Parents Start Here

My dear cousin sister emailed me, asking about when and how to start feeding my nephew solids, who just turned 4 months. She also asked about rice cereal vs. oatmeal.

Here’s my response:

Personally, I’ve read enough to suggest that starting solids at 4 months, while in the range, is too early. We didn’t start until 6 months (that was our Ped’s guideline and I did alot of reading about waiting). From what I remember, the main reasons we waited until 6 months is b/c delaying solids can give the digestive system time to mature (especially in reflux babies…btw, starting solids early does not help reflux babies…it actually can irritate them more); the tongue swallow vs tongue pushing motion is more developed; and reduces the risk of food allergies.

Once we started, we did rice cereal, which tends to be gluten-free and has less allergens that oatmeal (I used either Gerbers or Nature’s Best Organic). I mixed it w/ either formula or whatever little breast milk I had left.

We added oatmeal at around 9 months. There’s a whole other set of rules when you’re at the point of truly starting solids (how to introduce them and what order to you introduce foods).

At this stage, you’re not feeding to feed (to fill him up). You’re feeding him to get used to texture and to see if he has the tongue coordination to eat. So, the main source of nutrition is still formula/breastmilk.

Therefore, nurse or bottle-feed first. Take one one or two teaspoons of dry cereal and mix it with enough formula or breastmilk to make a liquid mixture. We used a rubber-tipped spoon to feed. Start with just a small amount of cereal on the tip of the spoon. Don’t put the whole spoon in his mouth, just the tip. Have a camera ready for that first bite!

There are alot of articles on the internet supporting early feeding (4 months). And for each article, there is an article supporting delaying solids. It’s a decision that you’re going to have to make with your Ped (ah…the joys of parenthood).

Bon Appetit - Mama Sprout

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