My son is 4 months old and is ready to be fed cereal with a spoon. He has had no problem eating it- however- I am confused a to WHEN to give it to him. Should it replace a milk feeding or is it in addition to a milk feeding??? I am nursing and feel that he has been consuming less milk lately as a result of the cereal intake. I've also been weighing him for the past couple of days and noticed he has been loosing 2-3 ounces per day. I'm new at all of this and am concerned that I'm not feeding him properly! Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks to everyone for all your helpful responses and websites. I'm taking it slow on the cereal and he seems to be more accepting of it. As for his weight, I think I just freaked myself out by weighing him everyday. At 4 months old he weighs 17 lbs so he is doing very well. Thanks again, this website has been a wonderful resource!
Hi L.,
What are you using to make the cereal? I know when I was at that stage with my now 6 year old, I would make a bottle as usual and use some of that to mix his cereal. Then I would give him what was left in that bottle with that feeding. Hope this helps,
E.
As others have said, cereal is just used as a practice to get used to taking a spoon and having something in his mouth. Milk feed just like normal and if you want to give some cereal, give a tablespoon or two AT THE MOST mixed with breastmilk/formula - not water. Don't push it, don't rush it. Just think of it more as a time to interact than a meal. He has no need for a "meal" of cereal yet. In fact, alot of moms now are skipping the plain cereal alltogether and going directly to foods at around 6 months. At 5 1/2 months I started giving my daughter the 1st stage baby foods with a little cereal and breastmilk mixed in - more for texture than anything else. She only took a few spoonfulls at first but now, at 9 months she's eating 3-4 of the 2nd stage foods and breastfeeding 6-7 times per day.
Don't worry so much. You can't totally screw up your kid by not feeding them cereal at this young of age. If you don't think it's working, stop & try again in a week or two. No big deal.
Also, the best website for food info is www.wholesomebabyfood.com I don't "make" my baby's food, but we use their charts and info on when to start certain foods and general info on what/how much to give.
Good luck!
Exclusively breastfed babies don't need other foods until they're at least 6 months, usually later. If I were you I'd cut out the cereal and nurse more until he's gained that weight back. Check out kellymom.com for more info on nursing and starting solids.
I would stop the cereal and just breastfeed him. The AAP now says to wait until 6 months for ANY type of solid food, even cereal. Breastmilk is all he needs right now (actually it's all they need for the first year). It sounds like the cereal is replacing the high-fat breastmilk, maybe that's why he is losing weight. If you don't want to stop the cereal completely make sure to nurse him first, then mix the cereal with breastmilk. But cereal isn't needed. It's rarely allergenic so it's commonly recommended, but nutritionally it's not a very good food at all. It has iron but breastmilk gives much more. In a few months you could start offering avocado, banana, etc. Good luck! I second looking at kellymom.com, it's a great resource.
Unless your pediatrician tells you otherwise your baby shouldn't be eating yet. Nursing is enough nurishment for him til at least 6 months. If he's loosing weight I am not sure what to tell you other than to talk to your doctor.
The cereal should be in addition to nursing, not replacing a feeding at this point. If you're mixing the cereal with breast milk, that's the best thing to do (though don't heat in the microwave!). At 4-months, the cereal is really just to get the baby used to the consistency. Breast milk is still the most important and healthy thing for him! Good luck.
I did the same thing with my son at 4 months. I gave him cereal in addition to the milk in the morning (when he is most hungry). Now we do cereal for breakfast and dinner and other veggis/fruits at lunch (along with the milk..only less of it). There are several signs to look for that tell you when he is ready for foods...and if you are unsure your pediatrician can help! Good Luck!
Hi L.,
At 4 months old, I gave my son 1 tbsp of cereal a night before bed. It was usually around dinner time I gave it to him. With nursing, perhaps you could express some milk prior to feeding him the cereal, mix it with the cereal & then when he finishes, nurse him as a 'reward' for eating like a big boy. Eventually he will probably tell you if he's hungry and wants an additional feeding (it was maybe 2-3 weeks later he wanted more of that neat stuff!!!!)
