3 months old

[Mummy2Amelia]

My baby girl will be 3 months old on Tuesday (7th). I am just wondering if this is too early to start her on baby cereal (farex)? The box says 4 months+ so i'm a bit weary about it. She's not a hungry baby at all...I am just eager I think. I did make a teaspoon up last night and made it rather runny, it wasbasically like milk and fed her some on a spoon, she seemed to like it and by the end of the feed she was opening her mouth when I put the spoon onto her bottom lip...I feel like i'm a bad mum today though...is she too young? My family have told me their stories when they started their children on solids and it was around about Mia's age (3 months)...is this too early? I'm so scared I really don't want to do any harm to her precious little tummy... HELP!:confused:

[my babyemmy]

I know of people who were feeding farex to bubbas as young as 2 months but for my DD we didnt start her on solids till she was 6 months! She is BF so supposedly she didnt need it till then.:o

[misskittyfantastico]

Hi (great choice of name!):o
My bro and SIL introduced rice cereal to their little one at 31/2 months with no probs. I've been told also that I don't really need to start my Amelia on solids until 6 months cos she's BF but all bubs are different and I guess you just follow their lead. Most important thing I can say though is that you havent done anything wrong and your Amelia is lucky to have such a concerned, caring mumma.

[jarrahsmumma]

Many people are delaying introduction of solids nowadays as we are finding out more about how babies guts work and allergies etc. Most child health nurses will advise not to give solids until at least 6 months now, and if she is Breastfed that will be plenty for her :D HTH!

[dannii]

when i had my son.. he constantly crying n hungry after tests that all turned out to be fine , my paed suggested i thicken some ebm with farex and he was only about 7 to 8 weeks old. it worked a treat.
dont feel like a bad mum!!
its ok for them, i think SOME people have strong opinions of waiting etc.. but i have heard of plenty of people that have tried their bubs on that young.

and like the other ladies said.. if its a breastfed bub, they can wait till theyre 6 mths old, but i will probably be like u and be eager to try :p

anyways good luck with everything.
and remember its your bub, do your research, and then make up your own mind, dont let people make u feel bad about decisions that u make.
:)

[veve]

hey :)

mum started me on very runny cereal when I was 10 weeks old... basically because I screamed nearly all day with hunger... :p (I settled with the ceral introduction) - mum said it was the BEST thing she ever did!!! -

these days they recommend waiting till 6 months - but every baby is different..

I'd hold off until she is hungry for it (but that is JMO!!) - you may look back in a few months when she is insisting on holding her own spoon... and not letting you help her - or feed her milk OR solids... and wish that you hadn't taken that step so soon?? (again JMO!)

- dont feel like a bad mummy.. just listen to your bubs and follow her lead - she'll let you know when she wants it (note- dont let your family pressure you to start early either- with their stories... she is your bubs... and you are her mum... its your call)

good luck :)

xxx

["whatmorewashing?"]

My GP yesterday suggested I start my DS on farex and he is 3 months old. His reasoning was that it may assist my DS settle better at night as he is still wanting to feed every 3 hrs. Also with myDS the paed started her on solids at 3.5 months but that was more because of her poor weight gain associated with reflux. You will not do any harm by introducing the solids. There is research relating to the benefits of delaying solids until 6 months rather than 4months but that is only due to the apparent decreased risk of gastro problems it is not going to increase the risk of allergies etc. The clinic nurse told me that those guidelines are made to take into account people in areas with poor sanitation etc. but check it out on the World Health Organisation website if you are concerned.

Good on you for having your childs best interests at heart - what ever you do will be guided by love and you will not cause any harm if you decide to start now.

[Oscar's mum]

I personally think 3 months is definately too young to be introducing solids. 6 months is the recommendation as the babies gut is not mature enought to handle anything really apart from milk. They don't say 6 months just to be cruel to us mum's and make us wait IYKWIM!

Ultimately the choice is yours though, but that is what I think!

[Mum2Lucas]

I started lucas on farex at 8 weeks. I just made sure it was really runny and it tends to thicken up if you leave it for a bit too. It hasnt hurt him at all, in fact he loved it and was alot happier too.

[bpato]

Hi

We started DS on rice ceareal at 3 motnhs, and he loved it. He was more settled especailly in the afternoons. We had no issues. The CHN and GP all said it was fine.

Go with your instinct it is usually right.

Good luck

Belinda

[elissas]

I think it depends on the reasons and motivations behind doing it. If your DD has expressed interest in solids of her own accord, then it's quite possible that she's ready a bit earlier - every baby is different.

But, as you mentioned, if your motivation is because you're keen to try her on it, then I'd hold off, as it's really not the right reason to do it.

Good luck - I'm sure you'll make the right choice for your little one with her best interests at heart.

[Jaileth]

I know the feeling of being eager to try. Bub is almost 2 months, and has expressed an interest, but I'm trying to hold off for a while.

Have been reading Robin Barker's 'Baby Love' book, and she has said that in the 70's, 6 weeks was the recomended age for introducing solids, and that the recomended age varies from decade to decade.

Do what you and your baby are comfortable with. And I'd say that if she's enjoying it, and if you feel comfortable with it, then keep going. There are still people born in the 70's that are around! :) ;)