When Should I Give Baby Cereal

Hi K.,

I have 4 children and with all 4, I didn't start until they were 5 or 6 months old. Wait until they can sit up to digest the food properly and don't give them the cereal in a bottle. Always use a spoon.

Hi,
Well, this sort of depends on the baby and their own nutritional needs. I had a big baby when of almost 8 lbs and just formula wasnt enough, so the Dr suggested that we start putting the cereal into his bottle of formula which turned out great, he got filled up and adjusted very well. My son has always been a big eater and back then was no exception. I started him also on the baby oatmeal about 4 months along with his formula and he ate it right up. Just be your own judge and see how your child reacts to it, you can always try it and then it doesnt work out, wait a few weeks or months and try it again. Good Luck............

My pediatrician told me to wait until my daughter was 6 months old before feeding her cereal or baby food, but I didn't listen. She started trying to get whatever I was eating, and when she started being able to sit up by herself (4 months) I started her on rice cereal. Then at 5 months, she started on baby food.

It really depends on your daughter and when you think she's ready. You can go to www.gerber.com and get more information on the stages babies go through and what Gerber reccomends they eat at each stage. Good luck!

My pedi started my daughter on cereal at 4 months and then babyfood at 6. They start with Rice as it is the easiest to digest and oatmeal is heaveir. My daughter did NOT like plain Rice cereal AT ALL! So I had to do the Rice cereal with bananas. Your pedi at well baby visit should tell you when to start as he/she should be able to tell if or when your baby is developed enough since all children develop at different rates. I would bring it up at your babies next appt. Then when you start feeding baby foods start with the veggies but one at a time. Leave 3 days in between one before trying another as it takes a couple days for food allergies to pop up. Then once you make it through the veggies then start going through the fruits. Was glad my doc gave me this tip as of course my daughter LOVED the fruits so starting her on veggies first helped her get the taste for them. I also found out my daughter preffered her fruits in the fridge and the veggies just straight from the cupboard. Then once she was on baby foods I still gave her either barley, mixed grain cereal, or oatmeal in the AM mixed with a half a jar of fruit. It kept her satisfied longer. I also found that at first if she was too hungry it was hard to get her to eat off a spoon so I would give her an ounce or so if formula, just enough where she was still hungry but not so hungry that she was too impatient to be spoon fed. :) Good luck! And have the camera ready! haha!

I started my twins on rice cereal at about 2 months old. They are now 3 months. Our Dr. recommended 2 tablespoons in with their last night feeding. They have been sleeping for 10-12 hours at night since we started that!! He then suggested at 4 months to start feeding it to them with a spoon. So you would just make it thicker (with water or less formula/breast milk). It is totally up to you when you are ready. My boys have not had any problems with digestive system since starting on rice cereal.

Good Luck!

General rule is when baby has doubled her birth weight. Usually occurs between 4-6 months. My daughter started with rice cereal at 4 months. Once that is mastered you can start introducing veggies, then meats, then fruits (always last cause they are sweet!). Always give 3 days between introducing a new food to check for allergic reactions.

I have a 4 1/2 month old and my Pedi recently recommended waiting until 6 months, if possible. She also said though that we could give him rice cereal/oatmeal anytime we wanted after 4 months. I really liked her explanation of when it was the right time: when you feel guilty eating food in front of them because they are really interested in what you are eating and even trying to get it in their mouth. So, it depends on the child.

As far as what time to feed them to start, I personally suggest that you start in the morning the first few days and NOT on a Friday or weekend. Here's the reason, if your baby does have any allergy issues or you have concerns and want to talk to the doctor, it is so much easier to try to do that during the week day rather than late at night or on a weekend. I suppose that would generally as well for when you add new foods into the baby's diet -- as best you can try to do it on a morning during the week, although that is not always practical or realistic.

I would totally wait until 6 months. I started my son at 4 months, but he wasn't really into it. The rice cereal made him constipated, but the oatmeal was great. It was fun for him to try it, but he didn't really start eating it regularly until six months. I started the baby foods and dinners more around 9 months. Good luck~!

Your pediatrician and all of the books say to start solids (cereal first) around 4-6 months. But I know plenty of people who have given their babies cereal at a much earlier age because of reflux or weight issues. It really just depends on your baby and how she is developmentally growing. If you have food allergies in your family it is also recommended to wait to feed your baby solids, but that is all stipulation as some kids get food allergies anyway.

You are the mom and you know best, but you can always ask your pediatrician what they recommend for your daughter.

Hi K.,
My son is now 19 mths old and I thought at 4 months old I would be able to start giving him rice cereal but I was wrong.
At his 4 mth check up, the Pedi said to wait until 6 mths because more and more studies have shown it causes early allergies in the child when given to them to early.

Baby food can be started around 5-6 months as well depending on her developmental skills and how well she can tolerate eating from a spoon.

Take Care!