Baby Parenting Guide

When can I start my son on baby food or cereal?

My son is 3 months old. He is takign his formula just fine. Never spits up. He however does not get full. I give him the recommended 4 oz every 3hrs but he is not satisfied. I have tried to give him water or his pacifier but he will scream until I give him more formula. I was wondering if I give him baby cereal or food if that would help fulfil his needs.

Public Response to When can I start my son on baby food or cereal?

1. he could start now just when you trust him
2. Here is an age-by-guide: Basically, you can't feed him solids, seeing as his digestive tract is still developing. In about a month or so you may be able to. Just refer to the following table. Age: Birth to 4 months Feeding behavior • Rooting reflex helps your baby turn toward a nipple to find nourishment What to feed • Breast milk or formula ONLYHow much per day • See How to Tell if Your Baby's Getting Enough Breast Milk • See How to Tell How Much Formula Your Baby Needs Feeding tip • Your baby's digestive tract is still developing, so solid food is off-limits for now. Back to top Age: 4 to 6 months Signs of readiness for solid food Your baby probably won't do all these things — they're just clues to watch for. • Can hold head up • Sits well in highchair • Makes chewing motions • Shows significant weight gain (birth weight has doubled) • Shows interest in food • Can close mouth around a spoon • Can move food from front to back of mouth • Can move tongue back and forth, but is losing tendency to push food out with tongue • Seems hungry after 8 to 10 feedings of breast milk or 40 oz. of formula in a day • Is teething What to feed • Breast milk or formula, PLUS • Semi-liquid iron-fortified rice cereal, THEN • Other grain cereals like oats or barleyHow much per day • Begin with about 1 teaspoon dry rice cereal mixed with 4 to 5 teaspoons breast milk or formula (it'll be very runny). • Gradually thicken consistency and increase to 1 tablespoon dry cereal mixed with breast milk or formula, twice a day. Feeding tips • If your baby won't eat the cereal on the first try, offer it again in a few days. • Get more detailed tips on how to introduce solids. Back to top Age: 6 to 8 months Signs of readiness for solid food • Same as 4 to 6 months What to feed • Breast milk or formula, PLUS • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, oats) • Pureed or strained fruits (banana, pears, applesauce, peaches) • Pureed or strained vegetables (avocado, well-cooked carrots, squash, and sweet potato)How much per day • 3 to 9 tablespoons cereal, in 2 to 3 feedings • 1 teaspoon fruit, gradually increased to ¼ to ½ cup in 2 to 3 feedings • 1 teaspoon vegetables, gradually increased to ¼ to ½ cup in 2 to 3 feedings Feeding tips • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic. • Get more detailed tips on how to introduce solids. Back to top Age: 8 to 10 months Signs of readiness for solid and finger foods • Same as 6 to 8 months, PLUS • Picks up objects with thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp) • Can transfer items from one hand to the other • Puts everything in his mouth • Moves jaw in a chewing motion What to feed • Breast milk or formula, PLUS • Small amounts of soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (but no cows' milk until age 1) • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals) • Mashed fruits and vegetables (bananas, peaches, pears, avocados, cooked carrots, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes) • Finger foods (lightly toasted bagels, cut up; small pieces of ripe banana; well-cooked spiral pasta; teething crackers; low-sugar O-shaped cereal) • Small amounts of protein (egg, pureed meats, poultry, and boneless fish; tofu; well-cooked and mashed beans with soft skins like lentils, split peas, pintos, black beans) • Non-citrus juice (apple or pear)How much per day • ¼ to 1/3 cup dairy (or ½ oz. cheese) • ¼ to ½ cup iron-fortified cereal • ¼ to ½ cup fruit • ¼ to ½ cup vegetables • 1/8 to ¼ cup protein foods • 3 to 4 oz. non-citrus juices Feeding tip • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic. Back to top Age: 10 to 12 months Signs of readiness for additional solid food • Same as 8 to 10 months, PLUS • Swallows food more easily • Has more teeth • No longer pushes food out with tongue • Is trying to use a spoon What to feed • Breast milk or formula PLUS • Soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (but no cows' milk until age 1) • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals) • Fruit cut into cubes or strips, or mashed • Bite-size, soft-cooked vegetables (peas, carrots) • Combo foods (macaroni and cheese, casseroles) • Protein (egg; pureed or finely ground meats, poultry, and boneless fish; tofu; well-cooked and mashed beans) • Finger foods (lightly toasted bread or bagels, small pieces of ripe banana, spiral pasta, teething crackers, low-sugar O-shaped cereal) • Non-citrus juiceHow much per day • 1/3 cup dairy (or ½ oz. cheese) • ¼ to ½ cup iron-fortified cereal • ¼ to ½ cup fruit • ¼ to ½ cup vegetables • 1/8 to ¼ cup combo foods • 1/8 to ¼ cup protein foods • 3 to 4 oz. non-citrus juices Feeding tip • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic.
