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snowbrdgrl · Sep 30th, 2009, 10:25 AM

My DD just had her 4 month checkup yesterday and the pediatrician gave us the ok to try rice cereal with her so she can start practicing swallowing. Any advice on how to start this? I read maybe 1-2 tablespoons per day. Should this be given after I BF her? thanks!! I'm very excited at this "new" experience for her

HauteMama · Sep 30th, 2009, 10:52 AM

First, make sure baby can sit up in a high chair. A baby is much less likely to choke when they are able to sit by themselves instead of being propped up to take cereal.

Mix it very thin with breastmilk or formula, so it is more liquid with tiny bits in it. Warm it slightly if you mix it with anything cold or refrigerated. Offer it before you breastfeed so your baby is hungry enough she might be more willing to try it. If she is satisfied already, she may just reject the cereal outright.

And last, don't despair if she just pushes it all out with her tongue. Most babies do the first few times trying cereal, and it all ends up on their chin or on the bib. She doesn't need any other nourishment except breastmilk or formula until at least 6 months of age, so there is no rush. If she is really, really not interested or you make no progress with her accepting it, just wait a week and try again.

Jill · Sep 30th, 2009, 01:16 PM

we started by putting it in his bottles at first....Hayden LOVED the cereal

alij78 · Sep 30th, 2009, 11:38 PM

^^ i agree, i think it is their natural reflex to push it out with their tongue which can be INCREDIBLY frustrating so just persist gently each day and don't feel rushed about it

bohohobo · Oct 1st, 2009, 12:59 AM

Technically you start when baby can sit up with some support. Full instructions on how to prepare are on Gerber Rice cereal boxes they're easy to do can't go wrong. Don't wait for teeth and don't wait till crawling.

iceflower · Oct 1st, 2009, 04:58 PM

This is a good article:

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T032000.asp

metroelle · Oct 1st, 2009, 06:33 PM

i started at a little before six months, and honestly, next time i'll just wait until the full recommended six months, because exclusive breastfeeding is soooo much easier than messing with solids (the poop isn't as offensive either lol). i had a big baby and everyone said i should start earlier bc he was supposedly hungry, but really, milk is more calorie-dense and nutritious than rice cereal! and dont' worry about 'practicing' swallowing, when they're ready, they don't need any practice! :)

dell · Oct 2nd, 2009, 03:11 AM

Everyone has thier own opinion...

DD was eating mostly solid food by 6 months because that is what she wanted. She has formula still, and is just over 1. Just remember, solids do NOT replace BM or formula, it is in ADDITION to. So, just because she has some cereal it doesn't mean she doesn't need her normal amount of milk!

I agree, make it pretty thin. Play with it a few times, you will get the hang of mixing it correctly. You can use just about anything to mix it. Water, milk, formula, breast milk, juice... Since this is new, I would use formula, breast milk, or water. Add the juice and stuff later on.

Try to feed baby before you breast feed. If you breast feed, then baby may not be hungry anymore :)

Ok, so thin, I agree, if what you use is cold, then warm it up a little. DD didn't like the plain cereal. She liked the fruit flavored stuff better. Quite frankly the stuff tastes like CARD BOARD, so you can understand why the flavored is better.

So... thin,warm, and sit the baby upright. I just held DD on my lap to feed her when she was that small. It was easier. Definately get a bib cause you will have a mess. A baby has a NATURAL reflex to push out solids with their tongue. They do this so they don't choke :)

You will see how it goes. Just remember it is new to both of you!

yangmiumiu · Oct 2nd, 2009, 04:18 AM

I started my baby with rice cereal about 3 weeks ago. She just turned 6 month today. We started it to help her sleep through the night again like she was used to be. Without the rice cereal, she goes to bed around 10pm and would wake up around 4-5am. She can now sleep about 12-13 hours now if she has couple tbs full of rice cereal right before the bed time.

Like other moms said, it's frustrating to feed cuz she still sometimes rejects the spoon or just spits out everything. And it also takes longer to feed when compared to feeding milk.

I am not sure when I should start increasing the amount or the frequency. And also when will be a good time to switch to fruits or veggies?

