Introducing New Foods to Solely Nursed Baby

B.,
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends total breastfeeding for at least six months, and encourages continuing thru first year. You do not need to introduce solids at this time, as their digestive systems are still developing. If you choose to start your son on cereal, be cautious of rice cereal as it has been known to cause constipation in some babies. You may opt for the baby oatmeal cereal instead. And you do want to introduce only one food source at a time, as you mentioned but you don't need to use Gerbers as you can prepare your own baby food by mashing bananas with a fork for example, using Motts natural applesauce, cook up Birds Eye frozen squash (it's natural) and you can freeze it in ice cube trays, then defrost one at a time to serve to him. You can put green beans in either a food processor or blender and do same thing. Remember, to continue breastfeeding as cows milk is what will cause allergies and other problems. One pediatrician told me not to worry about solids...if my baby enjoyed nursing and I was eating well and my son continued to gain weight, then he's doing fine. I didn't start cereal till he was around 9 mos and introduced fruits closer to a year. We continued nursing...remember breast is best!!

It is actually best to wait until 6 month with breastfed babies because of the issues you mentioned. Waiting longer is not going to hurt your baby, in fact a lot of newer research suggests it'll help them :) I have a 15 month old who was exclusively BF for 8 months before we started doing solids. The first solid we used was making up the powdered Earths Best organic rice cereal with expressed breast milk. That worked really well and we had very few additional tummy issues.

First of all good for you breastfeeding you giving him the best start possible. That being said the AAP says no solids of any kind until 6 months old. All the baby needs is breastmilk and you are right when saying they can have tummy issues. Their little digestive systems are not ready for anything beyond breastmilk until 6 months of age.

I know it sounds fun and exciting to move to a new step with your baby but remember that once you start you can never go back to exclusivly breastfeeding again. Soon enough your baby will be bale to eat solid foods and they will for the rest of their lives but cherish this time that you have to solely nourish your baby. Also I really wanted to start solids with my little one and although now she is 8 months old now, when she was 6 months old and startign solids I despretly wished to go back to just breastfeeding becasue solids brought on a whole new set of things to pack up and bring with the baby. It was just more time I had to spend out of my day getting food packed for her or made for her and that was time I could have been spending with her. Good Luck :)

First, your doc is behind the times. Everyone now, including American Academy of Pediactrics, says NOTHING but breastmilk for 6 mo! There are issues with immature digestive systems causing stomach trouble, the earlier you start solids the more likely kids are to have food allergis (they can have allergies to foods that, had you waited a few months, tey wouldn't have at all!), they can get constipation, they are taking in less of the best food (breastmilk), etc--all sorts of yucky side effects to starting foods too early. So keep off the solids for now. There is no benefit at this age. You are taking away more nutrient dense foods (breastmilk) and replacing them with less nutritious food (table food--or worse yet, rice cereal, which has NO nutritional value). Many kids even start after 6mo and are fine. La Leche League recommends solids sometime during the second 6mo of the first year (starting sometime between 6-12mo). My kids were completely breatfeed and didn't start solids till 10mo. Actually, my son totally wasn't interested in solids till a few days before his 1st birthday. And then he started eating anything and everything! When you do start, there is no need to use rice cereal, or even jarred baby food, most of which has additives. The best first foods are banana, sweet potato, or avocado (recommended by La Leche League). They are totally dense in nutrients, which rice cereal lacks any of. Also, keep in mind that, no matter what solids you start with, they are just training to start. Always nurse first because that is still the most nutritious food for you baby (especially before 12mo). Then offer a little food, keeping in mind the first few weeks or even months of feeding are just practice with feeling, moving the food in the mouth, etc. They don't actually eat much and that's ok! So, for now, I would just keep on nursing! It's the best thing for your little one!!

Hi B.,
If your son is gaining weight well with exclusive breastfeeding, then there's no reason to start him on solid foods until he's 6 months old. (At least, this is what I've read and been told by my pediatrician.) One benefit of waiting is that it lessens the chances of future food allergies.
I waited until 6 months with my son (now 4 yrs) but started my daughter at 4 months (now 10 mths) so that she'd pack on more pounds. They were exclusively breastfed up to that point. They both did fine with solid foods. My daughter is doing even better than my son did, and she's still toothless!
Most babies do just fine with really milky rice cereal for their first "solid" food. Rice isn't likely to cause any allergic reactions, and you mix the cereal with so much breastmilk that it's kind of like thick soup anyway. The single grain cereals are good to start with because they're easy, less likely to stain, and less likely to cause reactions than fruits and veggies.
As a second time mom though, my best advice to you is to not worry about it. You're not likely to make a feeding mistake that will cause problems in the future. Just go slow, give him time to get used to each new food (give just one new food every 4 days at first), and enjoy it!
L.

