Rice Cereal in Bottle to Help Reflux?

res932

So we were at the pediatrician today and I mentioned that DS is having a lot of trouble with gassiness and reflux. I feel like we have his bed propped so high at night he is practically sitting up! She told us to put 3 tsp of rice cereal in the bottle (he drinks 4 oz of breast milk) to try and weigh down the milk some and keep him from spitting up. Has anyone else had to do this? I feel like it is early to be adding cereal. Also the pedi said that I wont need different bottle nipples but how will the rice get through the small ones? Also do i need to let the cereal soak before giving himthe bottle or anything else special?

WifeyMommy2011

My Dr told us to do the same thing today.  We have  to supplement some feedings with formula so we use the Enfamil AR which has rice cereal in it as well.

rachbenn2007

I had to do the same thing for DS's bottles when he was about 6 weeks old. 

I went out and bought super cheapo bottles and nipples and stuck scissors  through the nipple. It was alot of trial and error with this. I did try the y-cut nipple first but it was way too fast for him. I would just make the bottle like usual and just shake and mix it really really good. 

BeeziesBaby

our pediatrician prescribed ranitidine (like zantac but a very very small dose) and it has helped a lot. i was hesitant to give him the medicine at such a young age but he is weening off of it gradually (keeping him on the same original dose as he grows until eventually we can just stop it). i recently asked about switching off of the medicine and using cereal instead, and the doctor thinks he should stay with the medication, but he did say that the cereal is used sometimes, and that it isnt harmful. but he did mention that the baby would probably eat less since it is heavier, so thats something to keep in mind. my cousin did it with her baby, she just used a fork prong to widen the hole on the nipple. good luck!

Kristihotgurl33

Ive been doing that and man has it helped with spitting up. You can try the enfamil AR but then bound her up a bit and she was having a harder time pooping so we switched her back to her reg formula and just put rice in it. I used the prong of a fork as well to open it up just a bit.

bellapup

Our pedi just suggested we try this yesterday at my DD's 2 month appointment.  We did it last night for the first time and mixed 2 tsp. will 4 oz. formula (similac sensitive).  We use Dr. Brown's bottles and I just bought a level 3 nipple.  I wasn't home last night when DH gave her the bottle but he said it worked fine.  She was eating slowly but she's a slow eater anyway.  Oh- I just wanted to mention too that DD is on Zantac and another medication too.  Her reflux is bad.

nicki731

We've been doing this with LO since about 6 weeks old. FWIW, we had to go from slow nipples to medium nipples in order for him to get the thickened formula out. My LO is also on a reflux med called Axid now too, and we switched to Similac Sensitive. Every baby has a different combination of what works for them. GL!

BethNJ

Our son was having the same problem at 1 month old and the doc told us to put 1 tsp of rice cereal in for each ounce of breast mild.  At first we ran out to get the Y shaped nipple (we use the Dr. Browns wide bottles) but when we tried it, the milk poured in so fast that it made him sick.  So, we tried using the regular, slowest flow nipples that came with our bottles and they worked great.  Yes, the baby does need to work a bit harder to get all the milk out, but him drinking slower seemed to help with the reflux.  He doesn't spit up anymore and is less fussy / more content after meals.  He also now sleeps 6-7 hours straight through the night now which is amazing.  I also don't really let the cereal soak in.  I just mix it up, and it takes a few minutes before he ends up getting it anyway, so I wouldn't be concerned that.