Starting my 4 month old on Solids?

Question

I was wondering how you started your baby on solids. She is eating about 4-5 oz of milk every feeding. Do I continue to feed that amount as I introduce rice cereal, or do I cut back on formula to feed her.

Answer 1

Don't cut back on formula.  You'll get lots of people telling you to wait another 2 months to start solids, but 6 months is a general guideline.  Babies develop at ABOUT the same rate, but not at exactly the same rate.  Some babies are ready earlier than others.  Assuming you've done your homework and are sure that starting solids is the right thing to do, just experiment as you go about it.  Starting solids is more a way for your baby to experiment with different textures and tastes and to learn how to chew.  She'll still get the majority of her nutrients from formula for now.  You might want to try feeding her normal bottle first and then letting her try the cereal.  That way you'll know she's still getting enough formula, and eating solids will be associated with the pleasure of drinking milk.  Have fun!

Answer 2

dont cut back on formula, thats where babies get most of the nutrients they need.  Just introduce the cereal without interrupting the formula feedings.

Answer 3

You should NOT be feeding a 4 month old solids!

Go talk to your doctor!

Answer 4

You have 2 more months to worry about it!!

Just keep up with the formula.  4-5 ounces a feed is a great amount, there is no need to add any solids right now.

Wait until she is 6 months (like every major health organization recommends) and go from there.

Good luck

Answer 5

I started both my children on solids at 4 months old. I didn't cut down on their formula until they were eating well. I was mixing formula in with there rice cereal so there wasn't much of a change anyway.

Just listen to your baby they will let you know if they want more one way or another.

Good Luck

Answer 6

What you really should do first is a test. Put a small dab of rice cereal on your baby's tongue...if it comes right back out, even after several tries, she isn't ready yet. Many infants, including my own daughter, show signs of readiness early on, but aren't really ready. If the food comes back out, the tongue thrust reflex - designed to keep foreign objects out of baby's mouth and prevent choking in early infancy - is still present, and spoon feeding will be impossible.

That said, eating from a spoon is a learned practice. No baby is born automatically knowing how to accept a substance from a spoon. Therefore, even if your baby IS ready to eat from one, it is very likely that more food will end up on her bib than in her tummy - at least at first. You won't be able to cut back on how much is in her bottle immediately. When she does get the hang of it, and you can feed her an ounce or two of food without so much ending up all over her, you can gradually reduce the amount of formula she takes - but think ounce-by-ounce, not bottle by bottle.

For now, use the spoon for practice, and don't expect your baby to pick up on it immediately. It took about a month for my daughter to really get the hang of it. Just be patient...before you know it, your little one will be eating like a pro. Best of luck.