Start with rice cereal and use it for a week without introducing anything else. It is the easiest for your child to digest. Then move to another grain cereal such as barley and use it for a week without out any other solids. If your baby handles these well go onto the oatmeal cereal, the kind that doesn't have anything like bananas mixed in. If you baby does fine on the plain oatmeal then you can try the kind with other things mixed in. By this time your baby should be ready to start the step one baby food. Always use each new food for a week without any other solids to make sure that there is no food allergy.

When I was introducing both of my kids to solids my doctor was very clear on what to do. Start with rice cereal and mix it with the breast milk. Just once or twice a day at first and not too thick at first.

Do this for about a week or two and introduce something new, like oatmeal or mixed grains. Once your baby has been introduced to those, work on up to fruits and then vegetables, giving baby at least a week in between each new food. You have to give yourself a couple weeks in between each new introduction to see how your baby reacts to each new food. Observe how it affects your baby to determine if he's going to have an allergic reaction or create tummy issues. Rice cereal has a tendency to constipate babies. If your baby seems to have a negative reaction to the food, wait about a month and then reintroduce it. Some babies just need a little longer for certain foods.

Gradually work up to 3 solid feedings a day and thicken it to your baby's liking. Once he's on fruits and veggies, you can give cereal with a mixture of fruit and breast milk(just to thin it out a bit).

My doctor, Dr. Mike Moell, has been very helpful in not only telling me what needs to happen developmentally, but in giving advice on how to go about helping out your kids in accomplishing developmental milestones. He's got 5 kids of his own and is a wonderful pediatrician if you're not satisfied with the info your doctor gives. He's wonderful with my kids and takes the time to answer EVERY question I have.

I agree that you should wait until he is 6 months. My dr. recommend that with both of my children. When you do start I would use Rice cereal mixed with breastmilk. Also I would recommend the gerber brand of rice cereal. I have tried beechnut with my daughter and it smelled like cardboard and tasted like cardboard. I would also recommend to buy the single packets if possible. They initially don't eat much. You should also stick with the cereals for a while. At 6 months it is really just learning tool for them not a true food source. They are learning how to swollow food. It will also take a few tried for him to understand what that is. Now my son was completely different than my daughter in respects to food. He loves food but you would not know it by looking at him. My daughter was more interested in what when on outside than trying to eat and my son was more focused on getting the food into his tummy. So just keep in mind that he may not show an interest in the food either.
BUT definately wait until he is closer to 6 months.

Your baby will "tell" you through his actions when he's ready for cereal. Does he appear to be unsatisfied after a normal breast feeding? Is the time between feedings getting shorter even though he may be eating more? Introducing him slowly is a good idea....I'd suggest mixing some of your breast milk with a little bit of cereal at first. Don't worry if he makes faces or seems to dislike it at first...he is just getting used to the texture and smell and having something different in his mouth. Don't "force" feed...just put some (a little, not too much) into his mouth with a baby spoon during your meal time....and see what happens!! Oh, make sure he has on a bib! ha ha! :)

My son was solely a breast fed baby also. I mixed his cereal with my breast milk, he would projectile vomit with the cereal and oatmeal. At my doctors office they told me to try graham crackers crushed finely because he has an intolerance to the cereal and oatmeal. I mix that with water...you can also use breast milk. He does great with the graham crackers. My sons bms changed (more formed)...so just watch his bms.

My daughter was 6 months before I gave her any food. If you want ot wait then wait, they do not need solid food til 6 months then you will have to start. Rice cereal is best first. mashed bananas are good next. they are both pretty easy to digest. good luck!

that's why you only start with a tablespoon of cereal mixed with your milk or whatever you prefer. He may be ready or may not be, but it will be good practice for him eating from a spoon. Enjoy, it's so cute when they eat for the first times.

