Rice cereal or any first foods? When do you start?

I was supposed to go to my pediatrician with DD in the beginning of August when she turned 3 months old. However, due to a long story she ended up having her 3 month vaccines done at 2.5 months (daycare related) so we ended up pushing the appointment to the end of August which will be her (almost) 4 month old appointment.

So at my 2 month appointment the doctor suggested starting rice cereal "next month". Basically we talked about it b/c I was going back to work and she wasn't sleeping through the night yet so I think the idea was it would hold her longer. Well, PS, she started sleeping through the night just a few days after her 2 month appointment and has consistently done this to this point (thank God for diaper doublers). Anyway, since she seems okay and is sleeping through the night, do I wait until the 4 month appointment or should I start introducing cereal? I thought I read that these things are started at 4 months old, but I wasn't sure so I thought I'd ask at what age do you start the rice cereal? How many servings a day? How many bottles of formula do you offer once you start?

Sorry for all the questions...

Re: Rice cereal or any first foods? When do you start?

We started DD at 4 months. She did really well with it. We started just with once a day at dinner and then after all the foods were introduced I added Breakfast and then Lunch. The cereal doesn't replace bottles in the beginning.

Re: Rice cereal or any first foods? When do you start?

Depending on each child - anywhere from 4 - 6 months. My son was very hungry (I was nursing), a big boy and wasn't sleeping through the night so I started him one week befor he was 4 months old. DS#1 is started closer to 6 months but should have started sooner because he too was not sleeping during the night.

Just to add, talk to your pedi - they might have a sample schedule or look online there are great sample menus.

DS takes 4 -5 bottles a day. Food is just an add on. In the begining the bottles ares till where all the essentials are coming from.

Message edited 8/11/2008 10:24:48 PM.

Re: Rice cereal or any first foods? When do you start?

We started DD at 3 months on cereal because she was waking up starving at night. She was always looking at us eating and mouthing like she wanted to and just seemed ready to us. She took to it right away and now we give her it every night. I know they suggest 4 months now but every baby is different. Not sure about you but I was eating cereal at 4 weeks according to my mother. Do what you feel is right.