Help with starting solids?? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Blondie527 · 01-08-2008, 01:28 PM

Ok, I am a first time mom and I am not sure exactly what to do. My son will be 5 months and is taking his rice cereal from a spoon very well at least once a day, sometimes twice. The doctor said once he could do that well for 3 weeks (which he has) we could start on vegetables.
My question is when do you give them the veggies and for how long to test for an allergy? Also, do you still give them cereal in the morning?
I probably sound so dumb right now, but I honestly don't know what I am supposed to do.
THANKS for your help!

Tiff24 · 01-08-2008, 01:52 PM

You don't sound dumb at all! Everyone asks these questions to someone, I had my sister to ask.

You should continue the cereal in the morning. I started giving my son veggies when he was 4 months. We did cereal in the morning and veggies for lunch. I think he was about 5 months when he started getting veggies for dinner too. We started with sweet potatoes, I believe an ounce, and waited 3-4 days before we gave him green beans. You should always wait 3-4 days before giving him something new. A lot of moms choose to wait to give fruit 'til most veggies have been given to make sure they don't favor the sweet fruit, but my son liked everything equally.

baj406 · 01-08-2008, 02:11 PM

The recommendation is to wait 3-5 days after offering a new food before you offer somethig else new. Also, many peds recommend starting with vegetables and then moving to the fruits. I'm not sure on the cereal, as DS couldn't tolerate any of them. Just kind of follow your baby's cues. Good luck!

mcr285 · 01-08-2008, 03:46 PM

i started both of mine on applesauce first, mixed in with their cereal. i've never been one to support the whole veggies first theory, i think your baby will like what he/she likes no matter how you introduce it. the other mommies here had good ideas with offering veggies for lunch though.... it just never really fit our routine to have a sit down lunch, so breakfast was easier.... plus that rice cereal is gross and i always felt like i needed to mix it with fruit (it just made ME feel better!).... but if your baby is eating it without a problem, then that's great! anyway, like it was mentioned already, wait a good three days before offering a new food. good luck!

Heyknack · 01-09-2008, 05:25 PM

My DD is 6 months and I just started her on solids 2 weeks ago. She hates her cereal, and even though I started with oatmeal (at Dr.'s recommendation b/c she tends to get constipated and rice cereal is evidently more likely to do it in babies that are prone to it), she still got constipated. So we had to add pears to it not only to get her to eat it, but also for the constipation. It has really helped. Just a tip.