3. the suggestion is 6 months. But you should just look at how your baby is. Can they sit well unsupported, can they take the food off the spoon and swallow it, or do they spit it out. If the baby keeps spitting the food out after a few tries, they arent ready. The main priority of foods your baby should have in the first year is milk, it has those essential fats the brain needs to grow, so really food is just a filler. In your case, you should offer more milk. At 4 months my babies were drinking around 6 ounces ever 2 to 3 hours. He could be in a growth spurt and need more milk not solids.
4. If he is not getting full with formula, then give him a few tablespoons of rice cereal mixed thin with formula once a day to start. I would begin with the evening feeding. Once you know he can tolerate it, just give him some cereal after every bottle. Just make sure he drinks as much formula as he wants.
5. thats something you do when you feel your baby is ready...and after you have talked to your babies doctor... lots of people are going to say 6 months.....because thats what everything says know, but it changes all the time..was 2 months then it was 4 months now its 6 months...so really it depends on your baby! i started feeding my baby food at 4 months and guess what people shes still alive, healthy, and not allergic to any of her food!
6. you need to increase the amount you feed your baby. Either increase from 4 to 4.5. Or feed every 2.5 hours. Or both. 3 months of age is when they are going through another growth spurt. 3 month old babies should not be having anything other than breast milk or formula. Wait until 5 to 6 months to introduce brown rice cereal or veggies.
7. Give him more formula! The recommendation may be 4oz, but he may need more. I had one that only ate 2-3oz per sitting and one that could eat 8oz at one sitting! Don't start him on baby food unless he's sitting up well on his own and showing other signs of readiness.
8. Why don't you just increase the number of oz. of formula? Just because it is a 'recommendation', it does not mean you have to only give your son that set amount. It's not a great idea to start a bub on solids before 4 months, there is a theory that it will keep your baby fuller for longer, this is a myth, the reason being that your baby isn't fuller for longer, he's just having a hard time digesting solids,as it slows down the metabolism, so therefore he is not hungry, hes stomach is upset, and it SEEMS like he is content. I would certainly talk to your doctor about this.
9. It's best to wait until 6 months. Doctors sometimes okay solids at 4 months because the parents are getting impatient, but it's better to hold off for a little while longer. There are no benefits to starting at 4 months...but there are increased risks, such as choking, allergies, obesity, and diabetes. Three months old is far too young for any solid food (including cereal). If he's not getting full on the 4 oz every three hours, then give him more ounces or feed him the 4 oz more often...whichever he needs. Each baby's intake varies. If your child is bigger than another child, he may eat more. The "recommended" amount is just an approximate guide. If your baby is hungry, feed him. Never give a baby water until it starts solids! It's actually very dangerous as it can cause an electrolyte imbalance. And since a baby is so small, it doesn't take much water to do that. Once your baby starts solids (preferably at 6 months old), he can have a few sips of water, but not very much at all. When you do start, you can start with regular baby food. Many people will try to tell you to start with rice cereal first. It's not necessary. Rice cereal is often recomended as a first food because it's unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, but it's an unnecessary food that is about as nutritious as the box it comes in. It's loaded with vitamins and minerals, but so little of it is bioavailable that the baby doesn't really get anything out of it. Regardless of what you feed, or when you feed, the most important thing to remember is that solids should not decrease their breastmilk/formula until they are a year old. Always breastfeed or give the bottle first...this way you are sure that they fill up on what they need, not the solids. There are no solids that have the right vitamins/minerals that a baby needs, so it's really important that the main part of their diet is breastmilk/formula. Solids are just about learning new tastes and textures at this point, they shouldn't be making up any significant part of their diet until they are close to a year old. Regardless of when you start and what you feed, never put solids (including cereal) in a bottle. It's a choking hazard, even if it's just a little bit of cereal. And it interferes with his satiety cues (feeling hungry or full) and can lead to obesity, especially later in life.
10. as soon as his toothy pegs come up
11. i do not know mabey 5 months or so