You're asking all the right questions! and remember, you know your baby better than anyone else- and really, the cues to start solids should come from him. Has he stopped sticking his tongue out when he's hungry? does he watch you eat with interest? can he sit up yet? can he hold a spoon? these are the signs that he's ready to start on some solids...and you know, when they do start, babies take in only very tiny amounts...it's all about learning about texture, taste, smell, and developing the skills to work it in their mouths and swallow in a very different way than nursing or sucking on a bottle. (and by the way, I think the current advice from the pediatricians group, AAP, is to wait until 6 months to introduce solids-- and that's when most babies can do the things I listed at the start...also, the longer you wait the better able his digestive system will be to handle the solids)

Hi B.! I have 3 boys and am nursing a 9 month old right now. I have always waited till 6-7 months before I started introducing cereal and generally 7-8 months before baby food and haven't had any stomach problems. I have had friends who started their babies on food at 4-5 months and have had the same problems you have heard about. Everybody is different and has different opinions but this is what has worked for me : ) Enjoy just nursing him for as long as you can - sometimes it is more of a pain to have to sit them down and feed them at this age : )!!

Hello...
My twin sons are 5 now; I did everything by the book with them! Cereal at 6 months exactly (here in the UK we are advised to wait until 6 months to start solids), pureed foods, etc. They struggled with eating for a long time. I always felt like I was forcing them to take the spoon, and they never initiated feeding; they also seemed to have a lot of wind after eating solids. Eventually, they settled into it, but I pureed their food with my little hand blender until they were past 18 months! It was ridiculous! They struggled with food texture for a long time after that.
I decided to completely change my approach with my third child - another boy. I held him on my lap while eating, from the time he was about 5 months on. As a reflex, he would reach for the food, but if I allowed him to touch it, he didn't want to eat it, and pulled away if I tried to put anything in his mouth. He was completely uninterested in solids until he was 7 months. I gave him long pieces of frozen celery to chew while he was teething, and he loved it. I was holding him while eating one day, and he reached for some beans. I gave him a bite, and he ate it! They were quite spicy, but he kept eating. Eventually, after feeding him from my plate for a week or so, I put him in a high chair with his own plate. I would allow him to choose from what we were eating, and then put a few bits of whatever he hadn't chosen on his plate as well. He managed absolutely fine, using his hands to feed himself at first, but quickly graduated to utensils like the rest of the family. I have never had any problems with him choking or gagging on food, just because it wasn't pureed or finely chopped. I think the choking and gagging reflex only happens with babies who haven't been trained to eat proper food from the beginning and are only accustomed to smooth food. Google "baby-led weaning" for more information. I hope this has been helpful! :)

Hi B., I'm L.. I have a 6 month old daughter. I introduced her to solids at 3 months. Yes, the cereal did a number on her tummy. She got constipated 3 days after the first feeding. Her b.m. was normal at first but new foods take a little time. So now, I mix half a jar of Earth's Best Apples (or pears) with 2 Tablespoons of Earth's Best rice cereal in addition to her milk.

However, I'd start with 1 T of cereal with quite a bit of your breastmilk and a couple/few baby spoonfuls of apples. The cereal will be basically liquid.

Best of luck! I hope your little guy doesn't get constipated. Oh, one more thing...if he does get constipated, he'll definitely need help pushing out his little poopers (they'll be hard). Give him breastmilk. That will push everything right out smoothly!

You can introduce it slowly. Cereal is almost always the first food, and the least difficult to digest. I don't personally know anyone that started with something else, but that doesn't mean there aren't some out there.
This is what I did. Pump some breast milk and put it in a bottle. Start by putting just a teaspoon of cereal in that bottle. Gradually, you can make it thicker. Rice and barley cereals seem to be the easiest to digest.
Good luck!

You should start cereal first, due to its blandness, but wait until you are ready. I used breast milk to mix it and the first few feedings are usually so runny, the cereal (gerber rice is a good first choice)is a chore just to use a spoon. It also gets the baby used to a spoon, swallowing and getting the belly a bit fuller.
Good luck!

B.,
You have to start him out slowly, yes, since he can also get constipated from a new diet. I would just introduce a tablespoon at first and you can use your own breast milk in it.You can either spoon feed him the cereal or put it in a bottle. I also wouldn't give him any more cereal after that until he has a bowel movement and see what the consistency is. After that, maybe just every other day give him cereal and make sure he doesn't strain with his stools. Once a day only would be enough once you're sure his stools are okay. Then you can slowly introduce to more than once a day. This will take some time though. T.

