Introducing cereal-I have many questions

I am supposed to introduce cereal soon. Right now I EBF. What is cereal? Do I give it with a spoon? I've heard some put it in a bottle with breastmilk. How much do they take in the beginning? (He will be 6 months) Is cereal the first 'solid' they take, or do I introduce other things too? Is there anything else I should know about this transition?

(I will be checking with the pediatrician at his 6 month appt, which is in a few weeks.) Right now I am trying to figure out what I need in the house, in case I get put on bedrest. TIA!!!!

Re: Introducing cereal-I have many questions

Hey...
Cereal is like Rice, Oatmeal, Multigrain... it comes in a box and you can mix it up with your breastmilk. Many peds don't recommend putting it in a bottle because really its more for the practice of swallowing, eating and not for the nutrition in the beginning. You can buy it at any store, I use Earth's best and I buy it an BRU. You'll start off with just a teaspoon and work your way up from there. You feed it with a spoon... it starts off as looking like realllllllllllly watery oatmeal. HTH!!

Re: Introducing cereal-I have many questions

Usually they tell you to start with Rice Cereal. (baby isle at most supermarkets) I would buy some rice and some oatmeal. Usually in the beginning you do the rice cereal more as a tool to get the baby used to eating solids..

Re: Introducing cereal-I have many questions

They have rice cereal, oatmeal, and barley. Most peds recommend that you introduce it that way.

You mix it with BM and spoon feed it to him.

Start out with about 2-3 tablespoons.

I can't believe you haven't had to give him any before now. Jack was drinking more then 35 ounces at 2 months so my ped had me start by putting cereal in his bottle. Then I think at 4 months I was spoon-feeding it to the little monster!