too young for cereal?

[sunnystars]

My ds is 2mos 1wk old. i work full time and sadly, not able to express enough bm to exclusivly bf him anymore :(. he gets 1-2 bottles of formula a day. He seems to want more and more so we started rice cereal 2 days ago. He seems satisfied with this but I'm concerned. I never started my DD on cereal this small and I'm just wondering if its okay? Also, my DD never had formula until she was around 5mos old, so it's extremly hard to have to give him formula :(. But I can't let my lil guy go w/o and I HAVE to work full time. I would appreciate any advice at all ladies!

[whitnessforhim]

Yes, 2mo. is too young for anything other than breastmilk or formula. The AAP recommends waiting till at least 6mo. before introducing any type of solids, including cereals.

What is making you think he is not satisfied at just being at the breast? What pump are you using? How much are you pumping? How is baby's weight and wet/dirty diapers?

Please also remember that it is easy to over feed baby with a bottle. This is not true at the breast. If you can give us some more information maybe we can help :)

[BrandiJR]

my pedi's feeding schedule says start cereal once a day around 4 months. I waited until 5 months though.

[madelsmama]

The AAP recommends nothing besides breastmilk or formula for the first 6 months. Introducing solids prior to that age has been linked to a host of medical problems, including diabetes. Among the criteria for baby being ready for solids is the loss of their tongue thrust and being able to sit up, unassisted.
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/index.html

In addition, cereal has very, very lttle nutritional content. Many moms avoid giving it to their babies altogether for that reason. Your 2 month old is much better off receiving formula if she cannot have breastmilk.

[SingingMom]

What PP said.

Two months is FAR too young for cereal. And it's totally normal for a baby this age to want more and more. This is a normal growth spurt. And it should be fed with breastmilk or formula. When your baby is growing this fast, he really, really needs the protein and fat in breastmilk or formula. Don't shortchange his nutrition.

[debsmooth]

Yeah, too young. You are courting allergies with this. Stick to whatever breastmilk you can give your baby and formula.

[KatieLou]

Way to young IMO.

[Nipple_nectar]

What's the rush?

[sunnystars]

thank you all so much. you just confirmed what i was already thinking! i dont give it to him on my days off. i nurse him all day :) and when he does have it, its mixed with bm or formula. i thought it would be better to give cereal than formula, but thanks to the excellent facts...i now sadly know ive been "shortchanging" him :( i was just trying to do whats best for him w/o supplementing as much as possible. he is growing great. he has plenty of wet/poos ea day. i rent a hospital grade medela lactina. i only pump 5ozs in 2 sessions while @ work. is this a bad pump?

[debsmooth]

I think that's a great pump. I've used it myself. Pumping is definitely a head game. It's impossible for the pump to get as much as a baby would. It's a machine and it's hard to get a good milk ejection reflex with a machine. I would suggest bringing a photo of your baby and if possible even an article of clothing that smells like him. Take big hits off the bit of clothing, look at the picture and think of him and that he's depending on you. You'll make more! It worked for me.

[madelsmama]

That's a great pump! Are you able to let-down with the pump? Sometimes it takes a while to "learn" a new pump, so keep trying.

Formula is definitely preferred over cereal. You've made a good choice.

[BrandiJR]

thank you all so much. you just confirmed what i was already thinking! i dont give it to him on my days off. i nurse him all day :) and when he does have it, its mixed with bm or formula. i thought it would be better to give cereal than formula, but thanks to the excellent facts...i now sadly know ive been "shortchanging" him :( i was just trying to do whats best for him w/o supplementing as much as possible. he is growing great. he has plenty of wet/poos ea day. i rent a hospital grade medela lactina. i only pump 5ozs in 2 sessions while @ work. is this a bad pump?


I personally did NOT like the lactina! Check with your insurance company because they might be able to buy you a pump! I only had to pay $52 for a Medela Pump In Style Advance and I personally get more from that pump then the lactina. I get about 5 ounces or more with my pump and I was only getting about 3 ounces with the lactina...that is my personal experience though.

[cherryzz]

Well They say its to young. Personally Im waiting a few more weeks.
But my aunts were given solids at 2 weeks. And myself and my cousins were given solids at 3 months. We have no health problems or allergies to food.

So Im not sure what exactly they base that on but my family is perfectly fine.

But do what you think is best for your children. Nobody will think your a bad mother!

[KerryS]

Well They say its to young. Personally Im waiting a few more weeks.
But my aunts were given solids at 2 weeks. And myself and my cousins were given solids at 3 months. We have no health problems or allergies to food.

So Im not sure what exactly they base that on but my family is perfectly fine.

But do what you think is best for your children. Nobody will think your a bad mother!

I would encourage you to wait longer than "a few more weeks." Even though you and your cousins are "just fine," the early introduction of solids DOES put the child at greater risk for food allergies. I was "just fine" sitting on my mom's lap in the car, but that doesn't negate the fact that carseats save lives. My sisters were "just fine" getting formula, but that doesn't negate the fact that breastfeeding prevents many illnesses and diseases.

If the food allergy argument doesn't sway you, you might consider that the early introduction of solid foods is associated with decreased milk supply and premature weaning. If you want to preserve your breastfeeding relationship, I strongly encourage you to not introduce any solid foods until your baby is closer to six months.

[whitnessforhim]

ITA with Kerry!

