Rice cereal question

EMTX

Dr. Cepeda told us to start W on rice cereal, followed by oatmeal this week.

I had lots of questions but as usual thought of more when I got home.

What brand (if any?) do you all recommend?  Are there lots? I don't even know. Differences?

She said to serve it to him by spoon but with some expressed breastmilk. Didn't even think to ask how that works... what ratio? Is the cereal thick?

Feeling unprepared. I can't believe he is old enough to begin solids (It actually did make me cry last night when I fed him and realized that that was the last day I'd ever be his sole source of nutrition...)

lovemydog

We used Earth's Best and Gerber.  Just mix it with breastmilk to the desired consistency.  I would start out with it pretty thin. 

EMTX

And do I still breastfeed him the same amount of times per day, or does this replace 2 feedings? I can't believe I didn't think of all these things while there.

She said to do 2 tablespoons twice a day. Oy.

MrsBeckO

We use Gerber Organic. 

You'll want to offer the cereal thinner at first, while they learn this whole spoon/swallowing routine. We started with 1 Tbsp dry cereal and just slowly stirred in breastmilk until it reached the consistency we wanted. I have never measured the breastmilk (or water, when bm isn't available). I just mix it in little by little until I'm happy. Now she takes 2-3 Tbsp and we make it a little thicker, but in the beginning we made it pretty soupy.

Rice cereal seriously constipated Camy, so we quickly moved on to oatmeal and haven't given her rice since that first week or so. 

MrsBeckO

EMTX:

And do I still breastfeed him the same amount of times per day, or does this replace 2 feedings? I can't believe I didn't think of all these things while there.

She said to do 2 tablespoons twice a day. Oy.

You do not want to replace any nursing sessions - solids compliment nursing/breastmilk right now. So I always nurse Camy then offer her solids 30mins-1hr later.  

ETA: So take comfort in knowing that even though you aren't his sole source of nutrition, you are most certainly still his primary and most important source! ((hugs)) 

rssnlvr

We skipped rice cereal and oatmeal completely and started with avocado and banana. But we also waited a lot longer than you are, and Dr. Cepeda said it was fine to skip if we were going to start later.

I did pick up a box of Earth's Best organic oatmeal, but it's still in its wrapper. I'm thinking about sending it to daycare for them to give her in the mornings...

As far as adding BM, I would just eyeball it until it looks like the right consistency.

txbabs111

We use Earth's Best and there are directions on the box for how much cereal/ BM to use for the first feeding.

MrsMillerTime

We use Happy Bellies and followed the instructions on the box. 

EMTX

Thanks, ladies! I can't wait to be finished with work so we can go buy it!

I think I'll wait for DH to come home tonight so we can both be there for his first solids feeding.