Cereal vent

kc0721 · September 2010

I'm so tired of hearing from everyone that Miller is "hungry" and needs some cereal. One of my best friends even bought him a box of cereal just to "have on hand" for those nights when he won't sleep. I continue to hear "well if you'd feed him cereal he would sleep through the night" I hear it from my friends and my mom and I've had it. DH is even wondering if we should try the cereal to see if he'll sleep a little more. I realize that this was done way back when, but I feel my pediatrician is a little more knowledgable than my friends, my mom, etc. People seem to think that since he's a bigger baby that he might could tolerate it and also that he's hungry all the time. He eats 7oz at each feeding and that's about every 4 hours, so when I'm discussing this with my friends, or anyone else, they say "that boy needs some cereal" you aren't feeding him enough. Am I wrong about this? Should I try to give him some cereal and see what happens? I know it's not necessarily going to harm him, however it might not agree with him and it might upset his stomach. Miller not sleeping through the night isn't that big of a deal to me, yet I wanna make sure he's getting enough to eat and not starving.

I just needed to vent and get that out. Also, I wanted to know if anyone has started cereal early? If I decide to go that route, I would do it at night and talk to his pedi first. I'm just at my wits end. I thought if I kept declining all the cereal and just shook off the remarks it'd get better but people still push it on us.

hamillm · September 2010

I hate it when people think they know what's best for your baby. You are going to hear both sides no matter what you choose to do...people who think babies should come home on cereal and others who think you should wait until 4m, 6m, etc and even skip cereal all together.

I think you and your DH should talk it out (and to your pedi) and decide what you think is best for Miller. If you do decide to try it and it messes him up, then you don't have to keep it up As far as feeding it to him for him to STTN, I do not agree with that...he's a baby for pete's sake.

You are doing a wonderful job, you can tell he is fed and loved Good luck keeping everyone out of your business! lol

ETA: None of this was meant negatively toward you...just wanted to make sure you knew that

Soon2BMrsWiley · September 2010

I agree with what Lindsay said. Talk to your pedi about it and try to do it with your DH there. That way you both can voice questions about it.

I personally don't think it will make Miller STTN. James has been on solids for almost 3 months and still does not STTN (he did on Saturday night but that was a fluke).

star21gazer · September 2010

I agree with both Lindsey and Amy. Aubrey has been on solids for a while now and she didn't officially STTN until she was 10 months old.

Unfortunately this will not be the last thing people get up in your business about. Since you have tried to ignore the comments and such and that isn't working you might just have to be blunt with them and tell them to mind their own. But I've had 11 months of people thinking they know my baby better than me so I've gotten a bit hard about it lol.

uagirl · September 2010

I agree with Lindsey and Amy. I hate that everone thinks they know your child better than you.

Charlotte went through a really fussy period before we found out she was sensitive to dairy. More than one person told me to pump and add rice cereal to it so she wouldn't fuss so much. Our pedi told me to cut back on my dairy and I suddenly had a less fussy baby, no rice cereal needed.

lilcrablegs · September 2010

I agree with everyone else. I don't think more food ever helped GK sttn... I think it's just something they do when they're ready. People always want to be in your business regarding a baby!

FutureMrsWagner · September 2010

OMG no! He isn't even 3 months old yet! I actually just came from a BFing class and someone in the class asked about adding cereal to the bottle. The Lactation Consultant said that young babies do not have the enzymes in their tummies that they need to even digest cereal. She even went so far as to say that babies don't really even need cereal when they are 4 or even 6 months old. She said that only Breastmilk is best for 6 mos at which time you introduce iron rich solids which doesn't even necessarily mean ceral...it could be sweet potatoes or whatever. Cereal making babies STTN is an old wives tale and is not proven to work. If Miller is a big baby, he obviously is not starving. You are giving him what he needs. Just b/c he doesn't STTN doesn't mean he is hungry either. I think you are doing find and all those people need to mind their own bees wax!

Soon2BMrsWiley · September 2010

The only thing cereal/solids helped with was James' reflux. Once he started those (at 4 month at the direction of 2 pedis), his reflux got better (and that DID translate to somewhat better sleep but definitely not STTN and wasn't bc he was hungry). I think Miller will let you know if hunger is an issue. But talk to your pedi. S/he knows a lot more than any of us!

tippykins · September 2010

FutureMrsWagner:
OMG no! He isn't even 3 months old yet! I actually just came from a BFing class and someone in the class asked about adding cereal to the bottle. The Lactation Consultant said that young babies do not have the enzymes in their tummies that they need to even digest cereal. She even went so far as to say that babies don't really even need cereal when they are 4 or even 6 months old. She said that only Breastmilk is best for 6 mos at which time you introduce iron rich solids which doesn't even necessarily mean ceral...it could be sweet potatoes or whatever. Cereal making babies STTN is an old wives tale and is not proven to work. If Miller is a big baby, he obviously is not starving. You are giving him what he needs. Just b/c he doesn't STTN doesn't mean he is hungry either. I think you are doing find and all those people need to mind their own bees wax!

this.

we're almost 4 mo here, and J has been EBF since day 1. he does NOT sleep through the night, and still wakes up every 1.5-2 hrs to eat (though he is "dream feeding" so he's not wide awake). he was born at 7lb 2oz, and is now well over 17lbs. he's gaining weight like a champ, and is happy and healthy.

i think the only reason to supplement is if baby is not gaining weight. if he's gaining, and seems happy/content there is no reason to add anything, esp not cereal at this point. most babies don't sleep through the night. they are growing so rapidly that they need the constant supply of food. and BM is metabolized by the body faster than formula, so that is another reason that he may seem like he's constantly hungry. don't listen to anyone. you are the expert on your baby!

mrssamuels2b · September 2010

I went through the same thing...everyone wanted him on cereal but I held strong and didn't even start experimenting until 4 months(in the bottle b/c of reflux issues) and that was w/the okay from his pedi...in my experience cereal did NOTHING to help him w/sleeping through the night...we are still very hit and miss...either way, don't beat yourself up about it...God gave you little Miller because he knew that you would do the right thing...talk to your DH and the pedi and make the best decision for Miller.

ImMrsMoses · September 2010

Everyone is an expert! I am sorry you are having to deal with so many strong opinions. But I agree with all of the other posts...you know your baby better than anyone because he is YOUR baby.

Stick to your guns. If you feel like cereal is the best then try it. If not, don't. Miller is still so young...he may just need to eat during the night. Don't think it is anything you are doing wrong, and don't let anyone push you into something you aren't comfortable with either!

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