You can introduce solids at 4 months but it's best to wait till closer to 6 months. People are always wondering why we have so many problems with allergies and intolerance (like gluten and lactose) and I think it's because we are the ONLY nation in the world that recommends introducing solids at 4 months. Cereal is not the best solid to start either. It's just more carbs, no fat no real protein. Avocado is a much better first food. My third child is 4 months old now and we are waiting till he is 6 months or older before giving him solids. If they can't sit up by themselves that is a good sign that they are not ready for solid food. When they are trying to pull your food off the table and put it in their mouths you know they are ready.

If you do decide to give your son solids then try to buy organic and try to get a food that is free of the top 8 allergens (wheat, dairy, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs being the most likely ones in baby food). If you notice your son having problems with food (diaper rash is often a sign of food intolerance) or stomach problems stop the food and reintroduce it all over again after 6 months. And most important always offer the breast FIRST before you give him solids. Breast milk is still his main and best source of food until he is much much older. Right now solids are just practice.

Best of luck
~M.

Hi B.! I nursed and raised four healthy children who are now raising children of their own. Because alergies ran in our family, I didn't introduce anything but breast until they were 9 months old. I started with brown rice (organic basmati is my choice). I had a baby food grinder that I used: Kidco F700 Food Mill Grinder. It is small enough that you can even take it with you in the diaper bag and a snap to clean up. I believe they still have them on Amazon. I love mine and am now using it with my grandkids. I never bought processed baby food. I used my grinder to feed them what we were eating. Here is a link that I pretty much agree with on foods for babies: http://www.mo-river.net/Health/home_made_baby_foods.htm. The time schedule is off of what I did because of the allergy factor. Instead of starting at 4-5 months, I didn't start until 9 months or after. My children were extremely healthy. I almost never had to take them to the doctor. If someone tries to tell you that they can't survive solely on breast, they are wrong. None of my children had stomach problems or the allergies that my husband was plagued with as a child.
Best Wishes!

If you start with Rice cereal and use breast milk to mix it instead of formula, unless he has a lot of sensitivities (and you would probably already know that because of his reactions to your diet) you shouldn't have a problem. My son (breastfed) started cereal at about 4 months and was ready and loved it. My daughter (also breastfed) was not ready at 4 months (she still had the tongue reflex that pushed the food out instead of in) and we stopped at tried again at 5-6 months. Each child is an individual but you won't know until you try. You can make the cereal with such a liquid consistency that in the beginning you are just getting him used to the idea of the spoon instead of the breast. Good luck. :)

Hi B..

I began introducing both of my breastfed sons to cereal mixed with breastmilk at about four months. Rice cereal is the gentlest on their tummys and easiest to digest. Homemade food is far superior to "Gerber" and it's doesn't take too much effort to make. I found some great recipes in Annabel Karmel's books "Top 100 Baby Purees" and "SuperFoods for Babies and Children." When I took my seven month old for his four month check-up the doctor told me that because he was breastfed I needed to start giving him vitamins. I didn't really understand that since I'm taking a prenatal still. (I thought he was getting all of the vitamins he needed.) My thoughts on that are that the solid food you buy from the grocery store does not have vitamins and minerals in it so babies are not getting the extra that they need. (They have to cook it to such high temperatures in order to preserve it for so long that it cooks out all of the nutrients.) You can even make your own cereals. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Good luck. (It is true though that it would be fine to wait and start your baby on solids at six months. Some babies are more ready then.)

Hello B.! Personally, I don't think you should introduce any food until your son is 6 monthes old. Their digestive system just isn't ready. When you do decide to start, just make sure you only do one kind of food at a time! If your baby does have some kind of reaction, if you have given him alot of different things, you will never know which one it was. I believe your breast milk is the best thing for your little one right now! Don't be in too big a hurry to give food. Enjoy this special time nursing your baby, cause it will be over before you know it! Good luck

Keep going with the breastmilk for sure. Add a little of your milk to his cereal. Start him out with rice cereal. Most babies do not have tummy issues with the transition. You can start him on gerber foods now if you want to. The best way to do that is to introduce the foods one at a time. Give him say, carrots on monday but wait at least 2 or 3 days and introduce him to bananas. They can have an allergic reaction to certain foods so they recommend spacing new foods out over a period of 2-3 days maybe even 4 days so that way if he does have a reaction to something you can say ok I fed him this food on this day and now he is having trouble. If you do them to close together and he has a reaction it will be hard to tell what food caused him to have the reaction. As far as the cereal goes give him rice cereal to start and give him 2 tablespoons in the morning and another 2 tablespoons at night before he goes to bed. There really isn't too much to the transition at all. All you have to do is get the cereal and start him like I said with small amounts in the morning and at night. Two tablespoons is a good amount to start with.
D.

