i have a girlfriend that went into labour the same time as me and her baby boy is a day older then my daughter and she has just put him on rice cereal.
just wondering is it far to early even if there always hungry? i was considering starting her on it after her lunch time feed to her afternoon feed shes always screaming for more. my opinion its to early but i need some more advice.
I started my son on ceral and veggies at 12 weeks. It all depends on how hungry your baby stays. I would say that if the formula is just not doing it for him then cereal is fine. Also how big is he, at 2 1/2 months my son was the size of a 4 month old, thats when my doc said it was ok to start ceral and a few veggies
First off it is your choice and not anyone elses. Same with your friend. She felt her baby needed it and did as every mother should and did what she felt best.
If your bf then I would either offer breast more often. Or top up feed on formula. If your on formula then try 3 hour bottles. If you are doing this and it's not working and you want to try then do. I did. My son was in the eyes of other mothers 'way too young blah blah' but I did it anyway with the advice of a health nurse and the improvement was huge and side effects none. My nephew was 3 months and was told by the pead to give rice cerial and he flourished with no side effects. (and I got to smile when the other mothers who put me down were complaining about their hungry non sleeping children while mine slept all night and was happy and content all his waking hours)
I would say to try more formula or breast milk first but really do what you feel you should not what everyone else says you should.
First off let me state that a Doctors recomendation is 4 months min.
I started my oldlest on 1 teaspoon at 8 weeks and one and a half at 12. It was just rice cereal and Formula. Once a day at bedtime feeding. I only saw that the night time feedings had stopped down to only one a night and that was all. I didn't start on anything else till she was 6 months old.
I also gave my second child rice water and bean juice from a month. But the doc said to give her anything that she could keep down and at 2.5 months she told me to start putting one teaspoon into an 8 ouce bottle of breast milk. Or if I could get her to eat from a spoon to feed her one teaspoon of rice cereal and breast milk 3 to 4 times a day. But she did have health issues and couldn't keep any liquids down very well.
My son I am not sure I probly started around 5 months to start feeding him solids. I really don't have any advice other than if you are going to start is if your child can eat from a spoon (messy messy) then I think just a little at a time till they get about 6 months.
WillowMoon
If I was out of line anywhere sorry and please let me know I am new at this.
I started my first at 12 weeks, I was advised to by Dr and health nurse and he did fine, infact he loved it, I started my other two a little later but not sure what age it was...... As far as I am concerned guidelines are guidelines and as long as your sensible its fine. x
I think 12 weeks is too early. There's an international Medical Board who recommend 6 months to start solids.
If you are breastfeeding you could try two things. 1st try adding another breatfeed during the day eg if you're feeding every 4-5 hours try every 3-4 hours instead. Or if you don't feel that you can give her anymore of your own milk you'd be better introducing her to formula for a top up, not rice cereal. Give the formula after a breastfeed.
If she's already on formula, give her extra.
As her mum only you can decide what's best for her. When I come up against someone's advice I don't want to follow I make up a story like, 'My mum told me a story about a baby who started food too early and ........, so I'm going to wait, just incase.'
The professionals recommend that you wait until preferably 6 months of age before starting solids, or at least 4 months. With ours, by the time they were 8 weeks of age, we were letting them taste what we were eating, by letting them lick our mouths (sounds gross, but I believe it made them more ready for solids.). We've had no problems with that, but waited until at least 4 months before giving into the demands of a determined baby! Take it slowly whatever you decide, and expect your baby to have times of total disinterest in solid foods for a few months.
There is so so much debate on this..I started my child at 12 weeks and she did just fine..Her doc didn't give the official go ahead until 16 weeks..I had the same issue with her being a very hungry baby and this did help alot..You will get differing opinions on this issue because some people feel strongly that you shouldn't do this and some feel strongly that you should. I say go with your instincts.
hey, i agree with everyone else...12 weeks is way to early, their little bodies are not ready for this yet...4 mths bare minium...i would wait hunny,the time goes quick,ur little one will be that age before u know it.....
3 months is too early, 4 months is the bare minimum to start solids. you'll do more harm than good giving solids too early. if she's really wanting more food that what she noramally wants, you'll probably find she's going through a growth spurts, just up the bottles or breastfeeds.
I would say it is way too early. There might be benifits to starting solids early but there are also risks. If bubs is still crying out for more then you need to give her more milk. If you are worried about your breast milk running out then just keep putting her on the breast. The more they suckle the more milk you will produce. Your body will adapt based on the baby's demand. You also need to make sure you remember to eat plenty (becuase you're feeding 2) and never let yourself get thirsty.
Here is an extract from the Australian Breastfeeding Organisation. I found them amazinglyhelpful as I learnt to breastfeed my 2 babies.
"In recent years, mothers have been urged to begin starting solids at four to six months. Reasons for doing so included increasing baby's weight gains, making the baby sleep through the night and getting baby used to foods other than breastmilk.
While these reasons, and others, may have seemed reasonable at the time, the negative impact of exposing a baby's immature digestive system to foreign foods was not always understood. Higher incidence of food-related allergies and obesity in our population may be attributed to inappropriate infant feeding.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association has, for many years, encouraged parents to delay introducing solids until around six months of age. Therefore, ABA welcomed the recent announcement that the new Australian Dietary Guidelines just released by The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) advises that babies should receive only breastmilk for the first six months."
For more info please see http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/justbm.html
Yes, 12 weeks is far too early. Your baby needs to be able to suport herself ie: sit up by themselves without being supported by pillows or being in a bouncer. Also your baby must have good head control. Your baby will let you know when she is ready for food by watching you eat and reaching for your food and making chewing movements with his mouth. Also the tongue relfex should have gone.
Most people will recommend 6mth to start feeding, but if your child is showing the signs then start earlier. I started my baby at about 5mths. Some babies are not ready until 7mths.
At 12 weeks your baby will get all he she needs from the breast feed (BF) or formula you give him. If your daughter is screaming out for more food them give her more formula or BF. Just increase the amount you are giving her. It is not uncommon for babies to want more as they are growing.
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