[sunnystars]

well my relationship with the lactina is not a bad one. I am able to get a let-down, sometimes even twice!! it would be amazing if my insurance company would help me purchase one though! i will deffinitly be looking into that. also, i read on one post wic supplied a pump to someone. anyone know who that was or can give me some details?

well as far as the cereal goes, i am swayed. i knew i shouldnt have doubted myself but at least he has only had it 6 times. so it shouldnt mess any schedules up to stop now. im so fortunate to have you ladies at my fingertips...feeding me knowledge!! thanks again for all your suppport and facts. youve helped me tremendously!

[dodoe80]

My sister started giving her DD solids at about 3 or 4 months and DD had problems with it. After that her DD started having issues with the kinds of formula she was getting.

[Nipple_nectar]

I would encourage you to wait longer than "a few more weeks." Even though you and your cousins are "just fine," the early introduction of solids DOES put the child at greater risk for food allergies. I was "just fine" sitting on my mom's lap in the car, but that doesn't negate the fact that carseats save lives. My sisters were "just fine" getting formula, but that doesn't negate the fact that breastfeeding prevents many illnesses and diseases.

If the food allergy argument doesn't sway you, you might consider that the early introduction of solid foods is associated with decreased milk supply and premature weaning. If you want to preserve your breastfeeding relationship, I strongly encourage you to not introduce any solid foods until your baby is closer to six months.

My DS didn't have any trouble with the cereal that was introduced at four months. He did, however, get diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 11 and is insulin dependent for life.

That, by itself, would be a perfectly good reason to wait until a minimum of six months. The American Academy of Pediatrics has found numerous studies to merit it's decision to wait.

[Shaunsmom]

well my relationship with the lactina is not a bad one. I am able to get a let-down, sometimes even twice!! it would be amazing if my insurance company would help me purchase one though! i will deffinitly be looking into that. also, i read on one post wic supplied a pump to someone. anyone know who that was or can give me some details?

well as far as the cereal goes, i am swayed. i knew i shouldnt have doubted myself but at least he has only had it 6 times. so it shouldnt mess any schedules up to stop now. im so fortunate to have you ladies at my fingertips...feeding me knowledge!! thanks again for all your suppport and facts. youve helped me tremendously!

Some WIC offices give out free breastpumps to nursing mamas who are their clients and eligible. I only say some because that may not be true for the WIC office that's closest to you.

When I was WIC eligible with DS in 2001, I received a brand new Ameda Purely Yours for free from our WIC office here. That by the way is the same pump I use with DD, who is 17 months old. It still works like a charm:)

Our WIC office gives either one: Ameda Purely Yours or Medela Pump In Style Advanced. I sure would have gotten a new one if I were WIC eligible.

[sunnystars]

what!!!! that must be nice to get a brand new pump from wic. we are wic eligible and currently recieve the vouchers. i went to my hd yesterday and found out that only give manual pumps. so i did get a new set that you can hook up to the lactina and pump electric but i would much rather own a pump, i have to pay $45 mo just to rent the machine.

[sunnystars]

i wonder why its not the same for all wic recipients? it seems since the program is federally funded, it would be standard no matter where your located.

[lolabear]

some ins companies will buy you one, our wic office lets us rent them free of charge but when i first called there was a 2 month waiting list.

it really doesnt make sense to me the variance in the diff wic offices either. but there are 2 offices close to me and they are both different, one is really small and one is in the city and much larger. but maybe its one of those things where the money comes from the gov't but they are allowed to choose how they spend it? like maybe some offices chose to invest in some good hosp grade pumps to lend out and some spent money to buy pumps to give out. and maybe some areas get more money than others?

[sunnystars]

makes sense but still not as benefecial to me :(. i can barerly afford the $45mo rental charge but i manage b/c i dont have time to manually pump. i would love to be given a medela pump in style or the ameda purely yours. i wonder if i could conact a different hd?

[Shaunsmom]

makes sense but still not as benefecial to me :(. i can barerly afford the $45mo rental charge but i manage b/c i dont have time to manually pump. i would love to be given a medela pump in style or the ameda purely yours. i wonder if i could conact a different hd?

Have you checked Craigslist or do you have a friend or family member that has one you can borrow?

I wouldn't be dependent on the WIC office to provide you one for free based on the information here.

My WIC office here is probably very different than the one nearest you. Sure they both receive federal funding but there probably isn't an industry WIC standard that says you HAVE to give a brand new double electric pump to every client who is a nursing mama. Those things do cost lots of money as well. I know of women here in my community who get their breastpump for free and then stop nursing completely at a few months because formula is easier. Then sits a free breastpump and no one is using it.

I'm really sorry to hear that you can barely afford the rental charge. I'd check Craigslist and see if anything is out there near you.

[maksmom]

I found that the more that I worried about how much milk I was pumping the less I got. If I read a book or magazine while pumping and distracted myself I was able to pump a lot more. I was also able to pump more and faster with my manual avent isis (I used 2 so I could "double pump") then I could with my PIS, go figure...

[sunnystars]

well i cant check with a family member or friend as i am the 1st person in my family to breastfeed and none of my friends bf their kids anymore! i understand the pumps are expensive its just sucky to hear some people recive these aswesome pumps and they give me ONE manual!!! LOL! but i am grateful. and as silly as this is going to sound...im not familiar with craigslist. is it like a form of ebay?

[KerryS]

Yes, but it's local.