I am 31 and married. I have been married going on 12 yrs. in Nov. and I have 3 beautiful boys ages 10,7 and 4.

Hi B.! You can definitely wait till he is at least six months to start solids. My son started at about six and a half months. You can also find some really easy homemade cereal recipes which are far superior and fresher than the boxed version...check out Super Baby Foods by Ruth Yaron...and good work on breastfeeding....

I haven't heard of a baby having problems being introduced to new foods. I thought that was only if there was an allergy problem. Generally peds suggest introducing one new food a week to assure there are not any allergies. That is generally why you begin with baby cereals. The cereal is very basic and allows little one to feel more full after a meal. Breastmilk is not very filling compared to a more solid food like oatmeal or rice cereal. The texture and taste will be new to baby, so you may want to ween baby gradually from breastmilk. I personally added one new food a day to the daily feedings with milk. If baby eats a few ounces of food, then baby will need less milk to feel full.

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I was always told to introduce rice cereal first because it is the easiest to digest. You just want to make sure that you don't introduce more than one thing at a time so you can watch for food allergies. I didn't do this with my daughter and she had a milk allergy and it was very hard to figure this out. Mostly because I had breast fed and she was already getting the milk that was in my diet. You introduce a food and only that food for 4 days. It is very slow going, but it is the safest way. I would stay away from milk (if you are making your own baby food) strawberries, eggs and nuts. Cereal is the best thing to start with.

The first cereal you use is Gerber Rice. It is more palatible for digestive system. You can ask Dr. if can use breast milk to mix it. But it is time to start him on a bit of solids. Good luck with that little bundle of joy.

Trust your "mommy instinct" my kids were only breastfed until 5 and 6 months. They are very healthy and they had no tummy troubles hen we switch. (I think becuase we waited!) Good luck!

My little guy is 5 moths, & I have yet to introduce foods yet. The American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization advise waiting until 6 months before intoducing solids.

I just wanted to expand a little on what Katie posted ehre, she's very right the AAP says to wait till 6 months of age while most doctor's and even WIC say 4 months, BUT if you are nursing your child really can go through that first year nursing exclusivley, and still thrive, your milk has everything a baby needs for that first year. good luck.

I am a 39 year old mother of 4 great boys, 3 out of the 4 were nursed. I am still nursing my 15 month old 2 times a day, and he eats food like a bottomless pit.... (LOL) Anyways, Is he satisfied with mommies milk? If he is you should wait until he is 6 months old and start him on baby food, if not then you should try him on the gerber rice cereal, it is easier on babies sensitive tummies. Try it spoon by spoon, 1 teaspoon rice cereal to 3 or 4 teaspoons breast milk (make it soupy) It takes a few times but he should get the hang of it. Babies are smart and catch on quickly. Take care hon, and be patient.

I would wait until he is AT LEAST 6 months old to introduce the cereal. Good luck!

J. (39 year old with 3 sons - 7,5,18mo.)

First, trust your instincts. You are the mom. Do some research. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a baby does not need anything more than breastmilk or formula before 6 months of age. My pediatrician wanted me to start my baby on cereal at 4 months old. He was strictly breastfed. I waited until he was 5 months old as a compromise with my husband who wanted me to listen to the pediatrician. I felt he would be ok until 6 months old. I started him on a little bit of rice cereal mixed with breastmilk. That didn't go over so well (something about rice cereal and my children.) I waited a few days and tried oatmeal mixed with breastmilk. Just one time a day for about a week until he got used to it. A very runny mix. Takes a while for the baby to get used to eating out of a spoon. After he gets used to it, you can give him more at that feeding. Then, after a while, you can add other foods, one at a time, giving a few days in between. Then, you can add a second feeding. Your pediatrician should have some good recommendations, like books you can refer to, or a feeding chart or something that should help too.
Hope this helps. Remember to trust your instincts.

