How to Decide to Give a Baby Cereal

Parents often choose rice, barley or oatmeal baby cereal for their infant's first solid food. This special, camera-worthy milestone typically occurs between 4 and 6 months. However, age is just one sign that your baby is ready for solids. Look for several other factors to help you decide when it̵7;s time. Before you panic that your little one will never be ready, know that he doesn̵7;t need to show all these signs -- just a few. Remember, if the first feeding doesn̵7;t go well, you can always try again a few days later.

Things You'll Need

  • High chair
  • Baby spoon

Instructions

    • 1

      Examine your baby while she is sitting, preferably in a high chair where she will be eating. She should be able to sit up and hold her head steady before she is ready to eat baby cereal.

    • 2

      Watch if your baby puts his hands or toys in his mouth. If he does, this is another sign that he might be ready for solids, suggests MayoClinic.com.

    • 3

      Notice if your baby watches you while you eat. She might even make chewing motions with her mouth. Her interest in eating could indicate her readiness for solids, such as baby cereal.

    • 4

      Calculate how much formula or how many times your baby is breastfeeding each day. If he nurses more than 8 to 10 times or drinks more than 40 ounces of formula each day, baby cereal can help fulfill his growing hunger needs, according to BabyCenter.com.

    • 5

      Calculate whether your baby has doubled her birth weight. According to BabyCenter.com, this is also a sign that your baby is ready for her first solids.

    • 6

      Put a baby spoon just inside your baby̵7;s mouth. If he is able to close his mouth around the spoon, then it might be time to give him solids.

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