Sep 30th, 2009, 10:25 AM	#1
snowbrdgrl OP Member Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,273	Any advice on how to start baby on rice cereal? My DD just had her 4 month checkup yesterday and the pediatrician gave us the ok to try rice cereal with her so she can start practicing swallowing. Any advice on how to start this? I read maybe 1-2 tablespoons per day. Should this be given after I BF her? thanks!! I'm very excited at this "new" experience for her
snowbrdgrl OP Member Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,273

Sep 30th, 2009, 10:52 AM	#2
HauteMama Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,832	First, make sure baby can sit up in a high chair. A baby is much less likely to choke when they are able to sit by themselves instead of being propped up to take cereal. Mix it very thin with breastmilk or formula, so it is more liquid with tiny bits in it. Warm it slightly if you mix it with anything cold or refrigerated. Offer it before you breastfeed so your baby is hungry enough she might be more willing to try it. If she is satisfied already, she may just reject the cereal outright. And last, don't despair if she just pushes it all out with her tongue. Most babies do the first few times trying cereal, and it all ends up on their chin or on the bib. She doesn't need any other nourishment except breastmilk or formula until at least 6 months of age, so there is no rush. If she is really, really not interested or you make no progress with her accepting it, just wait a week and try again.
HauteMama Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,832

Sep 30th, 2009, 01:16 PM	#3
Jill MOD Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 27,917	we started by putting it in his bottles at first....Hayden LOVED the cereal
Jill MOD Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 27,917

Sep 30th, 2009, 11:38 PM	#4
alij78 Member Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 925	^^ i agree, i think it is their natural reflex to push it out with their tongue which can be INCREDIBLY frustrating so just persist gently each day and don't feel rushed about it
alij78 Member Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 925

Oct 1st, 2009, 12:59 AM	#5
bohohobo tamale loco Joined: May 2009 Posts: 336	Technically you start when baby can sit up with some support. Full instructions on how to prepare are on Gerber Rice cereal boxes they're easy to do can't go wrong. Don't wait for teeth and don't wait till crawling.
bohohobo tamale loco Joined: May 2009 Posts: 336

Oct 1st, 2009, 04:58 PM	#6
iceflower Member Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 261	This is a good article: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T032000.asp

Oct 1st, 2009, 06:33 PM	#7
metroelle Member Joined: Apr 2007 Location: the city Posts: 164	i started at a little before six months, and honestly, next time i'll just wait until the full recommended six months, because exclusive breastfeeding is soooo much easier than messing with solids (the poop isn't as offensive either lol). i had a big baby and everyone said i should start earlier bc he was supposedly hungry, but really, milk is more calorie-dense and nutritious than rice cereal! and dont' worry about 'practicing' swallowing, when they're ready, they don't need any practice! :)
	__________________

Oct 2nd, 2009, 03:11 AM	#8
dell Member Joined: May 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,430	Everyone has thier own opinion... DD was eating mostly solid food by 6 months because that is what she wanted. She has formula still, and is just over 1. Just remember, solids do NOT replace BM or formula, it is in ADDITION to. So, just because she has some cereal it doesn't mean she doesn't need her normal amount of milk! I agree, make it pretty thin. Play with it a few times, you will get the hang of mixing it correctly. You can use just about anything to mix it. Water, milk, formula, breast milk, juice... Since this is new, I would use formula, breast milk, or water. Add the juice and stuff later on. Try to feed baby before you breast feed. If you breast feed, then baby may not be hungry anymore :) Ok, so thin, I agree, if what you use is cold, then warm it up a little. DD didn't like the plain cereal. She liked the fruit flavored stuff better. Quite frankly the stuff tastes like CARD BOARD, so you can understand why the flavored is better. So... thin,warm, and sit the baby upright. I just held DD on my lap to feed her when she was that small. It was easier. Definately get a bib cause you will have a mess. A baby has a NATURAL reflex to push out solids with their tongue. They do this so they don't choke :) You will see how it goes. Just remember it is new to both of you!
	__________________ ~Danielle~

Oct 2nd, 2009, 04:18 AM	#9
yangmiumiu Member Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Eureka State Posts: 61	I started my baby with rice cereal about 3 weeks ago. She just turned 6 month today. We started it to help her sleep through the night again like she was used to be. Without the rice cereal, she goes to bed around 10pm and would wake up around 4-5am. She can now sleep about 12-13 hours now if she has couple tbs full of rice cereal right before the bed time. Like other moms said, it's frustrating to feed cuz she still sometimes rejects the spoon or just spits out everything. And it also takes longer to feed when compared to feeding milk. I am not sure when I should start increasing the amount or the frequency. And also when will be a good time to switch to fruits or veggies?

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