Cereal question - especially for ebf babies

DD is three months today (where has the time gone???) and although I know it's too early, I want to start thinking about cereal. I've noticed a lot of people saying they skipped it entirely or waited until after 6 months. If you did one of the two, why did you wait or not give it at all? I know nothing about cereal and starting food and I want to educate myself on it early so that I can make a decision when the time comes. Thanks!

Re: Cereal question - especially for ebf babies

we are ebf and plan on starting solids after dd reaches 6 months. there's some interesting info on the kellymom website (under starting solids).
i am not sure yet if we will start with oatmeal (mixed w breastmilk) or skip cereals...but we probably won't do the regular old rice cereal... there's really no nutritional value in it.

Re: Cereal question - especially for ebf babies

there is no reason to start with cereal - you can start with anything - we started with yummy butternut squash.

DD eats oatmeal now, as one of hte things she eats for breakfast. but IMO there was no need to give it to her every day or to start with it

check out wholesomebabyfood.com for more info

Re: Cereal question - especially for ebf babies

We were at the ped this week for heat rash and I asked a second doctor about what to feed DD and he said he only suggests starting on rice cereal or oatmeal if the baby is EBF. Otherwise, he says skip right to veggies. So that yields the opposite answer for you.

DD had no problems with the cereals as far as becoming constipated goes. Then again, I don't know how much she actually swallowed of the cereal lol. She's still in practice mode.

I'm waiting for her first post-carrots poop to see if it's orange and she actually swallows the carrot. It's so funny how she still isn't quite ready to eat. I'm taking it very slow (she's 5 months now but I'm only trying to feed her a few spoonfuls a day so she can practice). Our regular ped had said there's nothing wrong with practicing and she encouraged us to wait until 6 months to start pushing solid foods more than once a day. I'm mostly doing it slowly now one food a week to check for allergic reactions so when she is ready to actually swallow a meal, we'll have more options available to her.

You really do have a good bit of time. But nothing wrong with thinking ahead!

Re: Cereal question - especially for ebf babies

Emmy was bf until 6months. We tried cereal at 4months, but it was just to early for me, I was uncomfortable. We did it again at 5 months and she loved it. We did just regular Rice cereal and then oatmeal, then fruits. She was never a big fan of the cereal, but LOVED her fruits and veggies! I say start with an oatmeal or barley. Rice cereal really has no nutritional value in it. IMHO it's more of a tester food to see if the bab is ready to eat, or to thicken a food if need be.

Re: Cereal question - especially for ebf babies

It's so interesting how every doctor recommends something different even within our practice.

Our dr said we could wait till 6 months but if they are looking to eat before 3 hours between bottles then try cereal. We tried at 4 months they weren't ready. Now at almost 5 months they are loving the cereal. We do oatmeal but tried rice/barley for 3 days each to make sure their were no allergies.

Our next plan is to try veggies in the pm and then add fruit to their cereal in the am. Not sure when though, we are busy enough right now!!

Re: Cereal question - especially for ebf babies

DD's ped suggested veggies and fruits first because she said that grains can be hard to digest. We started with butternut squash at 5 months.
She is otherwise EBF.

Re: Cereal question - especially for ebf babies

I EBF and started cereals at 5 months. (My ped initially suggested it at 4 months, but I didn't think she was ready). By 5 months, she was interested in food and cleaning out both breasts every feeding, so we tried it. DD was NOT a fan of plain cereals (we tried rice and oatmeal), but loves it w/ fruit and veggies.

eta: I love the Earth's Best cereals; they're organic and easy to find.

Message edited 6/10/2011 11:58:04 AM.

Re: Cereal question - especially for ebf babies

Our doctor said to 'practice' with cereal starting at 5 months and to start veggies at 6 mo. We started the cereal at 5m3w and a week later gave her carrots. We also went straight to oatmeal and did not give her rice cereal.

Re: Cereal question - especially for ebf babies

Our Dr. said to wait until 6 months based on the new APA recommendations. They are getting such fantastic nutrition from BM that I think they are worried about cereal replacing some of their calories when it hardly has the nutrients that BM does.

There really is no rush, I was anxious at four months to start just to try something new, but I'm so glad I didn't.

Re: Cereal question - especially for ebf babies

It is funny how every Doctor is different. I dont EBF now I only BF at night but the Dr told us we could start cereal at 4 months then try veggies and then fruit and once we knew she wouldnt have a reaction to any of them to mix the veggies or fruit with the cereal. She'll be 5 months on Sunday and shes had oatmeal, bananas, apples and carrots so far. Its funny cause she loves the oatmeal! the fruit and veggies alone not so much but mixed its better. I only give it to her once a day if that right now because I dont think she needs to be eating it everyday but its good for her to get used to eating and swallowing.
By 6 months I plan to have her on a routine.