Pediatrician says to start rice cereal at 3 months — isn't that too soon?

Most i know have recommended waiting till 6 months becuase they say it can cause digestive problems...i began my daughter on gerber and cereal at four months shes a healthy little girl shes now two and she pretty much eats anything i give her some ppl have said they fed their kids since three months food that we eat but i think thats a lil too much tho i will be starting my son at 4 months also good luck :)

My doctor told me to start my first son on cereal at 3 months. He was drinking 3 times more formula in a 24 hour period than he was suppose to. We tried the rice and it made him constipated, so we switched to oatmeal. He did great on it. No problems what so ever and he knew exactly how to eat it... You know your child and if you think its too early and he's not ready, that's fine. Trust your gut mama! All babies are different :)

I personally would wait until at least 4 months (the earliest I've heard it okd by anybody other than mamas), but really plan on waiting until the 6 month mark

Is there a reason why she wants u to give baby food this early?

Earliest I've heard was 4 months or when they're independent sitters. Even the cereal suggests that- that they're sitters.

But some kids get hungry fast and their food doesn't "stick" so some feed sooner.

It's your choice though.

At her 2 month appt her pediatrician recommended to start at 4 months.

I started feeding my daughter cereal at 3 months she is now a healthy 5yrs old her pedi had me start with just a spoon or 2 and gradually increase it.

I will be doing the same with my baby boy.

Due to the amount of arsenic found in rice (and subsequently rice cereal), the AAP now recommends forgoing rice cereal as both a thickener and/or first food for infants. They recommend instead oatmeal. These recommendation changes are new, coming out just this past November (2014).

I did with my first two. Idk when I'll start with this one. I just posted an article that is really good about allergies.

Thanks ladies! I think I'll try it out with oatmeal and if it doesn't work out I'll wait until she's four months.

@payrae I don't know he briefly mentioned starting it when she is 3 months because that's what he recommends to all his patients.

I put a 1-2 tsps in a 6 oz bottle for my lo. He is able to get it through the nipple with that amount. They also make cereal bottles (or at least they did 7 yrs ago with my first). I start with very little and will work him up to thicker amounts.

Oh okay so you give them the cereal through the bottle? I thought it was given to them from a plate?

I give my baby boy rice cereal due to reflux and not gaining weight I put a teaspoon for every ounce per doctor I just stuck a fork in the nipple to make it bigger or you can buy a different level nipple

I started at 3 months with my first because I wasn't making enough milk for him. I gave it to him once in the morning and once at night , both times mixed with breast milk. This time I plan on starting cereal at 6 months. I make more than enough milk for my little one.

If there's no medical reason I don't see why he need anything but formula or breastmilk now. If that were my pediatritian I'd be getting a new one. I can see him or her saying four or five months but now is just like whyyy? Their bellies aren't exactly ready. Some babies need it like the moms on here said medically necessary, but I wouldn't if I were you. At least until four months or when baby can sit up all on his or her own.

@payrae yeah I think I might wait until 4 or 5 months..the thought of changing pediatricians did cross my mind.

I've always heard there is no point to rice cereal anyway. No nutritional point that is. The only reason everyone uses it is to tell if baby is able/ready to swallow food and it is a low allergy food. Idk three months seems too early. But if you feel baby is ready for solids by then that's your call.

Yeah I'm planning on waiting until 6 months and seeing if I can change pediatricians