When to start cereal?

My friend started her babies (twins born the same day as my DD) on applesauce and cereal today...when should I start my DD? I am taking her to the ped on Friday but is there an age when you start introducing things to them?

Re: When to start cereal?

I think usually around 4 mos. they give you the green light. I waited until about 4 1/2. Also, normally, you would start the cereal (rice, barley, oatmeal) individually for several days in a row, *then* fruits or veggies, one at a time over the course of several days.

Re: When to start cereal?

I started way earlier than most mommies on here, but every baby is different and ready at a different time.

Re: When to start cereal?

we started at 4 1/2 months

Re: When to start cereal?

We started at 4 months. I would wait until you see the pediatrician just to get the OK...some pediatricians recommend waiting longer- until 6 months.

Re: When to start cereal?

Some Dr.s start cereal @ 3 and fruit @ 4

Some fruit and cereal @ 4

Some just cereal @ 4 and fruit @ 5

Some nothing til 6 months....


If you wanna try it- then try it... I dont think there is anything wrong with it!

I tried with Ryan @ 2.5 months, and 3 months- and he was not ready...

Finally- at a little before he turned 4 months- I tried again... and he did great with it!


EVERY SINGLE PED has DIFFERENT advice- so just go with your mommy instincts!


ETA- I dont think it helps them sleep longer though- so I would only try it- if you think she needs "more"

Message edited 8/5/2006 9:15:14 PM.

Re: When to start cereal?

i posted this on another topic but this is what I followed from the ped at 4 months

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Re: When to start cereal?

4 months is the earliest, some drs suggest waiting until 6 months.

I tried a few weeks before 4 months and she wasn't ready. Waited till 4 months, and we did fine. The rice cereal did not agree with her so we tried oatmeal and have stuck with that.

Then we did fruits and veggies, alternating between the 2 each time it was time for something new.
Pears, then squash, then applesauce (which doesn't agree with her), then veggie, etc.

They also recommend you start with the orange veggies first, and if you plan on making your own do granny smith or golden delicious apples, they are the least acidic.

And fruits that start with p tend to make their poop runnier....pears, prunes, etc.

Re: When to start cereal?

We started applesauce today.. Shannon is 5 months.. we started cereal about 3 weeks ago..

Re: When to start cereal?

They say 4 months but I went by instinct. DS has anywhere from 6-10 oz of formula every 3 hrs. I figured he needed something more. We started him yesterday. He is 2 months old.

Message edited 8/6/2006 3:11:58 AM.

Re: When to start cereal?

Re: When to start cereal?

My ped said they usually start cereal at 4 months, but for breastfed babies, they wait until 5 months. I don't know why there is a difference.