How Long Should I Feed My Baby Gerber Cereal for Babies?

Gerber baby cereal is an ideal first food.

Gerber Recommendations

Gerber recommends that parents start their baby on infant cereal sometime during the middle of the first year, with the guidance of the baby's pediatrician. Gerber also suggests that parents continue with single- and multigrain baby cereals through the first year of the baby's life. The company also offers suggestions for feeding cereal to older babies, such as mixing the cereal with other pureed foods or toddler formula.

American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to start solids between 4 and 6 months. They add that while it is not absolutely necessary that a baby's first solid food be cereal, it is an ideal choice as it is iron-fortified, easy to digest and is less likely to cause allergic reactions than other foods. They offer no specific guidelines regarding how long a parent should continue with the cereal.

Bottom Line

Once babies are accustomed to eating cereal, other pureed baby foods may be added to their diets. Parents may continue giving their babies cereal in combination with other foods throughout the first year. Infant cereal provides a significant source of iron, is easy to digest and recommended as an ideal first food by the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, they do not assert that it is an essential part of a baby's diet for any specific time frame.

References

• Gerber: Introducing Cereal
• HealthyChildren: Switching to Solid Foods