Feeding Question for babies

We started Mason on oatmeal at 4 months. He hated it... we tried everything and he just can't get the concept of eating on a spoon. Then the Ped said we can mix cereal with half fruits so we got the Gerber Organic fruits and mix the oatmeal with half the fruits. He liked it better, but still not loving being fed.

Last week he was sooo sick with a very bad cold so we stopped feeding b/c he was sick and miserable. He was on pedialyte for a bit till he was getting better.

We haven't started him on cereal again b/c we don't think he's ready. Is that ok to wait? We were thinking of trying again at 6 months. Do you mix the cereal with fruits or do it separate?

Any advise would help

Thanks!

Re: Feeding Question for babies

You can totally wait until he's 6 months. A lot of people wait until then.

We started DD at 4 months (she's now just over 5 months) and she eats pretty well but if she doesn't want more, than I never force the issue because her main source of nutrition is the formula.

This is DD schedule:

6/6:30 - 6 oz bottle

9/10 - 6 oz botte, 1 tbsp cereal, 1/2 oz fruit

1pm - 6 oz bottle, 1/2 oz fruit, 1 oz veggie

4pm - 6 oz bottle

6:30/7ish - 6 oz bottle, 1 tbsp cereal, 1oz veggie

She doesn't always finish but this is what I make. If she eats, she eats. I focus more on the fruits and veggies. The cereal is the least concern for me.

Re: Feeding Question for babies

you can definitely wait - we are. also - my sister in law - she started at 4 months but said her daughter truly didn't 'get it' until 6 months. she said next child - she'll WAIT - because it wasn't worth the trouble & mess.

Re: Feeding Question for babies

Honestly, he was not ready. AAP recommends starting solids at 6 mths for this reason (unless there is a reflux issue that may require cereal).

Wait until six months. There is no rush. When he is ready to take it he will.

I would feed the cereal not mixed with fruit. Not everything should taste sweet. I think he should just simply get the concept of eating from a spoon, b/c he is ready, not bc it tastes sweet, kwim?

Re: Feeding Question for babies

You can totally wait!! DS is 7 months and I give him a couple tablespoons of oatmeal mixed with fruit and then a veggie for dinner. He doesn't like a lot of stuff so he pretty much gets apples, pears, blueberries for fruit and veggie he only eats sweet potatoe and butternut squash.

Re: Feeding Question for babies

sure you can wait.

We started at 4months but honestly we just let Daycare figure it out

We never could get her to eat at home! They (the pros) had no issue. But yeah around 5-6m she really figured it out and it was easier on us.

Honestly tho.. its just harder for us than her. We had to realize she's going to not want it because its completely foreign to her. Sooner or later they come around. Its not like every kid just LOVES cereal and foods the first try.

Well mine certainly didnt and now she's still not a huge eater.

Re: Feeding Question for babies

Thanks all! I'm going to wait. I have his 5 month visit in a couple of weeks so I'll talk to the Ped about what to start with too. Last time when we went for his sick visit she said to wait too. I was just you ladies b/c I don't know what to start with when we do start food.

Oh, and I'll take advise from the other poster and bring it to daycare too. Let the experts feed him too when the time comes.

Re: Feeding Question for babies

It's totally okay to wait. Most Peds recommend not starting until 6 months anyway.

Re: Feeding Question for babies

both my kids started at 6 mo and we did the cereal for a lil while..but it grossed them and us out so we skipped it, havent given it since the first couple of weeks!! we gave the veggies and fruits and gave cheerios for his cereal instead (broken up into tiny pieces at 1st and worked our way up to a whole cheerio)

FYI: Studies are now showing it is not necessary to start at 4 mo, it is better to wait til the 6 mo mark anyway! No rush, they'll be eating food for the rest of their lives and their main source of nutrition is from Breastmilk and formula up until their 1st bday!