Help with cereal formula ratio please

hiscutewife

My pedi wants to start DS on cereal then to veggies then to fruit. He is eating so much formula he wants to see if cereal helps. I bought gerber rice cereal and the directions are not so clear.

He usually gets 6oz of formula before bed. So how much cereal would you mix 6 oz of formula?  Do you put it in a bowl? My MIL said you can do it in a bottle (though my pedi of course said no because the formula should be thicker that milk but not like porridge)

this is what the gerber site says: Don?t reduce the time you spend nursing or the ounces of breastmilk or formula you offer. This assures you that your baby still gets adequate nourishment for growth, regardless of how much?and which?solid food she eats. It says to then feed the cereal, I am so confused.

M&D06

If you're not giving it in a bottle, I wouldn't try to mix the cereal with 6oz of formula.  The pedi probably means to feed cereal in addition to giving a bottle.  When it comes to the ratio, I used to just add formula and stir as I went.  I started off with a runnier consistency and made it thicker as he (ds #1) learned to eat it. And, yes, I'd give it in a bowl and try to feed him with a spoon. 

hiscutewife

M&D06:

If you're not giving it in a bottle, I wouldn't try to mix the cereal with 6oz of formula.  The pedi probably means to feed cereal in addition to giving a bottle.  When it comes to the ratio, I used to just add formula and stir as I went.  I started off with a runnier consistency and made it thicker as he (ds #1) learned to eat it. And, yes, I'd give it in a bowl and try to feed him with a spoon. 

Thank You. I knew he wanted me to also keep his formula but I was just a little confused on how to go about the cereal. I understand now. 

rosesandpeonies

you don't put it in the bottle.

You feed them and then about an hour after their feeding you give them the rice (or veggies or fruit)

 Look at it like dessert.  They should be getting all of their nourishment from breastmilk or formula but be introduced to solids slowly.

I usually start once a day after the dinner bottle about an hour later.  You feed it to them with a spoon.  you make it really soupy with breastmilk or formula and slowly you can add less liquid.

RayRay007

I'm no expert but I plan on starting with 1 tbsp rice: 1 tbsp breast milk... If it is too thick I'll add more BM. I'll feed DD that at lunchtime and nurse after wards... I've never heard to give bottle/nurse first and then feed cereal... I wouldn't think DD would be interested in eating then.

Lizzie1184

My daughter is getting rice cereal in her bottles in order to help with her reflux. if you put cereal in your lo's bottle just make sure to use a fast flow nipple. fwiw we add one tblspn of cereal to every two ounces of formula.

jdnemmer

I've read cereal in bottles causes choking. We're on day 2 of it mixed in with pumped BM and she loves it. The ratio/recipe really doesn't matter if its all the same amount overall if you ask me. We're mixing it with the BM she would otherwise be drinking.

We pump during the day and nurse at night, so I know she's getting what she needs nutritionally.