly reccommend Dr. McGarrity - although all the dr are great - all have kids!! That makes such a difference.
Do not worry about the "milestones." My daughter was slightly speech delayed - I spent so much time worrying about her development - you should hear her now! Just keep loving your son - all will work out!
-A.

Hi L.~
I'm a SAH momma of 3 dear boys and have one wonderful husband. For years I took my boys to a pediatric practice that I just wasn't thrilled with. There were too many dr.'s, we were just a #, and after 12 years, they didn't know who I was when I called. Last year we switched to a smaller practice and I LOVE IT!!! The first practice was "by the book" and very rigid. Our new docs have a "you're the Mom, what do you think" attitude.

That brings me to my advice to you on the cereal issue. YOU ARE THE MOM!!! You know your child better than anyone and you are the one with the right to decide what is best for him. I can't imagine it would hurt to put off cereal for a little bit but the beauty of the whole situation is that it is up to you. You decide when you feel he's ready.

I would very highly recommend the book "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yarron. It has wonderful advice on when to start different foods, has amazing recipes and focuses on very healthy foods. I used it for my youngest child (now 3 1/2) and loved it!!! There is a recipe for homemade brown rice cereal...imagine, grind your own rice in a food processor, add formula, breast milk, water, juice (you decide) and voila! Do you know how much cheaper brown rice is than prepared baby cereals!?! And who knows what's in them!

All that said...I hope this helps somewhat.
Take care of that sweet boy and enjoy every second with him...before you know it, he'll be taller than you! (My first baby will be 13 next month and is 2 inches taller than me!!! And I'm 5'7"!!!) ENJOY HIM!!!
Andrea

My oldest is now 11, and when he was born, they said to wait until he was AT LEAST 6 months old. (I didn't b/c he was born big and was ALWAYS hungry.!) Anyway, I know for a fact there's no harm in waiting. I had 1 who started at 3 months and 1 that started at 6 months...and they're equally healthy/normal now. The doctor doesn't always know best. Go with your gut instinct. Also...since he was born early...I'd say this is even more reason to wait!

I didn't start cereal with my daughter until 6 months. There is no reason that you need to start them earlier. If you don't feel comfortable, then don't do it. Trust your "mommy vison" and go with it! I also nursed my daughter for 15 months and never found that she was hungry after nursing.

My son was a preemie as well, but I started cereal at 4 mo. He took it fine. Many doctors are now recommending that you wait until 6 mo to start giving solids. The debate centers around what age is too early. I don't think that waiting until you're more comfortable is going to harm your son. As long as he nurses and doesn't need more food, don't worry. My son's ped. hit the nail on the head when he told us that "we are the parents and we know best".
On another note, I would look into getting a new ped. If you don't like/respect her, you won't trust her advice. You should find someone that has the same basics beliefs as you. Good luck!

If Brayden is satisfied then I wouldn't start the cereal. Most of the time cereal is used to make formula or breast milk thicker to make a baby fuller. If he is not hungrey after you have feed him then he must be satified. As for baby food, because he was a preemie of 3-1/2 weeks early you should just add that time on for starting him on new things. Also as for the ezecema if you are eating rice and it hasn't effected him, when you do start him on cereal that would be the way to go. Good luck with your little guy, and God Bless.

Hi L., Go with your gut. Sure, alot of doctors tell you that you can start rice ceral mixed with formula or breast milk at 4-5 months old. But that doesn't mean that it's right for you or your son. I babysit a 1yr old that was about 3 weeks early and we couldn't start her on anything until she was over 6 mo. old because she had a really strong "thrust" and couldn't eat baby food. Mine were all full-term and I didn't have that problem and by the time they were 1yr they were eating finger foods. You have to do what you think is right for your child. You might want to try rice ceral mixed with breast milk in a couple of weeks (make it really thin) because with a baby a couple of weeks is a long time. As long as he is growing, thriving and happy trust your instincts. And don't be afraid to voice your concerns to your doctor. She won't learn if she isn't told or asked the tough questions. Best wishes and good luck