first time mom needs help with starting rice cereal..

Today was DD's 4 month appointment and the ped gave the go ahead to start with rice cereal.
He gave me instructions on how to go about but I was very overwhelmed with all the info.
He said start with rice, then oatmeal, then barley, then multigrain.
I think he said to start with 1tablespoon 1time a day for 3-5 days, then 2 tablespoons, then 3.
Then move to oatmeal and repeat. But I am confused. He said by 6 months she should be having it 2x a day.

Can anyone simply how to do this?
TIA

Re: first time mom needs help with starting rice cereal..

We started DD on cereal at 4 months and she definitely didn't "get it" at first. It took a week or two for her to get used to. I started with 1 tbspn mixed with BM (I think I did 3 or 4 Tbspns), but DD never ate all of it. Rice cereal can be binding and DD didn't seem to like the taste of it too much. I did it for 4 days and then switched to oatmeal for a few days and then multigrain. I did 1 tbspn of that as well. Once she got the hang of the cereal I started to add stage 1 veggies and fruits. Ultimately, now at 6 months she eats about 2 tbspns of oatmeal mixed with fruit in the morning and 2 tbspns of multigrain cereal with a veggie at night. oh.. and definitely take pics!

Re: first time mom needs help with starting rice cereal..

I totally understand how you feel. I also felt very overwhelmed and I still do at times.

This is what I did. Twice a day I gave her 1 tbsp of cereal, once in the morning and once in the early evening. I started with rice, then a few weeks later, I tried oatmeal.

She has been eating cereal for about 2 months now and has also been eating fruits and vegetables for some time. I am STILL giving her about 1 tbsp of cereal and adding in a fruit or veg. I probably should be feeding her more cereal at this point, but I'm afraid that she won't take enough formula then.

Don't know if I was much help... but I know how you feel. I do know though that every ped will suggest different things.

Re: first time mom needs help with starting rice cereal..

Posted by jaysee00

I totally understand how you feel. I also felt very overwhelmed and I still do at times.

This is what I did. Twice a day I gave her 1 tbsp of cereal, once in the morning and once in the early evening. I started with rice, then a few weeks later, I tried oatmeal.

She has been eating cereal for about 2 months now and has also been eating fruits and vegetables for some time. I am STILL giving her about 1 tbsp of cereal and adding in a fruit or veg. I probably should be feeding her more cereal at this point, but I'm afraid that she won't take enough formula then.

Don't know if I was much help... but I know how you feel. I do know though that every ped will suggest different things.

Re: first time mom needs help with starting rice cereal..

I felt the same way.

It will come to you, I promise.

Def start with the rice. Dont worry about the others for now.

Mix it like watery applesauce consistency w/ formula. Try a tiny amt, then see how much your DC will take.

I never gave a certain amt, I just kind of gave what DD would take. Just once a day for now.

Then in some time you can work up to 2 times a day.

Dont worry about any fruits,veggies or other cereals. Just worry about the rice cereal, that way you dont get overwhelmed.

Re: first time mom needs help with starting rice cereal..

Posted by jaysee00

I totally understand how you feel. I also felt very overwhelmed and I still do at times.

This is what I did. Twice a day I gave her 1 tbsp of cereal, once in the morning and once in the early evening. I started with rice, then a few weeks later, I tried oatmeal.

She has been eating cereal for about 2 months now and has also been eating fruits and vegetables for some time. I am STILL giving her about 1 tbsp of cereal and adding in a fruit or veg. I probably should be feeding her more cereal at this point, but I'm afraid that she won't take enough formula then.

Don't know if I was much help... but I know how you feel. I do know though that every ped will suggest different things.