• Knowledgebase: Infant Feeding Problems

    Questions about nursing, formulas, spitting up, and colic.

    13. When can I start cereal and baby foods? - Top

    In an otherwise healthy, term infant, four months is a common time to start cereal. But there is NO hurry! Some people wait until six months. Babies that start solid foods early may be at an increased risk for food allergies.

    First start with rice cereal milked with breast milk or your formula. Make it thin and offer it with a spoon, NOT a feeder bottle. If the baby rejects it, back off and try the next week. If she likes it, try making it a bit thicker each time until is has a reasonable texture.

    It this is going well, try adding a new fruit or vegetable every 4-5 days, watching for colic, rashes, etc. Wait on meats until at least six months.

    Some people set a routine of two meals a day- cereal and fruit in the morning, and maybe a fruit and a vegetable in the evening. Consider three meals after about 6 months or later.

    The dessert foods are mostly junk. They often have added sugar and starch which your baby does not need. - Updated: March 5, 2001

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    • James L Horwitz, MD

    David C. Thomas, MD

    Barbara Lindberg, PNP