As your infant grows, gains head control and shows more interest in food, introducing cereal becomes an option. Cereal is often the first solid food offered. The transition is a major step for your baby, who must learn how to go from the breast to a spoon. All babies are different, but most are ready to start solids at around four months of age. Consult your pediatrician about the best time to start the cereal introduction.
Time Frame
Four to six months is the earliest age recommended to start a baby on solids. A baby who is younger than four months isn't developmentally ready to eat solids and doesn't need the nutrients from the cereal. Early introduction of solid food may also increase the chance of food allergies. Waiting until after six months gives your baby more time to prepare for solids.
Amount
When you first introduce cereal to your breastfed baby, offer it once a day. This helps your baby learn how to eat from a spoon and get used to swallowing cereal. The limited amount of cereal won't take over any of your breastfeeding sessions, so your baby still gets the breast milk's essential nutrients. Start with only a few teaspoons of cereal each time you offer it to your baby. As she gets older and shows more interest in eating the cereal, increase the amount.
Mixing
Infant cereal comes as powdered flakes. To make the cereal taste familiar, use pumped breast milk as the liquid mixer. Add enough breast milk to make the cereal somewhat runny so it is easier for your baby to eat. Because cereal is usually the first solid food introduced to a baby, she has to learn how to swallow something other than breast milk. A thick consistency is more difficult for your baby to swallow. As she gets accustomed to the cereal, adjust the breast milk amount to make the texture slightly thicker.
Tips
Nurse your baby first before offering cereal. If you offer the cereal first, she may fill up on it and not want to nurse. An hour after a nursing session usually works well for feeding cereal. Make a small batch of rice cereal each time you feed your baby to avoid wasting the cereal and your pumped breast milk. If she still acts hungry after finishing it, mix a little more. Rice cereal should not be saved if any is leftover.
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