When do you give snacks like Cheerios?

[Kymberley]

My parents brought this up over Easter, asking me why I wasn't giving DS Cheerios. I just answered that I hadn't thought about it, but truthfully, I guess I'm worried about him choking. Then they mentioned giving him Honey-nut Cheerios, and I nearly died on the spot. After I explained that you can't give babies honey (I don't even know if there is honey in the cereal, but there is SUGAR!) they thought I was a loon and dropped the discussion. DS loves Mum Mums and does very well eating them. Are Cheerios okay for an 8 month old?

[DrSally]

Originally Posted by Kymberley

My parents brought this up over Easter, asking me why I wasn't giving DS Cheerios. I just answered that I hadn't thought about it, but truthfully, I guess I'm worried about him choking. Then they mentioned giving him Honey-nut Cheerios, and I nearly died on the spot. After I explained that you can't give babies honey (I don't even know if there is honey in the cereal, but there is SUGAR!) they thought I was a loon and dropped the discussion. DS loves Mum Mums and does very well eating them. Are Cheerios okay for an 8 month old?

Not to mention the nuts (almonds). I started with whole grain puffed rice for DS around 7-8 mo (can't remember), but it was a bit after starting solids. They melt in your mouth. DS was very happy to have a finger food. Then, I tried the comercial "puffs", Happy Baby's are organic and reduced sugar (compared to Gerber). Then, I think I did cheerios (cut in half at first).

[Indianamom2]

Ds has been eating cheerios (several varieties, though not honey nut) for at least a month....maybe more. If you're nervous about choking, the Gerber Puffs are a good choice (or the generic brands...I'm partial to the blueberry flavor!).

Honestly, the choking issue is scary, but my test is to put it in my mouth and just see how long it takes for the food to disolve with me really chewing it. Cheerios dissolve pretty quickly.

Today my Ds (almost 9 months) had a toasted waffle, all torn up. He's done small bits of banana, small bits of very well-cooked carrot, small bits of a whole-wheat bagel, etc.

Go for it!

And FWIW, not that I recommend this, but I never even thought about the fact that DD#1 was eating honey-nut cheerios. I had never bought a different variety because in my mind honey-nut cheerios = regular cheerios. She survived!

[WatchingThemGrow]

We've been ultra-slow on finger foods here, and our pedi was ok with that yesterday. DS2 just got comfortable with puffs this past week, and we did baby mum-mums yesterday. A little banana for dinner last night went over okay, so I've got some super-soft beans and carrots for dinner tonight. I'll prob. start Cheerios in a few days b/c he's getting ready to move to the nursery room at church where they give cheerios as a snack. I'm always paranoid about that room b/c my kids are never proficiently eating them when they move into that class.

[Kymberley]

Originally Posted by Indianamom2

And FWIW, not that I recommend this, but I never even thought about the fact that DD#1 was eating honey-nut cheerios. I had never bought a different variety because in my mind honey-nut cheerios = regular cheerios. She survived!

I'm sure DS would be fine too. It just started a whole argument with my parents and grandmother when they brought up honey. You'd have thought I grew horns out of my forehead. But then, they have been nothing but critical with my feeding choices. But that's for the BP one day soon.

He did get some Gerber puffs for Easter, so I'll try some of those as a snack and see how he does. Thank you ladies!

[smiles33]

Soon after DD2 started rice cereal when she was 6.5 months old, her daycare teachers actually offered her a few quartered/halved whole grain cheerios. They said she loved it so we started doing it at home. She really does seem to prefer them and is very adept now at picking out the Cheerios even when I put Baby Mum Mums or the puffs on her high chair tray.

We are just now starting to offer her a wider variety of non-purees at 10 months old. For instance, she's getting diced turkey, oven roasted sweet potato "chunks" and steamed rice for lunch today.

[Momof3Labs]

I don't think that the "honey" in honey-nut cheerios is an issue. Just unpasteurized honey. The sugar is another issue:

http://www.askdrsears.com/faq/fit22.asp

My girls have been eating Cheerios for a few weeks, maybe even a month. We didn't do many purees and moved quickly to finger foods.

[newg]

I can't remember exactly when I did cheerios with DD......but I know I did the puffs first. They melted sooo much faster than the cheerios. I think I waited 'till DD really had gotten the idea of chewing and gumming down and then started to throw in cheerios. Once she got use to cheerios I just stuck with that because it's cheaper!!
I still don't give DD the honey nut cheerios (or any other varieties) just because I don't want her to get use to that extra sugar.

[Katigre]

I did Trader Joe's cheerios with DD strarting about that age - their ingredients were a lot healthier than regular cheerios. She preferred Happy Baby Puffs to cheerios until she was ~11 months old.

I also didn't worry about chocking with them, but since we did BLW I was really familiar with how DD ate solid foods and how her gag reflex worked.

[DrSally]

Originally Posted by Katigre

I did Trader Joe's cheerios with DD strarting about that age - their ingredients were a lot healthier than regular cheerios. She preferred Happy Baby Puffs to cheerios until she was ~11 months old.

I also didn't worry about chocking with them, but since we did BLW I was really familiar with how DD ate solid foods and how her gag reflex worked.

FYI, They do have a peanut warning though.