Brook,

I had the same situation. I just slowly started giving my son cereal once per day usually in the evening as it was most convienent. It took him a while to get the hang of eating the cereal, but once he did he LOVED it. I sat him in our bumbo chair which was great for feeding since he was too little for the high chair and could not sit on his own. Be prepaired for your baby to make a mess. The box of cereal says to make it really thin the first time feeding it to them. My son had a hard time eating it this way so I thickened it up and he was much happier this way. Don't be surprized if your babies bowel habits change as this is normal. His went from breastmilk poop several times a day to one a day or every other day and very pasty. Introducing cereal is a great way to start. Cereal has lots of good nutrients and probably should not be skipped. Hope this helps! J. H

Wait until 6 months. All 3 of my children were solely breastfed, and I didn't bother with cereal. We started with bananas, and then just fed them whatever we were eating. You can buy a baby food grinder and just put some food in it with a little liquid, and so they learn to eat all types of things. Up until one year, your breastmilk is the only nutrition your child needs, and so basically everything else they eat is just for taste and experience. We also had this little food holder that was a little net on a handle that you put any type of food into and let your child suck on it without being a choking hazard. They can taste different things in a safe way. Good Luck, it's a fun time so enjoy it.

Hi B.!

Your baby will tell you when he's ready for cereal; less time between feedings, less satisfied. My son had really bad stomach issues when he was born; very gassy, spit up frequently. His pediatrician recommended giving him rice cereal at 2 months to help cut down the acid in his stomach. And it worked. He had no digestion problems, stomach problems, or vomit from the cereal, even at 2 just months old.

The cereal can be what you make it. You could put as much or as little into your breastmilk. My son did cereal at 2 months, fruit at 4 months, vegetables around 5-6 months, and table food at 9 months (he has all his teeth by 10 months). And he's doing just fine! Just follow your son's cues and your mommy gut. I've learned that things don't go well if I really don't want to do it. I think my always picked up on my feelings. Good luck!

The idea of starting solids so young is fairly outdated. The research now shows that children should not start solids until at least 6 months. My son was exclusively breastfed until he was 6 months and gained wonderfully. And even then, he had some difficulty with rice cereal. We switched to oatmeal and he did much better. I mixed everything with BM and it helped him accept new foods. I made all his baby food until he was 14 months and now he eats EVERYTHING. (His favorite food is guacamole) I would HIGHLY recommend waiting until 6 months to start anything. Do some research online and you will see that this is the standard now and older docs just haven't caught on.

Wait until 6 months and skip the cereal. Start with table foods like avacado and sweet potatoes, they are much more nutrisious than jarred and babies that age don't need the watered-down purrees like people who start too soon at 4 months.

If your doctor disagrees, just site the AAP (his/her governing board), the WHO and UNICEF. All three agree that babies should wait until around 6 months and show signs of waiting to eat. Wait for him to watch you feeding yourself, sit him on your lap and see if he reaches for your food. These are good indications that he's really ready.

Good for you for exclusively breastfeeding!! Just remember that for the first year, he gets what he needs from you, so introduing solids is just to teach him to eat, not to give him sustinance. It takes the pressure out of it when you look at it that way :)

Just start by giving him cereal in the morning for breakfast, but mix it with breastmilk. I nursed my daughter for 5 months before starting her on any food, then it was just cereal with 2oz of breastmilk for the first month. I introduced her to the different varieties of infant cereal week by week, then did the same with baby food. She did wonderfully!

I started all three of my children on cereal at 4 months. I did not have any tummy problems because of the food and none of my children have food allergies. For the first few weeks, it is really just him getting use to a spoon and a new texture in his mouth. Since I am a working mom, I started the cereal at "dinner" time. I found we could take our time and not feel rushed to get somewhere. Do a very small amount until he gets use to it, 1 tablespoon, with water or breastmilk, 2-3 tablespoons. It should be runny. Until he is use to it, very little may get into his stomache. If he starts to ask like in pain, try Mylicon drops. They work great for relieving the pressure. Hint: I found to feed them right before they were really hungry. They had more "patience" to try something new then.
I hope this helps.

I also nursed my son and he tolearted cereal well. The thing about the cereal is that it helps babies get used to eating solids, so that when you start foods at 5mths they do ok with it. It is hard for them to get the concept of eating at first. I started my son at 4mths also. I hope this helps.

