When Should My Baby Start Eating Rice Cereal

There are a lot of reasons you might be tempted to start solids early with infants. You may worry that your infant isn't getting enough from breast milk or formula. You may accept heard that information technology helps babies sleep better.

Just information technology may be meliorate to hold off solids.

Why Wait?

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

In the first couple of months of life, a newborn by and large feeds every 2 hours. If you're breastfeeding, offer upward to 10-15 minutes on each breast; for formula feeding, offering about 2-3 ounces at each feeding.

As your newborn gets older, she'll tend to eat more at each feeding. If your infant produces six wet diapers a mean solar day and is gaining weight regularly, that means she's getting enough food calories. Discuss your infant's feeding and growth with her pediatrician at each bank check-up.

More: From Birth to Iv Months: Dietary Milestones

When and How to Start Solids

In one case your infant is between iv and six months of age, she may starting time showing signs of readiness for solid foods. Those signs include the ability to back up her caput, good natural language thrust (can button food out of her mouth), and showing interest in the foods you're eating.

When you feel your baby is ready and your pediatrician gives the go-caput, you can so kickoff feeding her single-grain cereals like rice cereal by mixing the cereal flakes with his chest milk or formula. The familiar taste volition help him accept the new food and rice cereal tends to exist less allergy-provoking than some other foods.

Infants are simply showtime new tastes and textures, and so don't be surprised if she initially rejects your attempts. Try again in a few minutes. Once she gets used to the rice cereal, increase the quantity slowly.

More: Is Your Infant Ready for Solid Foods?

Which Foods to Introduce to Baby First

After she gets used to rice cereal, you can so introduce oat or barley cereal followed past vegetables, fruit, and so finally meat. Introduce new foods 1 at a time in order. Always await a few days before introducing another new nutrient. Past doing so, you can watch for any diarrhea, bloating, rashes, or other signs of an allergic reaction to a food.

Soon enough yous'll be cleaning up pureed peas and carrots and all types of baby nutrient from the kitchen flooring. In the meantime, enjoy breastfeeding or formula from a canteen until he is set up for solid foods.

The All-time First Foods by Age

• 4-6 months: Depending on your baby'southward readiness, this is the ideal age range to introduce finger foods or purees to your picayune i. Infant cereal is one of the best options when starting solid foods. Yous can too requite pureed vegetables such as sweet potatoes or peas, but be sure to beginning with single ingredients. Start dull and offer ane new food every few days.
• vi-8 months: Many pediatricians recommend that y'all introduce sure foods like peanut butter or eggs to check for food allergies. Offer small bites or small pieces to commencement. Your infant's diet should yet consist primarily of breastmilk or formula because information technology will provide the necessary nutrients that your infant needs.
• 8-10 months: This is the perfect age to start your baby on things similar yogurt and meat. Small pieces of meat or pureed meats both work great. It is also perfectly condom to requite your baby raw vegetables too if y'all are trying baby-led weaning.
• x-12 months: Your infant will try all sorts of new foods in his commencement year. This is a great age for allowing him to try to try spoon-feeding himself. Continue to offer new fruits and vegetables also equally a variety of meats.

Foods to Avoid Giving an Infant

• Beloved: Giving honey to babies under age ane tin can cause infant botulism. Her digestive system tin can't handle the natural bacteria that honey has. Information technology's better for older babies who are over 1 year sometime.
• Hotdogs: Fifty-fifty when cut into small pieces, hotdogs are choking hazards. It is best to skip giving these to babies at mealtime.
• Fruit juice: Juices and other sugary foods or drinks are not a good choice for your infant. Information technology tin can crusade tooth decay, particularly when put into a baby's bottle. Instead, stick to infant formula, breastmilk, or water in a sippy loving cup.
• Moo-cow's milk: Hold off on introducing cow'south milk in your babe's offset year. Sticking with breastmilk or formula is better for her at this age.

​More than: Foods to Never Feed Your Baby​​

Looking for more than tips on feeding your growing baby? Cheque out Tips on Start Solid Foods

Henry Bernstein, Grand.D., is currently the acquaintance chief of the Division of General Pediatrics and director of Primary Care at Children's Hospital, Boston. He also has an bookish date at Harvard Medical School.

When Should My Baby Start Eating Rice Cereal

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

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