Starting Rice Cereal - UPDATE

DS is 4 months old. He's a big boy. He is about 27 inches and 17 lbs already. His "4 month" appt is in 2 weeks. He typically would drink 30 oz of formula per day but the last few days he is up to 36oz. He has been screaming bloody murder and I think it has to do with him being hungry. I wanted to try and wait as long as possible to start him on rice cereal but I'm thinking it might be time. Would you start it without consulting with your ped. or do you think I should wait for the appointment? Or should I call on Monday and see what they think? If you think I should start now, how much did you begin with and how often?

TIA!

Message edited 11/11/2007 1:05:37 PM.

Re: Starting Rice Cereal

Sounds like he is ready!! Similar happened with my boys. I started my son on Friday and he is 3.5 mos (same timing as my first son). Both were big boys and started eating more and waking up for food. With my first my dr said to start cereal over giving more formula. I know with my first - I called my ped first. This time I just happened to have my 3 mo appt about the time when I thought he was ready but before I could ask the dr brought it up. She said to start at 4 mos but when I told her I wanted to start sooner - she was fine with it. I started with 1 tablespoon of dry cereal made very soupy with formula 2 times a day. I do breakfast and dinner. I do both 1.5-2 hours after a bottle. When he is hungry but not starving. It has only been 2 days but he is taking to it well so far. Good Luck.

Message edited 11/10/2007 11:13:08 PM.

Re: Starting Rice Cereal

my son was like that from 3.5 months, he drank about 40 oz of milk and started waking up every 3 hours at night because he was hungry... my ped. said not to give cereal before 4 months so I waited until he was 4 months and started giving him rice cereal before I even went to our 4 month appointment... it made a huge difference! you can start introducing cereal, most of it will end up on his bib anyways lol

Re: Starting Rice Cereal - UPDATE

we did it ... and i think he's a natural. The first face he made was priceless!!! He didn't eat the whole tablespoon. He started fussing for his bootle. Don't think he realized I was feeding him. So i guess this is a big milestone for my big boy!! Thanks for your reassurance!