Adding rice cereal to bottle....

GoodOman9206

Our pedi suggested adding a little rice cereal to Connor's last bottle of the evening to assist him with sleeping through the night by filling his tummy a little more. For those of you who may have tried this, how much rice cereal did you add to a 4 oz bottle? Did DC prefer the rice cereal bottle warmed or at room temp? Thanks and wish us luck!!!!

MegGary

I've read that this is not safe to do. That it can cause the babies to choke. I wouldn't do it.

Our pedi recommended this as well but I disagree with her on that.  

cooksr

wow - your pedi said this?? sttn is a milestone and babies will reach it when they are ready. rice cereal will NOT help your dc sttn and unless your child has severe reflux  you should never put cereal in their bottle.

rjbear21

um...i can not believe that your pedi suggest to do this to help him STTN. what an idiot doctor. 

it's only suggested usually for reflux babies.  feeding him cereal is going to do nothing for him. babies STTN when they are ready to.  

GoodOman9206

Our son does have reflux so that is one of the other reasons why she is suggesting this. Dh and I are still considering her suggestion and was just wondering what other have heard or are doing......

goodtobethelarkster

cooksr:

wow - your pedi said this?? sttn is a milestone and babies will reach it when they are ready. rice cereal will NOT help your dc sttn and unless your child has severe reflux  you should never put cereal in their bottle.

Agree with cooksr... I'd encourage you to do more research into this before trying it.

Good luck!

lisaroo

I'm really surprised a pedi would recommend this. Giving solids this young increases the chances for food allergies, choking, and constipation. Not to mention, I have read from countless sources that this doesn't even work. A baby that young is eating overnight because he needs to, IMO.

Sorry I don't have any actual advice. I would not feel comfortable giving my baby cereal at that age.

sev092307

My sister-in law did this her pedi suggested because DS was colic. She used a teaspoon to a 4oz bottle as he got bigger she increased it. I know there are a lot of disagreements on this matter but her son is now 4 and he is perfectly fine. Guess it is just preference and if you feel comfortable doing it. Think back in the day all our parents did it plus more....

SuperCuteBenz

That is a huge myth, and I can't believe your pedi suggested it. Google rice cereal in bottles, and see what you come up with. Obviously, it is your own decision, but I wouldn't do it. Giving rice cereal too early can not only lead to obesity, and digestive problems but it is also a choking hazard.

FWIW, We started DD on rice cereal (by spoon) at 4 1/2 months, and she actually slept worse than she did before. Rice cereal is known to cause gas and constipation.

vanillacourage

DS has reflux. Our pedi recommended putting rice cereal in his bottles (in addition to medication) for it, and we've been doing it since he was 2 months.  DS takes 6 oz bottles and we add 1 formula scoop of cereal per bottle.  However I would NOT do it to get your DS to sleep longer - that's really not the pedi's concern anyway unless he's much much older and still not sleeping well. 

KittenGator

I would add none to a 4 oz bottle, and follow the same dosage for an 8 oz bottle.Seriously though, you LO can choke on the cereal and is too young for solids. I'm not a pedi myself or anything, but your pedi is giving old school advice.The earlier you start solids, the more likely your LO is going to develop a food allergy.Rice cereal is an empty carbohydrate, in other words, has no nutritional value.?The AAP warns against it.?Furthermore, adding rice cereal to a bottle will not make your LO sleep any longer. It's a myth.?For now, I'd try other methods like Happiest Baby on the Block, lavender essential oils, white noise, and stick to formula/breast milk only.?

mfg102

Have you tried using Enfamil A.R. or Similac R.S.?

These are for babies with reflux and have rice starch mixed into the formula - It may be a safer/better choice!

Mrs.Mclstar48

I heard that about formula too (makes them sleep longer) and its total BS.

My GI doc suggested it for my DD because she has reflux. He said 1 teaspoon per 2oz I think. I am not doing it so i dont remember if thats what he said. And its only to thicken the formula....not necessarily to get them to STTN.

GoodOman9206

Thanks for all the info and great advice ladies. DH and I will do more research before we do anything!!!

LadyCheena

I am so surprised by all the negative responses. As a former premie myself, I was weaned on rice cereal at about this age and so we were many other members of my family and last count (of about 18 close cousins and siblings weaned this way, some now well into their 50's) no one has a food allergy, choked or has extreme obesity due to rice cereal being introduced early, just a health zest for life.

I do agree it is not a sleep aid for your child, but it does help keep the baby sated longer. At first, I was opposed of doing this, but after two weeks of doing this, I've noticed my son is more sated and less cranky. However, It is totally up to the parent if they want to do this.

 

 

Sherriberry

DS didn't start sleeping through the night until 10 weeks.....and many babies I know were even later than that. I wouldn't be concerned about it yet.

If he was a few months older....maybe...but I don't think he should be expected to STTN yet.

calibride8

how old is your Pedi? I think that is an old school method... mine said no way when I asked because prompted my MIL.

lvisser

Ahh.... just like old times...

hav2run

Holy flames!  In all fairness to the OP, adding cereal to a bottle was standard practice not very long ago.  It was done around 2.5 to 3 months old and they even had special bottle nipples made for the cereal bottles.  I did it with my DS because it was standard practice 17 years ago.  He was fine.  No choking, and no allergies to food. Lots of things were different then, and kids grew up just fine. 

I think that maybe this pedi needs to get his practice up to date, as the info he gave her is not current.  Some pedis are more relaxed with suggesting cereal for kids with reflux.  I am glad the OP will do her own research and decide what is best for her child.

skoorbnibor

 

GoodOman9206:

Our son does have reflux so that is one of the other reasons why she is suggesting this. Dh and I are still considering her suggestion and was just wondering what other have heard or are doing......

my baby has reflux, too, and I was given this advice. Did some research and opted to skip it. There are some really compelling reasons not to, including choking, allergies and some loss of nutrients (cereal will fill the baby up, but it has no nutritional value, and it will replace some bm or formula which does)

Please do a lot of research! And if a doctor is so irresponsible as to recommend this as a treatment and THEN NOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH to use, I would fire this doctor, or at least be sure to tell her off! Not trying to slam your doctor, but really, she should have at least given you more info! especially for a 2 month old!!