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Rice cereal + bottle

CaptainDCaptainD
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months

Hey ladies!  I am thinking that H isn't getting enough to eat during the day which is why she is waking up so hungry during the night.  She is still iffy with solids and someone on here mentioned putting some rice cereal in her bedtime bottle.

Do I use medium flow or fast flow nipples?  How much do I use in a 5 oz bottle?  Any advice would be appreciated!

 

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Re: Rice cereal + bottle

  • MrsRebeccaMrsRebecca member
    Stupid question, but can you just give her more formula?
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  • Dr.LorettaDr.Loretta member

    I would recommend against that. For one, rice cereal has no nutritional value, so she'd be filling up with empty calories. The purpose of starting solids with rice cereal is to put it on a spoon so LO can get used to the idea of a utensil for eating. For another, it doesn't really help them STTN, despite the old wives' tale, and may contribute to tummy upset.

    Can you just increase her number of feedings, or the volume per feeding?

     

     

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  • Mrs.BoomBoomMrs.BoomBoom
    cereal in bottle=choking hazard.  Talk to your pedi before you do it.
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  • CaptainDCaptainD
    Not a stupid question at all!  She falls asleep way too soon to get it all.  I thought the suggestion of adding rice cereal was a good one but I don't know much about it...
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  • MrsRebeccaMrsRebecca member
    I would give her more throughout the day overall, not just trying to give more at night. How many bottles a day does she drink? Can you add 1 extra?
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  • BabyLove987BabyLove987
    She is more likely to wake up hungry if you add rice cereal.  The same volume of cereal + formula/milk has less calories than plain formula/milk, so a bottle with cereal is actually digested faster.  Rice cereal has no nutritional value. 
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  • CaptainDCaptainD

    Thanks for all of your advice.  I think I will skip this idea  I will try to do more during the day but she gets so distracted she has a hard time finishing bottles.  But I will give it a shot tomorrow.

    Thank you ladies!

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  • NastyAnnieNastyAnnie

    Talk to your pediatrician first. DD is 6 months old; she is probably ready to begin solids with a spoon.

    Jack is not ready for solids with a spoon, but eats too much formula per day, so we add 1 tablespoon of cereal to his last bottle. It has cut down on 1 bottle this week...so, not excellent progress, but a little, and he does sleep well. I just cut a little x in the nipple of the bottle to allow the formula to flow.

     

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  • CaptainDCaptainD
    imageStarAnnice:

    I've been putting cereal in DS2's bottle since 1 month old due to his reflux.

    I put cereal in DS1's bottle from 6 weeks on because I just couldn't keep him full.  The kid ate constantly.  And, believe me, he was putting on weight without a problem.  He never had a digestion problem, never choked on it, didn't develop any food allergies, and is not an overweight kid.  Once he began walking, he thinned out.

    It's completely up to you if you want to go this route or not and what YOU feel comfortable with and what YOU think is right for YOUR baby. 

    Cereal in the bottle is one of those things that just blows up on these boards.  EVERYONE thinks they're the expert because they've READ something somewhere.

    If you choose to do this, I would suggest 1 tsp per oz.  Again, it's completely up to you and what you feel is best for YOUR baby. 

    GL!

    Thank you Annice!  Good points all around.  I think I will hold off on it tonight.  We had slight success with butternut squash for dinner so I will see if that helps her stay full.  If we have another challenging night, I will call my pedi tomorrow and see what she thinks.  She is far from an alarmist so it will be interesting to see what she says.

    I know H should be eating solids by now and we are certainly trying VERY hard!  I try to feed her cereal in the mornings (fruit was a HUGE fail) and a veggie at night.  I know more lands on her bib and on her face than in her belly but she did ok tonight.  Better than I have seen yet.  Maybe we are getting there.

    I just want to be sure she isn't going to bed hungry.  I know that would suck if it were me.  And the fact that she wakes up 2-3 hours after her night time bottle and sucks down 5 more oz makes me think we are doing something wrong.  And she wakes up at 4 am to eat and then can't get back to sleep.

    Ugh.

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  • mrshainesmrshaines member

     

    We do a little bit of cereal mixed with banana before bath and then I nurse her and she goes to bed.  I wasn't fond of the idea of putting cereal in a bottle and she does great with a spoon.  Not sure she gets too much but she is learning.  If you must give her cereal in a bottle they make cereal nipples, it has a y-cut so it comes out easier, but really try to give it to her with a spoon, its fun for both of you!

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  • jessicapzaragozajessicapzaragoza
    I did this at my pediatrician's recommendation with my children with no problems. I started with 2 tbsp for 8 oz milk. It worked great.
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