Breastfeeding & Baby Food

Honestly, I always waited until 6 months because it was a lot of work:) I tried at 4 months with my oldest and it was a disaster! Baby #3 is now 2 months, and I won't even try until at least 6 mo.

Solids of any kind should not be introduced until your baby is at least 6 months old. You may find your baby's sensitive digestive tract just can't handle anything besides breastmilk or formula before then.

Once you start introducing new foods, allow about 4 days between each new food to check for allergies (though allergies to fruits and veggies are generally more tolerated than milk, chocolate, and nuts, which should wait till about a year).

Rice cereal isn't even a necessary first food. Sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, apples, pears - all are good first food choices.

I have three children. The first two were formula fed and I am breastfeeding the third. I have introduced solids to all three the same way. I start rice cereal in a bowl at four months. At five months I begin fruit and at six months vegetables. Once we are through all the vegetables and fruit I go on to meat. My baby is currently a little over five months. I feed her solids once a day, at dinner time when the rest of the family is eating. The majority of her nutrition still comes from breast milk but she is getting to practice with solids and trying new tastes, textures etc. Starting solids at 4 months is just fine if your baby is ready. I prepare all of her food using this website: www.wholesomebabyfood.com.

Lisa

P.S. I know a lot of other posters say to hold off until at least six months or longer to "avoid" asthma, allergies etc, but the current research shows that unless your family is prone to asthma or allergies that beginning solids before six months will not increase their chances of allergies. No one in my immediate or extended family has an allergy to anything and we were all started on solids before six months.

I give my 5 month old, breastfed DD rice cereal and oatmeal... But only because she likes it sooo much! I mix it with my milk, and I give her as much as will mix with 1 oz of milk... Only a few bites really. I figure she's getting in practice, but still getting the same amount of nutrients from me. :) They say not to really go by age, but by the signs that your baby is ready.. Once your baby hits at least 4 months, Sits and supports head well, opens her mouth when you bring the spoon close, etc.

No, don't bother with the grains. What they don't tell you is that babies truly lack the right enzyme at this age to really digest grains. They should have any grains until after they are a yr old. The best foods to start your baby on are avocado and banana. Try the fruits first. Grains are nothing but fillers anyhow. They really are not necessary.

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No, don't bother with the grains. What they don't tell you is that babies truly lack the right enzyme at this age to really digest grains. They should have any grains until after they are a yr old. The best foods to start your baby on are avocado and banana. Try the fruits first. Grains are nothing but fillers anyhow. They really are not necessary.

I waited until six months and I started with bananas, pears, etc. Avacados are good, too. Other favorites were sweet potatoes and butternut squash. My kids did like oatmeal, especially mixed with pureed fruit, but not until they had a litte experience with food.

There is no rush! Breastmilk is complete, and eating is more practice/novelty at this point. We have allergies in my family, so I waited three days between each new food. It goes fine. And there's no deadline--just what the child is interested in.

I know everyone you meet will tell you what to do as if they know the only way, and I do believe that baby intestines aren't ready for grain until six months, but otherwise you need to respond to your child. If they love it, go for it. If they're pushing the spoon out or seem unhappy, wait.

I don't know much about forula, so I can't really speak to that, but that's what I would suggest for a breastfed baby.

I would like to second the votes for oatmeal instead of rice cereal. It's more nutritious and won't cause constipation. My daughter had a terrible time with constipation when we got her onto more solids and later with cow's milk and oatmeal has helped. Also, no reason to rush! Solids are messy and not as good for baby as your milk, so what's the rush? There is plenty of time to develop a taste for big person food. :)

I breastfed my daughter and I waited till she was about 6 months old before introducing any type of solids. You will probably get alot of different response so do what will work out best for you and of course what you are comfortable with:)

Good luck!!

It makes no difference whether the baby is breast or bottle fed. Rice cereal should be introduced at 4 months. Many people will say wait until 6 months or even longer, but that doesn't leave enough time to do one by one food exposures of all veggies, fruits and meats before they start table foods. My pediatrician suggested starting rice cereal at 4 months, veggies at 5 months progressing towards fruits, then meats with a new food every 3-5 days, then adding a second cereal feeding at 6 months. My baby had plenty of time to become exposed to each new food before it was time to start blends and I never felt rushed through the process. If your baby shows signs of not being ready for cereal or not being ready for veggies (ie. throws up, gets rash, etc.) that also gives you time to wait a couple weeks and try again, as we did when we first tried veggies with my daughter. Good luck!

6 months is when it should be given. As far as the answer below saying that you don't need to give cereal ever, I have heard the exact opposite, but check with your ped on that. Also, perhaps talk to them about giving oatmeal or barley first. The reason being is that your babies diet is going to be changing and rice is binding (meaning it causes constipation). I had to cut it from my little girl's diet altogether and instead give her the oatmeal as it is easier for them to digest and actually helps their bowels.

You don't need to give cereal ever. Its just empty calories. It has no nutritional value. It is also now recommended that you wait until at least 6 months to start solids. And remember when you give solids always offer breast first. Eating at under a year is just for fun, experimenting, and learning.

It is best to hold off as long as possible so their tiny digestive system has a chance to fully develop. A BREASTFED BABY DOES NOT NEED ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE ENTIRE FIRST YEAR! Americans are in such a hurry for their babies to grow up - WHY?? Please wait until AT LEAST six months!! The earlier you introduce ANYTHING, the better chances they will develop allergies.

The longer you nurse, the healthier the baby will be. Less chance of obesity, less chance of asthma, fewer allergies, better brain function, and a host of other benefits for the baby.

There are also benefits for YOU: nursing reduces the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and more!

The World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics, US Department of Health and Human Services, UNICEF, and many other agencies with the best research ALL recommend that all babies be exclusively breastfed for the first SIX months (no cereal or anything else).

There are MANY links to SCIENTIFIC REASONS why to delay introduction to solids in this article here: http://bit.ly/5uGpS
Here's another FACT SHEET about nursing: http://bit.ly/19JvmW