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Help with rice cereal

Bashert628Bashert628
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months
DS had a pretty bad 5 month appointment. The pediatrician thinks because of stress that I'm under that while I'm producing enough breast milk, there's not enough calories in the breast milk for my son. He's letting me continue to BF, but also said that if I want to start rice cereal I can. I've pumped before, so that's not a problem. I'm just not sure how to prepare the rice cereal. Do I BF/give him a bottle directly after? How does this work?
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Re: Help with rice cereal

  • MyOwnLadyMyOwnLady
    I just called pedi today to ask the same thing...here's what they said: 1-2 Tbsp in 5 Tbsp of BM, Formula or water. Feed it to LO with a spoon (and a bib and a camera lol), about an hour before bedtime, and then one small feeding before bed. We usually feed about 40 minutes before bed, so they said no more than 20 minutes because he will be full from the cereal, if he eats it all.
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  • koosh ballkoosh ball member

    Soilds before 1 yr old should not be the primary nutritional source. You should feed your baby breastmilk first and then rice cereal.

     How does he know you arent producing enough milk?

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  • Bashert628Bashert628
    Stupid question - can I hold him and feed him? We didn't get his high chair yet lol.
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  • Bashert628Bashert628
    imagekoosh ball:

    Soilds before 1 yr old should not be the primary nutritional source. You should feed your baby breastmilk first and then rice cereal.

     How does he know you arent producing enough milk?

    I am producing milk but he doesn't think it has the calories DS needs because while he eats every 2 hours he isn't growing like my pedi wants. I might have to start formula next month - not what I want to do but whatever is best for him.
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  • Alexandra*sMomAlexandra*sMom member

    imageBashert628:
    Stupid question - can I hold him and feed him? We didn't get his high chair yet lol.

    It is really hard to do if you don't want to be covered in cereal.  Try the bouncy (covered with a towel) or the bumbo if you have either.

    I really wouldn't fret about DS getting enough...  my DD is a peanut but my doc didn't say a word....

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  • ldooldoo member

    It's hard to know exactly what to do, cause you hear different information from different doctors and sources. I've heard NOT to feed them before bed because a) if they have an allergic reaction, the evening is a bad time to find that out, and b) it could give them a stomach ache cause it's so different, cause them to have trouble sleeping.

    Also, I never did 5 tbsp of milk cause they almost never eat all of the cereal that first (or second) time, so you end up wasting breast milk.

    And I question why your doc wants you to give rice cereal to increase your baby's calories, when there are so few calories in cereal. Certainly not enough to make up for what your milk might be lacking.

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  • knedellknedell
    I would also question your dr's suggestion to start cereal if he thinks your baby isn't getting enough calories from your bm...I have never heard of such a thing.  Cereal has very little in the are of nutritional value so why would he want your baby getting empty calories?  Has your DC dropped significantly from the percentile they have been in previously for weight?
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  • CytinaCytina
    Always feed BM/formula before rice cereal - that was the only thing our pedi ever said really.  He left the timing up to us.  I think with DS1 we gave it to him after his morning bottle and after his evening bottle.  Of course, start with it really soupy.  Since you're mixing with BM and you don't want waste any of it, definitely start with tiny portions - you can always make more if he's still showing an interest.  I do agree with pp about calorie content in rice cereal - it's pretty empty calories - just useful for feeding practice and filling up the belly!
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  • synchrosallysynchrosally member

    imageknedell:
    I would also question your dr's suggestion to start cereal if he thinks your baby isn't getting enough calories from your bm...I have never heard of such a thing.  Cereal has very little in the are of nutritional value so why would he want your baby getting empty calories?  Has your DC dropped significantly from the percentile they have been in previously for weight?

    This.  Cereal at this age is more for learning than nutrition.  I'd suggest seeing a lactation consultant about the breastmilk problem.

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  • imnykeimnyke member

    I had a similar experience with my pediatrician.  He said that he wasn't going to push me starting solids before 6 months but that the solids may help put a little weight on my baby.  I have read all over to wait until 6 months and did so with my other two.  We are just taking things slowly with Rice Cereal and I tried Avocado but my baby did not like the bowel movement it produced so we have backed off a little.  He will let me know when he is ready for more. 

    When we started with Rice Cereal we wouldn't give it to him while he was super hungry and I would nurse after.  Hope that helps.

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