Rice Cereal anyone?

jewelamber8

My baby is 3 months now and it is getting harder and harder to get him to sleep at night.  I may try some rice cereal to see if it helps.  Has anyone else out there started?

elfchique

No, no, no and no. It's way too soon. Empty calories. 

CLLDLL

We haven't and won't until LO is 6 months. 

I would highly recommend talking with your Dr. before starting it.  Obviously every baby is different & it may be ok for yours, but some doctors feel that starting solids too early can lead to food allergies.  I've also read that rice cereal is really just empty calories and doesn't do anything to help LO's health.  Something like avocado or oatmeal might be better to start with.  But again talk with your pedi to decide what's right for you & baby.

tysgirl2006

elfchique:

No, no, no and no. It's way too soon. Empty calories.nbsp;

This! Babies this young wake up for a reason. He's probably going through a growth spurt and is needing extra feedings. Give it time.

[Deleted User]

Omg. I'm not going to even bother. Too tired today.

Rachelilly23

No, probably not until at least 5 months. My pedi said I could start it now (just a teaspoon a day) but I was a little shocked he said I could, it seems way too early. My old pedi recommended waiting until at least 4 months. I think I started it with DS1 around 4 1/2 months, and then started real solids at exactly 6 months after he had a little practice with it. Worked out ok for us that way.

numberonemama

My ped said no til at least 4 months but prefers 6 months. I am going to wait until DD can reach for it and stick it in her mouth as I've read about in the breastfeeding book I have.  I rushed everything for DS and regret most of it.

danienross

We don't do any kind of solids until 6mos and skip rice cereal and purees all together. We do solids BLW style. Worked great for E and plan to go that route again. Adding cereal for more sleep is not widely recommended anymore.

CnAnA

elfchique:

No, no, no and no. It's way too soon. Empty calories.nbsp;

this.

cardiganmom

danienross:

We don't do any kind of solids until 6mos and skip rice cereal and purees all together. We do solids BLW style. Worked great for E and plan to go that route again. Adding cereal for more sleep is not widely recommended anymore.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what do you mean by do solids BLW style?

Mrs.G123

elfchique:

No, no, no and no. It's way too soon. Empty calories.nbsp;

This.

dvladybug

My son has rice cereal (1 tsp) in his bottles due to his reflux and spit up and it has not helped him at all with sleeping through the night.  If anything my daughter, who does not have any rice cereal, sleeps longer than my son.  If my pedi did not suggest the cereal for his reflux then we would not even be putting it in his bottles.

blondie42107

elfchique:

No, no, no and no. It's way too soon. Empty calories.nbsp;

This. Current medical advice advises that breastmilk and formula should be the only thing babies should receive for the first six months.

If your baby is waking it's likely a growth spurt. If you feel you should do something, consider a dream feed before you go to bed.

schafer17

My pedi said we would talk about starting foods and rice cereal at 4 months.  His appointment is January 28th and I absolutely cannot wait.  My little monster is eating around 40oz of formula in 24 hours so he is definitely going to start foods at 4 months.  I feel like if you want to try rice cereal early, then try it!  Back when I was a baby - my mom said doctors recommended rice cereal at 2 weeks and foods by 4 weeks.  I survived just fine - with no allergies!

Mrs_Lady

schafer17:

My pedi said we would talk about starting foods and rice cereal at 4 months.  His appointment is January 28th and I absolutely cannot wait.  My little monster is eating around 40oz of formula in 24 hours so he is definitely going to start foods at 4 months.  I feel like if you want to try rice cereal early, then try it!  Back when I was a baby - my mom said doctors recommended rice cereal at 2 weeks and foods by 4 weeks.  I survived just fine - with no allergies!

ithink 4 months is reasonable for cereal my niece actually started a half teaspoon at 3 mos per her doc meanwhile her brother did not. Check with doc and gerber rice has iron in it!

Good luck he may not sleep longer but may reduce total number of ounces he feeds on I guess if anything 

[Deleted User]

schafer17:

Back when I was a baby my mom said doctors recommended rice cereal at 2 weeks and foods by 4 weeks.nbsp; I survived just fine with no allergies!

Well obviously we should all go by your anecdotal evidence instead of what actual doctors and experts say...::massive eye roll::

OP, all I'm going to say is please speak with your pediatrician.

kplaxco85

No, we'll wait the 6 months and skip cereal. My daughter doesn't sttn yet either, but I gave up fantasies of sleep when I decided to be a mom.

AmyP4383

I just say ask pedi. My pedi said we should start based on his growth, weight, and oz per day I EP and he takes 3236 per day. I know there are a lot of ppl who are very anti cereal these days but I like my pedi and trust her so we are listening to her advice.

danienross

cardiganmom:

danienross:

We don't do any kind of solids until 6mos and skip rice cereal and purees all together. We do solids BLW style. Worked great for E and plan to go that route again. Adding cereal for more sleep is not widely recommended anymore.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what do you mean by do solids BLW style?

Baby Led Weaning.

pinitbaby

If you feel that you want to try it and baby seems ready for it than go for it. I've had 4 kids over the last 14 years and there was all kinds of advice given but we did what we felt was best for our babies. I have started cereal with all my kids around 1416wks old and will probably do so with this baby as long as she seems ready for it. There's a total information overload happening nowadays, we are losing our instincts as mothers...think what they used to do 50 years ago, when children seemed to be healthier. You can get all the advicewanted and unwanted, that you want but at the end of the day YOU are the one who is making the decision you feel is best for your baby.

kTedesco10

I too have little onE on a teaspoon of rice cereal per bottle due to reflux. It has been our acing grace as far as her reflux, but she does not sleep for more then a 5 hour stretch at night. I say it does zilch as far as making them sleep through the night. I personally do not think it is okay to add things to make baby sleep through the night though. But then again I don't mind cuddling with my little one at 3am for half and hour while she eats.

AMT1107

mbm1983:

Ask your pediatrician. Many people here go with the current general advice that they are too young. But obviously moms have been giving it early for years. Use your best judgement based on what you discuss with your pediarician. Not what people on an internet message board say.

This.

We give DS 1 teaspoon of rice cereal in his last bottle.  It doesn't help him sleep longer, but it does help him fill up faster.  We talked to the pedi about this because his night bottle he was drinking 6-8 ounces and giving him an upset stomach.  The cereal helps his fill up on 4-6 ounces and he has been sleeping better, not longer but better.  

Use your best judgement - you and your pedi know your baby the best. A random person on the internet doesn't know what is going on with your baby.