Right way of mixing rice cereal in formula?

shoebox4

LO has been diagnosed with GERD since he was 3 weeks old. Our pediatrician yesterday said to start using rice cereal with his formula since he's been having issues recently with holding his food down. 

Last night was the first time we added rice cereal (1 tablespoon to 4 oz formula) in his bottle. OMG, disaster. I filled the bottle with water, then added the rice cereal, shook it up for about a minute, and still didnt look like it dissolved.I thought perhaps that's fine, then I added formula powder and swirled it a little bit to get it all mixed up.

First of all, silly me..I had used a Level 1 nipple (with 4 extra holes poked out) and that didnt work. Then we use Level 2 (with no extra holes) and LO was still struggling to drink it. I took the Level 1 nipple and cut an X in the middle hole, and that helped. I think I cut it too big because it took LO all 2 minutes to finish the 4oz and he was gulping really fast. I was worried he was going to choke so we will not be using that Level 1 X nipple again.

What is the best way to dissolve the rice cereal with formula? Do I blend it? Mix it up and hold it for an hour so it will soften? Cut a Level 2 nipple with a smaller X?

What did you do?

M&D06

We put cereal in ds #1's bottles and we just tried to stir it up the best we could with a knife or spoon.  We also warmed his bottles which seemed to help things dissolve a bit.  What kind of bottles are you using?  I wouldn't try to adjust the nipple myself..you can get 'y' cut nipples in both Dr. Brown and Playtex (these are what we used..not sure what other brand makes them) and they're made for thickened formula, I'm pretty sure.  That's what we used and they worked really well.  

sciteach104

I use liquid formula and add the cereal. I shake it up and then warm the bottle and have not had any problems.  I use Dr. Brown's bottles and use Level 4 nipples.  I tried level 2 and 3 and DS struggled, so I went to 4.  Good luck.

mommabear530

1st- our doc told us to do 1 teaspoon per ounce. So 4 teaspoons of rice cereal in a 4 ounce bottle. Our biggest help is to use room temp water, if it's cold the cereal chunks up. So we measure out the water the night before and let it sit. Then add formula, then add rice, and shake shake shake. We also use Dr. Browns bottles and LO does with a level 2 nipple just fine.

Stina4242

I use room temperature water and a formula hand mixer.  I got it for like 4 bucks on amazon and it makes it so much easier.

For the nipple we use the playtex ventaire fast flow.  The beechnut doesn't get as thick so the medium flow would probably be fine.

lturner0923

I add it to a warm breastmilk bottle and it seems to dissolve just fine. Try adding it to the formula (already mixed). As for nipples,  I use the variable flow (its an X cut) nipple for Tommee Tippee bottles.....my LO (7 wks old) does just fine w/ it.