As for losing weight, I would bring that up to your pediatrician. If he/she is concerned, then you should be. However if he/she feels this is normal for a 4 month old when beginning to nurse less and eat more solids, then you should have a little more confidence that you are doing what is right/best for your son.
By the way, my son is 13 months old, I was there not too long ago.
You've gotten some great advice so far.
Hi L.,
Replacing the cereal will decrease his consumption of milk. It will also stick with him a little longer. AS for weighing him, 2-3 ounces isn't much more that an a pair of socks or if he peed right before you weighed him. Weighing him daily will only stress you out. Give it a week or so to allow his system to get used to the new stuff before weighing him again. I don't think I weighed either of my kids except at the Dr's. If they were eating well and happy, I didn't worry (except for the first few weeks)
As for a replacement for a milk feeding or in addition to, that's up to him and you. If you want to make the cereal the main meal then nurse him after--if he wants. Or if you want to make nursing him the main meal, then feed the cereal after--if he wants. At this age, he won't eat unless he's hungry, let him guide you and listen to his cues. This will also create better eating habits as he gets older. You can also pump and put breast milk in the cereal. Don't rush into the cereal. I don't think I fed food to either of my kids for six months. I waited until some teeth showed up and they were starting to reach for my food.
T.
Mom of 9 and 6 year olds and nursed both for about 1 year each.
my son is 6 months I exclusively breast feed. I feed him cereal in the evening. It does replace 1 nursing. Other people let the baby nurse first then feed cereal if the baby is still hungry. All of the nutrition comes from the milk. the cereeal is just practice for eating. It does supply iron - but not much else. If you really think your child is losing 2 oz a day.. I would be at the dr. immediately.. or the ER... If your measurements are correct then your son will lose a full pound in a weeks time... that is a tremendous weight loss in an infant.
babies do seem to drink less milk as they get a bit older.. they get more efficient at eating.. so they are able to empty the breast in less time.. your breasts do not get engorged any more becuase your body knows how much milk to make. and an older baby is simply not as hungry.. they are not growing quite as fast as they were as a newborn.. and they are more interested in the world around them.
It is a serious problem if he is loosing weight. Don't mix the cereal with water- mix it with breastmilk. And it sounds like maybe he is getting too much cereal and not enough breastmilk. Cereal is only to help babies feel full when breastmilk alone isn't filling their bellies anymore. I'd wait a few months before doing that- my son didn't start cereal until 7-8 months and I exclusively breastfed. Talk to your son's pediatrician or a nurse.
Hi L.,
I breast fed all my children as well. I gave them cereal in the morning for breakfast, lunch & at bedtime. I found that by giving the cereal at bedtime helped them sleep longer as their belly was fuller and they did not wake up in the middle of the night for a feeding. As for losing a few ounces a day, that is not uncommon. Could be your milk is not as plenty or as nuritioning as it was in the beginning. My boys dried me up by the time they were 4-5 mos. old, therefore I had to switch to formula. If you are really concerned about the weight loss, talk to your doctor about it. Otherwise, still breast feed your baby even after you have given him cereal and of course in between meals as well. One of my sons gave me a scare, as he would only eat every other day. I was in panic and went crying to my doctor saying that my baby was going to die because he was not eating. My doctor assured me that no child will starve themself, not to worry plus I did not want to have an obese child later on. So, please do not worry, but to put your mind at ease....discuss it with your doctor. Hope this helps you some what.
M.
Nurse him before you feed him the cereal. At this point the solids should be in addition to his regular nursing. His cereal intake right now should not be for filling him up, it is pretty much a supplimentation to add calories to his diet. The more solids they eat the less they will nurse.
I exclusively breast my son, until I was feeding him constantly, at about 5 months this 18 lb baby needed food. You should still try to give him milk. Mix it with the cereal. I used to use the free formula samples that I had to mix with the cereal so that I didn't have to pump. They need the fat in the milk.
