Not starting with cereals

Im considering doing this with my girls. They are on the small side (5th percentile) and Id rather them get more of what they need. Do I just wait til 5/6 mo to begin things like avocado and sweet potatos. They are only 3 mo so I have time. Just curious. I have a ped apt at the end of Feb so I'll ask them. Not sure of their take on cereal vs no cereal.

Re: Not starting with cereals

My ped wanted us to do cereal bc of the iron content....

Re: Not starting with cereals

You can start off with cereal and make sure there is no allergy and then mix in some veggies.

Re: Not starting with cereals

Twin 2 has had oatmeal before. The one with no soy because she has milk protein allergy. They are on the vitamins with iron since they were early so I wonder if that matters. They will be just over 4 mo at their next visit so ill see what they say.

Not starting with cereals

You can start with whatever you want and generally anytime after 4 mons. Talk to your Ped with any questions.

Re: Not starting with cereals

What DO they need?

Cereal is typically started because of the low incidence of allergy, to "teach" baby how to eat something that tastes familiar (as it is made with formula or milk), to give them iron, and expose them to allergens that may prevent them from having food allergies down the line.

Please have this discussion with your pediatrician. I'm sure you can find people who have done anything, but that doesn't mean that it's the right thing to do.

Not starting with cereals

I didn't start cereal for a variety of reasons. My Ped doesn't like rice cereal and then when I tried oatmeal, it constipated my DS. He also had the milk protein allergy. We started sweet potatoes and fruits around 5 months straight out of the jar. He only had BM before that. Around 9 months I re introduced oatmeal and he was fine with it.

Re: Not starting with cereals

I plan to start with cereal but mixing it with formula. From what I read the cereal is to get them used to the spoon and learn how to eat, not nutrition. But definitely ask the ped!

Re: Not starting with cereals

we started with oatmeal at 4 months. as a PP said this is to "teach" them how to eat. 2 weeks later I added stage 1 baby food (bananas, apples, etc) to the oatmeal/formula mix.

Re: Not starting with cereals

I didn't start with cereal eighter I think the first thing she had was a banana, then avacado... Then Maybe I started making her own grain cereal...

Re: Not starting with cereals

Cereal is processed empty calories, fortified with iron and vitamins. We all know that vitamins are best absorbed from whole foods.

Speak with a nutrionist if you have questions but your instincts are leading your correctly. If you're waiting until 5-6 months then avocado and fruits will be perfect.