When to start rice cereal--baby seems to always be hungry

[Hallie_D]

Noah will be 6 months in exactly one week. I had always planned on waiting until at least 6 monhts to start solid food. However, over the last few days he seems to be going through a growth spurt and is nursing constantly when we are together. This is challenging since I work and have been pumping many extra times a day in addition to the extra nursing sessions to make sure he has enough milk at day care. I'm totally exhausted. I'm gagging at the thought of drinking one more cup of Mother's Milk tea. I'm drinking enough water to float away. I'm eating plenty of oatmeal. (I have no plans to supplement him with formula.)

My question is, should I start him now? Is a little bit of rice cereal going to make enough of a difference in his caloric intake to think that it is worthwhile?

TIA,

[squimp]

Here's a good website for advice on starting solids

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T032000.asp

In our experience, when DD started solids, she only ate a few bites at a time) and still drank about the same amount of milk. That said, I don't thing it's a big problem to start before 6 months, if a baby is ready. We started DD on solids at 5.5 months. She was a big girl (>97% in height and >90% weight) sitting up well, and was REALLY interested in what we were eating.

Good luck - it is tough that you are so exhausted. And I can understand hating the tea - how about some oatmeal cookies instead?

[stillplayswithbarbies]

no, a little bit of rice cereal isn't going to make a difference. It has very few calories and little nutritional value anyway. If it is a growth spurt, your supply will regulate itself to keep up with him soon.

[sdbc]

I don't think it makes one bit of difference if you start him on solids one week short of 6 months versus 6 months. It's a guideline--there is nothing absolute and special about that 6 month birthday.

I don't know whether the rice cereal will help or not, but I don't think the timing of a week makes a difference.

BTW, we started dd on just a small amount of solids at 5 months. We gave mostly pureed veggies. My gut feeling (and my ped agreed) is that rice cereal is just processed food with vitamins squirted in. It's not bad, but "real" foods seem healthier if your child doesn't mind the taste at first.

Sue, mommy to Aurora (Rory) born 5/13/04