Post by vanillacourage on Aug 12, 2012 5:06:36 GMT -5
With my older son, he had reflux so we were conservative and waited until 6 months to start even rice cereal.
This one, as I post-whore about is megababy and I think could use the calories since he's the size of a 12 month old at 4 months. He still eats every 3 hours, even at night. Booo. We've tried giving him bigger bottles during the day but he's at that nosy stage where he loses interest at about 6 oz. FWIW his pedi was all about us doing cereal now and then doing baby food at 6 months.
We hedged our bets and started at 5 months. DD was a chunker. She was 20 lbs. at her 4 month appointment and was drinking 3- 8 oz. bottles of EBM per day when I was at work. She was just constantly hungry.
In addition, she practically lunged at our food when we ate in front of her. That was the biggest sign to me- her interest in eating what we were eating. Plus the typical ability to sit up on her own, no more gag reflex, etc.
I still nursed her shortly before each meal so that food wouldn't replace bm or mess with my supply. We were able to keep nursing for a long time despite my not strictly following the 6-month rule (in case that's a concern for you).
We started rice at 4 months. I think it was more to practice eating than for actual food. Then we did veggies, then fruits. We were afraid if she had sweet fruits, she would never go for the veggies. I think we started that at 6 mos.
Post by karinothing on Aug 12, 2012 7:48:41 GMT -5
I am on team wait 6 months for the following reasons
From what I have heard there is nothing supporting the larger size/more calories thing for babies. I mean if you think about it they don't give caloric intake for adults or kids based on their weight or anything. In addition, as I am sure you know, before one solids are just for fun and practice.
Second, there is no real value to starting rice cereal and there are some doctors who link it to obesity, so I was a bit wary of starting it.
Of course, I also don't follow the whole give enough calories during the day and they will STTN. Given that DS now eats a ton during the day and STILL wants to eat at night.
Anyhoo, if you want to start rice cereal now, I don't think it is going to damage your kid or anything, but I also don't think there is any real reason to do so.
Post by Ashley&Scott on Aug 12, 2012 8:28:14 GMT -5
We skipped rice cereal & are now doing BLW. I'll admit were not super consistent about offering solids yet, it's usually once every 3 days or so at this point. Usually in the evenings because we're both home. Always about 20-30 minutes after a milk feeding. We started solids about 3 weeks ago. (he was almost 6.5mo)
DS is also at the top of the charts, even so he only takes 3oz bottles at daycare. He nurses overnight too, 3 or 4 times usually. I blame much of that on teething though, once this tooth pops though I hope he'll go back to 1-2 times overnight.
Solids have not changed his milk intake or night feedings.
We aren't doing cereal and will be doing BLW. But I'm waiting until 6 months to even consider starting. After that it'll be just fun since he has to learn how to do it anyway. He's on the larger side (17.3# at 4 months) and still eats every 2 hours, around the clock.
We waited until 6 months and did BLW, starting with fruits and veggies mostly but moving quickly to meats and grains and everything.
I've just not seen any evidence that rice cereal does anything good, and some suspicions that it does something bad. And it was a pain in the ass, so I skipped it.
We waited until 6 months and did BLW, starting with fruits and veggies mostly but moving quickly to meats and grains and everything.
I've just not seen any evidence that rice cereal does anything good, and some suspicions that it does something bad. And it was a pain in the ass, so I skipped it.
Pretty much this. If you are concerned about calories, I would think breast milk or formula would be the better option.
Post by dutchgirl678 on Aug 12, 2012 16:19:14 GMT -5
Rice cereal can cause constipation. Oatmeal cereal doesn't really provide any extra nutrition. It is better to wait with solids until baby is closer to 6 months. This has to do with the development of their intestines. At 4 months they are not able to digest many foods yet which leads to parts being passed into the bloodstream and a higher likelihood of allergies developing as a result of it. DS is/was a pretty big baby too but he did fine with BM and we started supplementing with formula when I wasn't producing enough.
Post by beachdweller on Aug 13, 2012 7:53:16 GMT -5
I have a huge kid too -- (99% weight and height). Like some PP mentioned, we skipped cereal altogether as I did not want kiddo having empty calories given her weight. I'd just suggest feeding him more BM or formula and then go straight to purees. Just a warning, now my DD is 17 months, is still huge and has a massive appetite. The chunkers seem to really love their food!