Introducing Rice in Formula -- what size nipple for bottle is needed?!

MamaNelly2312 · January 2013

So we just started putting rice in the bottle for my 5mo old LO. We have been using the nipples the bottle came with since he was born. When we put the rice in his bottle with the formula, nothing comes out.

What size nipple should I be looking for now? Do I go one size up or two?

mben1119 · January 2013

Why are you putting rice in his bottles? Unless it is directed by a pediatrician for reflux, it is unnecessary and a choking hazard.

christine6980 · January 2013

We had started putting rice in LO bottle of BM to help thicken it up due to reflux. We did go up a size in her nipple. The small nipples will not give you enough flow to the baby and the baby will just end up frustrated because they can't get anything out of the bottle as hard as they try. So yes, I would go up to a size medium nipple (not sure what kind of bottles you use, we have the medela ones and NUK ones which both have size M nipples)

MamaNelly2312 · January 2013

Sorry not 'rice' but 'rice cereal'.

CottonGirl · January 2013

I'm not sure what nipple size you should go to, but my pediatrician also told us we could start introducing some rice cereal into his bottle around 4 months. He's only 3 months now, so we have to wait a bit. Our LO is using a size 1 nipple now. The pediatrician told us the rice cereal isn't super thick? I don't have experience with it yet. I would try the next size up and see how he does on sucking it out. If he seems frustrated, go another size up.

lulubugsmama · January 2013

We started our LO on rice cereal in her bottle for reflux. We used Dr. Brown's bottles and went up a to a level 2-nothing came out. We switched to Similac bottles with the Y nipples and it works great. Check with your pedi first, ours was a little apprehensive about us using the Y nipples (she has since approved since LO does so well with them).

MeatballEsq · January 2013

neuderke:
Sorry not 'rice' but 'rice cereal'.

Same question. Why are you using it? Because of reflux? If not, I wouldn't do it without talking to your pedi. As PPs mentioned it is a choking hazard. If you want to start rice cereal (for feeding purposes), start spoon feeding.

mben1119 · January 2013

neuderke:
Sorry not 'rice' but 'rice cereal'.

I knew what you meant, but my question isn't changing. Rice cereal can clump in the bottle, creating a choking risk for LO. Unless your baby has reflux, and the benefits outweigh the risks, what you're doing is potentially dangerous for your LO, as well as completely unnecessary. If your LO is ready for solids, do it with a bowl and spoon.

MamaNelly2312 · January 2013

Yes we use Dr. Brown bottles. At his 4 month check up the pedi. mentioned to us that we can begin rice cereal or oatmeal in his bottle with formula. We are trying -- not forcing it. If it doesn't work - it doesn't work. He's 23 weeks now and is really working up an appetite. So I thought I'd try like my pedi mentioned.

MamaNelly2312 · January 2013

k thanks

maisonsco · January 2013

Of course check with your pedi, but I'm putting it our bottles as well. Just be careful not to put too much in there and you should be fine. I'm putting 3 tbl with 7 oz formula. It doesn't make it too thick, so he can't choke, and it fills him up longer. I was on medium nipples before we started and switched to fast b/c he couldn't get it out fast enough. I wouldn't go up two sizes, yet, just in case your baby isn't ready for the flow speed. That in itself would cause him to choke if it's coming out too fast for him.

Hennessy · January 2013

This really is dependent on how much cereal you are using. We've been adding oatmeal to our LO's bottle since 4 weeks due to severe reflux. As a side note, is there a reason you chose rice over oatmeal? Rice is very binding and often causes constipation (which is why we do oatmeal).

As for nipple sizes its really trial and error. We use Dr Brown's bottles and in the beginning we had to go up to a size 3. Based on the amt of cereal this was the only way it would go through the nipple... Although this flow was a bit much for our LO so feeding was a mess and we had to be very careful he didn't get too much in his mouth. We have since lessened the amt of cereal per bottle and moved down to a level 2 nipple, but we still need to stretch them a bit with a fork to get the liquid to pass through. Just for the record, we tried the Dr Brown Y nipples and the flow was as fast, if not faster than a level 4 nipple. As I mentioned it was a lot of trial and error. Good luck, and possibly consider oatmeal over rice!

MamaNelly2312 · January 2013

Thanks. We only tried once and it was a very small (diluted) amount. I didn't want to make it heavy since it's such a new thing to him. We always try to try new things in small quantities. I'll definitely look into oatmeal and put the rice away.

mben1119 · January 2013

amy052006:

No really, who the hell as these pediatricians who are recommending cereal in bottles in four month old babies with no reflux issues? Are they 80? WTF?

I mean seriously, if my pedi suggested this I would run in the other direction. It is a sure fire sign he isn't staying current.

Yeah, I'm with you on that. I almost left my pedi's office when he said I could switch DS to FF at his 1 year appointment.

MeatballEsq · January 2013

amy052006:
No really, who the hell as these pediatricians who are recommending cereal in bottles in four month old babies with no reflux issues? Are they 80? WTF?
I mean seriously, if my pedi suggested this I would run in the other direction. It is a sure fire sign he isn't staying current.

Yes

JulesDiane · January 2013

amy052006:
No really, who the hell as these pediatricians who are recommending cereal in bottles in four month old babies with no reflux issues? Are they 80? WTF?
I mean seriously, if my pedi suggested this I would run in the other direction. It is a sure fire sign he isn't staying current.

I am not this dramatic... but I agree. Wink I am baffled that your ped is recommending that you put it in your LO's bottle! Indifferent

Snow__White__Queen · January 2013

mabenner1:
amy052006:

No really, who the hell as these pediatricians who are recommending cereal in bottles in four month old babies with no reflux issues? Are they 80? WTF?

I mean seriously, if my pedi suggested this I would run in the other direction. It is a sure fire sign he isn't staying current.

Yeah, I'm with you on that. I almost left my pedi's office when he said I could switch DS to FF at his 1 year appointment.

I got a new pedi when ours told m that feeding my 4 month old (at the time) roughly 6 times a day (including at night) was too much and that i should switch to Similac Soy formula when I EBF. Um, no.

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