Has anyone ever had a bad experience giving their baby cereal before 4-6 months?

Question

I'm so tired of hearing people say "NO CEREAL IN FORMULA UNTIL 4-6 MONTHS". My mom gave it to all 3 of her children way before 6 months and we are all fine no allergies, nor are we obese. I also know a lot of other parents that did it and still do it. I would just like to know if anyone has had a bad experience with their child or know someone who has.

Answer 1

Actually, yes. I have treated newborns and young infants for aspiration pneumonia and choking because their parents have given them solids much too early.  

Answer 2

I gave my son cereal around 6-8 weeks.  Not a lot but just enough to get him full.  He's not obese, nor did he get any allergies from it.  Around 6 months I start giving him yogurt before bed cause cereal wasn't cutting it for him!!

Answer 3

I tried to put some rice cereal in my daughters bottle at three months.  The doctor said it was okay and may help her sleep through the night.  She threw up all the next day.  It was nasty.  After that I decided to wait until she was six months old.  Sometimes their digestive system just can't handle it when they are that little.  At six months now, she is doing just fine with whatever food I give her.

Answer 4

Some cereal has alot of sugar or carbohydrates, which can cause a baby to be obese. Usually, as a baby grows up, it looses the 'baby fat'. However, if it is obese as a baby, the 'baby fat' can be permenant.

Answer 5

Cereal should only ever be offered from a spoon, regardless of the age of the baby. adding cereal to a bottle adds extra calories to the bottle and tricks the baby into consuming more than he/she needs. Babies are instinctively able to stop eating when they have had enough and adding cereal to a bottle can destroy this ability.

The nutrients babies need are in breastmilk/formula and if they are fed cereal, it fills them up so they don't have room for the nutrients they need for optimal body and brain development.

Many babies have survived after being fed cereal from birth, drinking cow's milk instead of formula, sleeping on their tummies and other risky practices. The fact that others have survive doesn't lessen the risk. I want the very best for my daughter and will avoid anything that may damage her health and/or inhibit her development.

Answer 6

I gave my son cereal around the 2-3 month mark, he was a very very hungry baby, he was on breast, bottle and cereal and by no means is he an obese baby or now a 4 year old child, he eats me out of house and home and is as skinny as a rake, he never had any allergies or intolerances. I believe it is a very individual thing, you have to go with your gut and by doing a little research by talking not only to professionals but to people like your mum (who after 4 children) has experience you'll know what's best for your baby. Babies appetites differ as do ours. Your the childs mother, you know whats best.

Answer 7

The 3 of you are quite fortunate! But just because some people have not experienced problems by doing what your mother did does not mean they do not exist. My husband is a pediatrician and he and his colleagues did a 5 year long study on the issue. It indicated that those children who are fed before 6 months will not necessarily develop an allergy or obesity, however they are more likely to. They are also more likely to become sick more often (70% more ear infections) and to wean off of formula or milk too soon (though this can easily be avoided).

My foster child was given cereal at 7 weeks by her mother who honestly did not know better she was only 16. She came to us very sick with digestive track issues as her intestines were not able to absorb the food properly and she had to be given antibiotics to prevent infection and some laxatives. --- this is mainly what happens to children who eat solids too soon, constipation.

Answer 8

I had all three of my children on cereal around 3 months. My last baby was the only one that was full term and he started cereal in his bottle at 4 weeks. I found that the beechnut brand rice was easier to digest than gerber and rice is easier on them at such a young age. Oatmeal should be used in the 4-6 month stage. Gerber also adds soy to their cereal and some kids don't handle that too well.

All three of my kids are slim and never had any problems with the cereal in their bottles.