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There seems to be a lot of debate about the best time to start solids foods. Older schools of thought start giving there babies rice cereal mixed in bottles of formula or breast milk as early as 4 weeks old, while newer schools of thought believe that babies should start solids by 4 months of age.
If babies are introduced to solid foods earlier than 4 months old, not only will the baby's digestive system may not be able to handle it, but there is also a danger of an allergy and even obesity as the child gets older. It is safe to introduce rice cereal at 4 months old. Your baby should be eating more solids by the time he or she is 6 months old because breast milk or formula is inadequate for their needs.
Baby's First Serving of Rice Cereal
1. Your baby's first serving of rice cereal will probably only be about 1 tablespoon at first. Remember that eating food from a spoon is a new experience for your baby.
2. Make the cereal according to the packaged directions for 1 tablespoon of cereal. The consistency should be like yogurt and maybe a little thinner for some babies.
3. Offer more rice cereal each day until your baby is used to eating it from a spoon. Increase the cereal gradually over a few days to two tablespoons.
4. Once your baby has mastered eating from the spoon and is doing well, introduce other cereals such as oatmeal or barley, but be sure to introduce one at a time, waiting at least 4 days before introducing a new one. Studies have shown that babies need to try a new food up to 10 times before they learn to like it.
5. Once your baby has mastered cereals, then you can introduce fruit and vegetable purees! The fun has just begun.
You can mix cereal with breast milk, formula, or water. Breast milk or formula are adds a nutritional boost to the meal and is highly recommended.
An important note: Rice cereal mixed with breast milk turns "soupy" after standing for a while because the enzymes in the breast milk break down the cereal. It's still safe to use.
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