Introducing Solid Food

Don't do it. Her body is not ready for solids. I just read an article on line about this. No solids until 6 months, and no water or juice. She may look like she is ready or interested, but,I would wait. I have a 4 year old and a 4 month old and tried rice cereal on my first baby and all it did was constipate her. I stopped, and gave it to her again at 6 months. I wouldn't even think of feeding my 4 month old cereal now....way to young. Also, instead of rice, I gave my daughter infant oatmeal.
Good luck and congrat's!

She is showing signs that she's interested in what you're eating but she's only 4 1/2 months. She probably would have a big gag reflex at this point because she's so young. That doesn't go away until after 6 months and sometimes later.

4 months seems so young to me. I would wait until she's at least sitting up unassisted but that's just my opinion.

I also know that if you give a child food too early they can develop an allergy to it where as if you waited they may not. Babies digestive systems are so small and not fully developed so they can't handle real food at that early age.

I started both my kids on baby cereal at around 4-4 1/2 months and 1st baby foods around 5 1/2 months or so. Both ate what we at around 9 months and they are very healthy kids. My son is 3 1/2 and there isnt much he dont like and my daughter is 10months and is the same way. Just make the cearal very thin and follow her cues. If she likes it keep working with her till she gets the hang of swallowing it and then make it a little thicker slowly. If she is interested give it a try ( i would wait till at least 4 months though) and if she dont care for it back off and try again in a couple weeks.

My DD sounds exactly like yours... She was SOO ready when she hit 4 months. We tried her on rice cereal about a week after her 4 month mark, but that got her pretty constipated. I would suggest trying oatmeal or something else instead... You can start by making a *really* soupy mixture of cereal, then give her a little off a spoon (maybe offer 2-3 times). If she swallows it, great! If she still reflexively spits it back out, wait a couple weeks and try again. I know a lot of mothers are pretty gung-ho about absolutely no solids before 6 months... but every baby is different. My DD took right to solids, and after we dealt with her constipation issue (by switching to oatmeal, and introducing the occasional baby prunes to her diet) she hasn't had any issues. She has THRIVED and loves eating solids!

Oh! this website is awesome as far as any solid feeding questions you may have. :)
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

I just took my 2nd son to his 4 month check up a few weeks ago and the doctor said that I could try rice cereal if I wanted. I gave him his first try (thinned out a lot with breast milk) just after that appointment. He wasn't quite sure what to do with it but had fun with the spoon. I decided that I was going to wait a little longer after that since it wasn't something he really was all that interested in.
My first son started on rice cereal at 4 1/2 months old. He did have a slight constipation reaction to the rice cereal, but as long as it was thinned out a lot he was good. His ped said to go ahead and try around 4 months and we went ahead and tried it out.
We didn't give him actual food until he was 6 months old, just stuck with rice cereal until 6 months.
I don't see anything wrong with trying rice cereal around the age of 4 1/2 months.
But if you are unsure, ask their ped (she should be seeing her ped for a 4 month check up which is when our ped told us about rice cereal). Each child is different and you are the Mom so you decide what you think your daughter is able to handle.

I started my daughter as soon as she turned 4months. She was showing most of the signs you're baby is. I breastfeed her until 10 months and she is an awesome eater and always has been (sleeping is a different story). Have fun!

My son is almost 10 months old and just started showing signs he wants adult food. Tonight he had an absolute fit about eating his jarred food and wouldn't take it. So I made him a hot dog to see if he would eat it. Turns out he ate two and loved it and was fine. I made sure I fed it to him though since he doesn't understand to only put one thing in his mouth at a time. We've given him other things off our plates but nothing like a whole meal. But now since he is out right refusing to eat jarred food I am moving on to adult food. He is also slowly going away from the bottle so we are introducing the sippy cup. lol. Other wise he gets bottles and food. :) But if you are unsure talk to you Ped.

Good luck

I started my son at 4 months with rice once daily and after a couple weeks moved up to twice daily. I didn't start other foods until closer to 6 months and I started with veggies before adding fruits. I'm sure you know this but want to mention it just in case. Make sure and introduce only one new food at a time and wait at least 5 days until introducing another food. If baby has a reaction, you will know what food caused it. If constipation becomes an issue, try mixing some diluted prune juice into the cereal.

I think I introduced food at almost 5 months b/c my son had reflux..the meds were gross tasting and didn't work..i started with a little oatmeal in the bottle..not the best idea but it actually worked for him..when u do start..start w/ oatmeal instead of rice..rice constipates..if she is gaining i wouldn't think she would need food yet..its ok for her to be curious ..i would talk to your doc...but the reason they want u to wait til 6 months is b/c their gut is open still and closes at 6 months..or so i've been told..you should google about it.

D.

Um I think my doctor told us that we could start at 5 months. I think earlier and you could have problems with allergies. I think that's why they've moved the age to 6 months officially now. Even though I went by the standard for my little ones, I know that my husband would sneak them tastes of things now and again and they turned out fine.

I just saw my docotor today and he said that if your child seems hungry after a bottle and seems like they are never satisfied then it is time to introduce some solids. Of course it starts with rice cereal. Then try the vegetables first, my recommendation since you don't want sugar to be the first thing and have your child never eat other food since they are hooked on sugar or sweet food. That's all I now I have a 4 month old but I am waiting till he's six. Everyone is different. Good luck.

I never gave solids until my babies had teeth - that was my indication that their bodies/digestive system is ready for solid foods. None of my kids have any food allergies.

I would never give rice cereal, since once the body breaks it down, it ends up pure sugar...and with the diabetes rates in this country, it would be the last "food" I would give my baby. Greens and sweet potatoes first.

We have liquid calcium/magnesium from Blue Bonnett or Lifetime if they needed more calcium for growth spurts which helped our babies sleep almost through the night.