When to Introduce Cereal to a Breastfed Baby

In the past, women often put a bit of cereal in their baby's bottle soon after birth in an effort to help the baby -- and mom -- sleep a little longer. This is no longer considered an appropriate practice, according to AskDrSears.com, as a baby's intestines need to mature before he's ready to digest anything other than breast milk or formula. Your baby can begin eating cereal as soon as you and your doctor feel he is ready.

Age Recommendations

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is 6 months of age, and on HealthyChildren.org, the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the recommendation is to wait until "about 6 months" before feeding baby solid foods. Though some babies may be ready for solid foods earlier or later, it's clear that the 6-month mark is the one to keep in mind. During the first year, her solid food experiences are more about experimentation than actual nutrition, and you should continue to offer breast milk or formula to meet her needs for growth; you can continue this until mother or baby feels the need to stop.

Physical Readiness

Reaching the 6-month mark isn't always a green light to start feeding your baby cereal, nor is it necessary to wait until his 6-month birthday if he seems very interested in food. According to HealthyChildren.org, a baby is ready to start eating solid foods when he's able to sit well without support, shows an interest in food, doesn't push it out of his mouth and has doubled his birth weight. If your baby was premature, you may need to wait a bit longer until he's ready.

First Foods

Baby cereals are often the first foods that parents turn to when it's time to start solid foods. However, it isn't your only choice. If you prefer, you can start your baby eating fruits and vegetables, waiting until she's used to these foods before you start cereal. You should always wait at least three days between introducing new foods, so if you're starting solids with a variety of fruits and vegetables, it could be a month or more before your baby first eats cereal.

Other Cereals

Though the soupy, blended cereals are liked by babies, other cereals are also popular, as they make for easy take-along snacks. If you're baby has gotten comfortable with eating and is sitting well and feeding himself, you can offer him other types of cereals. Choose brands that are low in sugar and dissolve easily in the mouth. Oat circles are a good choice because the hole in the middle makes them difficult to choke on.