B.-start him slowely--give him a chance to discover the new food--don't force-he will aquire a taste for the new--if not--then wait while!

You should always start with the cereals for a number of reasons. Cereal allows a baby to get used to processing food that does not have a lot of flavor like your vegetables and fruits do, but is filling. Allergies are less likely to be existant in cereals, although one of my own boys was allergic to barley. We did have to use prunes in their cereal for the entire time due to constipation, but once you know some of the tricks, tummy aches are no more than they are from eating a food that passes through your milk and causes gas in your baby. Starting with cereal also allows you to try one new food a week in the cereal to test for allergies but without having a hungry baby. I hope this helps.

you can try rice cereal now that's probably what your doc meant, most babies at 4 mo. can have up to 4 tablespoons a day, make it soupy like tomato soup consistancy and basically let him slurp it off the spoon, eventually he'll learn how to wolf it down when you put the spoon in his mouth..if you try to put the whole spoon in his mouth at this young of an age, it could trigger his gag reflex and you'll be wearing it. don't be surprized if it takes up to 20min. to get one bite in, remember it's a first for him too. it tells you how to make it properly on the side of the cereal box so there's no mishaps on doing it right.

I had the same concern. It is best to start with rice cereal and I use to add homemade pureed fruit. This way they do not get contipated. Pears are the best to start off with. I would do two tablespoons cereal and one tablespoon fruit, then add water until very thin and add less water as they get use to the texture. I hope this is helpful. -H.

Different peds recommended different starting times, but in general they agree on the 4-6 month range - some say none until 6, both of mine (we moved between my two children's births) said to start slowly at 4 months. Don't second guess your doctor, but wait if you are concerned They recommend starting on rice cereal first because it is the least likely be an allergen. I would definitely do rice before starting any fruits or veggies. It's an important source of nutrition - not just a test food. If he hasn't had any tummy issues thus far he's probably okay. Pump or express an ounce or so of breast milk and stir in a little cereal - keep it thin for now. It will take awhile before he gets the hang of it - a lot of people stop trying because the baby doesn't seem to like it, but it takes time for them to change how they accept food. Both of my children were solely breastfed and did beautifully once starting solids - it just takes practice, for them and you. Once you start fruits/vegetables do one at a time, wait 3-4 days before introducing something new to observe how he reacts. He'll do fine :-)

I waited until the first tooth broke the gums for my little girl. As long as you are nursing you are giving him all the nutrients he needs. Formula moms might need to start with solids earlier, but I wouldn't worry about it until 6 months. The tongue thrust is too strong and it will probably be more stress than it's worth

Also, I started with bananas since they are the closest to breast milk in flavor (according to what I've read) Dr Sears has some good feeding suggestions - google his name, he's got a website about kids with his sons.

Hey B.!

If you really want to try cereal, definitely mix it with breastmilk and make it a very runny constancy... My daughter was also exclusively breastfed and my ped suggested cereal at 4 months... I waited until about 4 and 1/2 months and then she wasn't really very interested so we ended up waiting until around 6 months. As a RN, I know that your baby does not NEED anything until around 6 months and especially if you have any history of food allergies in your families, some studies suggest that you wait until 6 months and just stick to breastmilk.

Great job with your breastfeeding though! Keep up the good work and don't be in too much of a hurry to start him on solids.

My son was a chunky, healthy, breastfed baby, and I waited until he was 6 mos to introduce any other foods into his diet. He was totally content with mommy's milk and was fully thriving and growing like a weed. Since he was 6mo when he started eating big people food, I think we skipped the whole cereal stage. He would eat finger foods and then nurse to fill himself up. Do what you think is best for your little guy. My daughter, on the other hand was a peanut and on the go at an earlier age than he was. She burned way more calories than he ever did and needed the extra cereal on top of nursing at 4 mo. So, I have experienced both ends of the spectrum. Does your son seem content after a meal of just milk from you or would he benefit from some extra calories. Something to think about.....

Good Morning B.!

Both of my children were also solely on breastmilk until 4 months, and we did start trying cereal at 4 months. These are some suggestions that I can give you...

*You can either mix the cereal with water, expressed breast milk or formula. Your choice. Make it pretty watery to start out with, and expect most of it to dribble back out of his mouth for the first couple of weeks of feeding. At first, I would only try it once a day and work up to twice.

