At What Age to You Start a Baby on Rice Cereal

There are a lot of reasons you might be tempted to kickoff solids early with infants. You may worry that your baby isn't getting enough from breast milk or formula. You may have heard that it helps babies sleep amend.

Simply information technology may be meliorate to agree off solids.

Why Wait?

Although many grandmothers and neighbors may swear that a footling cereal in their newborn'due south bottle helped him sleep better, the American Academy of Pediatrics does non recommend introducing cereal and other solid foods until four to half-dozen months of historic period. Before that age, young infants demand only chest milk or formula.

In the kickoff couple of months of life, a newborn more often than not feeds every 2 hours. If you're breastfeeding, offer upwards to 10-15 minutes on each breast; for formula feeding, offer nearly 2-3 ounces at each feeding.

Every bit your newborn gets older, she'll tend to swallow more than at each feeding. If your baby produces six wet diapers a day and is gaining weight regularly, that means she's getting plenty food calories. Discuss your infant's feeding and growth with her pediatrician at each check-up.

More: From Birth to 4 Months: Dietary Milestones

When and How to Offset Solids

One time your infant is betwixt four and vi months of age, she may start showing signs of readiness for solid foods. Those signs include the power to support her head, good tongue thrust (can push food out of her mouth), and showing interest in the foods you lot're eating.

When y'all feel your baby is ready and your pediatrician gives the go-head, you tin then start feeding her single-grain cereals similar rice cereal by mixing the cereal flakes with his breast milk or formula. The familiar taste will help him accept the new food and rice cereal tends to exist less allergy-provoking than some other foods.

Infants are just outset new tastes and textures, then don't be surprised if she initially rejects your attempts. Endeavor again in a few minutes. One time she gets used to the rice cereal, increase the quantity slowly.

More: Is Your Baby Fix for Solid Foods?

Which Foods to Introduce to Baby First

Subsequently she gets used to rice cereal, yous tin then introduce oat or barley cereal followed by vegetables, fruit, and so finally meat. Introduce new foods ane at a time in gild. Always wait a few days earlier introducing another new nutrient. By doing and then, you tin watch for any diarrhea, bloating, rashes, or other signs of an allergic reaction to a food.

Soon enough you lot'll exist cleaning up pureed peas and carrots and all types of baby food from the kitchen floor. In the meantime, savor breastfeeding or formula from a bottle until he is ready for solid foods.

The All-time First Foods by Age

• 4-6 months: Depending on your infant's readiness, this is the ideal age range to innovate finger foods or purees to your little one. Infant cereal is one of the best options when starting solid foods. You can also give pureed vegetables such equally sweet potatoes or peas, but exist certain to showtime with single ingredients. Get-go slow and offer one new nutrient every few days.
• 6-viii months: Many pediatricians recommend that you introduce certain foods like peanut butter or eggs to check for food allergies. Offering pocket-sized bites or minor pieces to kickoff. Your baby's diet should however consist primarily of breastmilk or formula considering it will provide the necessary nutrients that your baby needs.
• 8-ten months: This is the perfect age to start your infant on things similar yogurt and meat. Small pieces of meat or pureed meats both work swell. It is also perfectly rubber to give your infant raw vegetables as well if y'all are trying baby-led weaning.
• ten-12 months: Your baby volition try all sorts of new foods in his first year. This is a smashing age for allowing him to attempt to endeavour spoon-feeding himself. Continue to offer new fruits and vegetables as well as a variety of meats.

Foods to Avert Giving an Baby

• Beloved: Giving honey to babies nether age 1 can crusade infant botulism. Her digestive organization can't handle the natural leaner that honey has. Information technology's better for older babies who are over 1 twelvemonth old.
• Hotdogs: Even when cut into small pieces, hotdogs are choking hazards. Information technology is best to skip giving these to babies at mealtime.
• Fruit juice: Juices and other sugary foods or drinks are not a adept selection for your baby. Information technology can cause molar decay, especially when put into a infant'southward bottle. Instead, stick to infant formula, breastmilk, or water in a sippy cup.
• Cow's milk: Hold off on introducing cow's milk in your infant's showtime year. Sticking with breastmilk or formula is better for her at this age.

​More: Foods to Never Feed Your Infant​​

Looking for more tips on feeding your growing baby? Bank check out Tips on Beginning Solid Foods

Henry Bernstein, M.D., is currently the associate chief of the Division of General Pediatrics and director of Main Care at Children's Infirmary, Boston. He as well has an academic date at Harvard Medical School.

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Source: https://www.familyeducation.com/life/starting-solids/timetable-introducing-cereal-infants

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