When To Start Baby On Cereal?
Can you tell me when to start a baby on cereal? My baby is going to be turning four months and I want to try starting her on solids.
This is a topic that many parents are inquisitive about and with good reason, as starting your baby on solids is a very big milestone for your infant. Unfortunately, many parents are not as educated as they should be on this matter. In many cases as you will see below, it is not entirely their fault, as there is lot of misinformation out there.
When To Start Feeding Baby Cereal
You have to be extremely cautious about giving your baby cereal or any other solids before she is ready. If you have done any research online or read any baby books, it is typically mentioned that you should begin your baby on solids around 4 to 6 months. However, this is highly debatable, as organizations such as the American Dietetic Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization all strongly recommend that you wait until your baby is at least six months before beginning solids.
There is a long list of reasons why you should delay starting your baby on solids and this can include a lower risk for illnesses, allergies and most importantly allowing your baby’s digestive system time to mature. Simply eating solids before she is ready can lead to a number of problems, such as gassiness, diarrhea and constipation.
It doesn’t matter if your baby is on solids or is exclusively being breast fed, you will want to delay the introduction to solids until at least six months. Keep in mind that if you are still exclusively breast-feeding, that is preferable you do this for as long as possible, This is because your baby is receiving nutrients and antibodies that help to dramatically boost her immune system. It simply can’t be stressed enough how important breast milk is to a baby.
This is why there is absolutely no rush to start your baby on solids, especially when you consider that not only are there great benefits to delaying the process, but your child will be on solids for the rest of her life after the first year.
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