*Only use rice cereal (no oat, barley or wheat) until he is at least 6 or 7 months old. This helps to cut down on possible allergies, and the rice cereal is very easy on his tummy.

*You can add other jar foods as your pediatrician sees fit...usually one food at a time for a week each to check for any allergies.

Have fun with your little love! They are only this little once, and believe me, it all goes by so quickly! Mine are almost 8 and 2 1/2, and they are the best!

Best Wishes
N.

the key is one food a week starting out.. you can use brest milk and mix it in his cereal just a few little spoonfulls to start out then try agian the next day they say it could take up to 15 time trying the dame food on your baby untill he likes it ...

Hi B.! I too wasn't sure if we should start our daughter on cereal or not at 4 months. But, I did and it worked out great. Just be prepared for the natural gag reflex that most babies have when they are learning to eat cereal for the first time. I remember worrying when my daughter would act like she was gagging and kept pushing the food out of her mouth with her tongue. I actually even called and talked to the nurse about it. LOL! She explained that it's normal for them to do that even when you give them really small bites. Their tongues didn't know how to do anything but nurse or take a bottle, so they had to learn how to keep the food in their mouth. Just have your camera ready...I have some priceless photos of our daughter's face when she was getting her first cereal. Good luck!

B.,
Start with rice cereal and use your breast milk to mix it with. Make it very thin at first and gradualy increase its consistance.He should be full faster and be more satisfied than breast milk alone.Rice cereal should not cause him any ill effects.Check out other baby foods that are all natural before you decide on Gerber.Look for no preservatives, no food colorings ,no flavorings other than natural and look at the sugar content as well as salt.When you decide on a brand to use you should feed him a good variety of foods even if you don't care for them yourself. Like beets and spinach,squash are just a few many adults don't care for.You don't want a picky eater.

You can try expressing some of your breast milk and adding just enough cereal to it to thicken it slightly. As he gets used to that, add more ceral to it until it has the consistency recommended on the box. Don't be surpised if the time between feedings increases slightly. Ceral is more filling than breast milk, and takes a little longer to digest. Hope this helps you.

B.,

Don't start feeding him until his first tooth shows! That is what my mid-wife - naturopath told me. The tooth is a sign that the baby's body is ready to digest the food.

I would avoid using the store bought baby foods, I used to make mine. You could also use the grain cereals, there all kinds, wheat, rice, barley. Mix them with your breast milk or distilled water. To make your own baby foods is easy and the best way. I used to buy organic squashes, veggies, grains, rices and fruits. Cook/bake/steam them then put them through a baby food grinder. Then take the ground up food and put it in ice cube trays and freeze them. You can warm them up in the mircrowave or in a little pot with some breast milk or water on the stove. It's so much healthier and something that you will be happy you did when your baby is grown up.

This is a link to a couple that have a "ministry" helping families.

http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=1

E.

Hi B.-I go to a weekly breastfeeding support group at a hospital with a RN lactation consultant. Everything I have been told by the consultant and in articles I have read they recommend not starting cereals or foods until 6 months of age due to the digestive system not being ready/mature to take on solids. Babies get everything they need from breast milk and starting solids is more social and developmental. I started by son on rice cereal (at 6 months) with breast milk for 1 week and then oatmeal for 1 week followed by green veggies. They say to start veggies first and then fruits. Fruits are so sweet that babies may refuse to eat their veggies. Also, you will want to do the same food for 2-3 days so if there is a reaction you will know what it was from. Your baby should also be able to sit up and hold his head while in the chair. Now that we are feeding my son at 6 months I know he would not have been ready at 4 months-you know your son better than anyone else. When you and your son are feeding get the camera ready-it is a great milestone. Happy Feeding. Jama

I solely nursed both my girls, now 4 and 6, and started rice cereal around 4 months. Rice cereal is really the best thing to start them on. It has very simple tastes and textures, is easily digestible and you can mix any amount you need. A 5 mo. old will not eat a whole jar of baby food for sometime yet. Try starting with a little bit of cereal in the mornings when you eat breakfast. Just express a little breast milk and mix it with the cereal. This will prepare your baby for more complex cereals (like oatmeal or barley) and will also let his stomach get used to solids without causing too much gas (which vegetables can definitely do!) Good Luck!