How to Add Cereal to a Bottle

Hey B.,

I have to do the exact same thing with my baby, she spit up a lot. I just had to play with different nipple sizes. What works best for me is a level 2 nipple and just 1 tsp of cereal for each bottle.

Also, if you need to make the nipple hole bigger the best thing to use is a fork prong.

they make bottles epecially for cereal, I think they sell them at meijers, or wal-mart, I can't remember where i got mine but it comes in a 2 pack with a small one and a bigger one, I think it was made by playtex.

I have an 11 month old daughter who I started out on cereal also at about 3 months old. And she is just fine. They have you start out with rice cereal because it is easier on the stomach and has less of a chance of causing a food allergy. And it is true that babies will tend to sleep better. I just added enough to thicken the milk just a little bit and then you can cut the hole in the nipple to make it a little bigger. Most babies lOVE it! Good luck!

Uhmm... you aren't >ever< supposed to put cereal in a bottle! I know folks do it, but just use a spoon! If they aren't old/developed enough to hold their head upright when sitting (sometimes propped up into sitting position) then they aren't ready to eat solid food. Stick with formula or breastmilk. It's all babies need until 4-6 months old!

I usually just enlarged the hole in the nipple myself with a knife. I have never found a nipple with a hole big enough for cereal and formula mixed. You have to make sure to only enlarge it just a little bit to prevent choking though.
I didn't put cereal in my sons formula to get him to sleep better. I started feeding it to him at three weeks old because he was constantly hungry and all the formula he drank wasn't filling him up and gave him severe gas. It was the doctors idea to start him on cereal and baby food at 2 months.
It stopped all the gas and didn't hurt him a bit.

I have to be honest... this is an awful idea. First of all, a baby younger than 6 months is not ready for anything other than breastmilk or formula. Earlier introduction can cause digestive issues and allergies, as well as choking on the thicker consistency. And it has been proven that this type of practice can lead to obesity later in life. It messes with the child's developing natural internal cues about being full.

Here is information you need to read:
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/formula/addcerealtobottl...
http://www.drgreene.com/21_861.html
http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/bottlefeeding/jf2.htm
http://www.babycenter.com/expert/baby/babyfeeding/9155.html

Dear B.,

You shouldn't be trying to give cereal to your 3 month old baby. Many mom's try this because they think their baby will sleep better with heavier food on their stomach. I've met some mom's who do it just because their mother's told them to. I think a lot of mom's mistake acid reflux and colic for hunger and over feed their babies. It robs the baby of nutrition and elevates their blood sugar. This actually makes them hungrier and leads to weight problems. Hold off on the cereal until your baby shows signs of being ready to eat solid foods at around 5 1/2 or 6 months old. Please don't expect your baby to sleep more than 3 or 4 hours at night without food until he's past 4 months old. At that time he may sleep 6 hours.

Best Wishes and Hang in There,

E.

We had to add cereal to both of our babies' bottles. We did use a nipple with a slightly larger hole. It still got clogged at times. All we could do was pinch it and shake it up when it did get clogged.

Hi.

This may not be what you wanted to hear, but there really is no reason to add rice to the bottle. Your son is too young for solids - there is no need to give him cereal until at least six months! He will get all he needs from formula or breast milk. Many people put cereal in the bottle in the hopes of getting babies to sleep longer, but it really isn't the way to go.

One of my twin boys had reflux as an infant, and the only way he could hold down formula was to add cereal. Of course, i had to add quite a bit, 3tblspoons to 6-8oz of liquid. I found it easiest for him to cut a hole in the nipple. I got a nipple with the smalles hole I could find, then squeeze the tip, and cut a very small X across the original hole. None of the nipples "designed" for cereal seemed to work. You might give it a try.

I never put cereal in my babies bottles and they slept through the night at 2 months old. I am not sure if that is what you are trying to achieve or not. I do know my sister-in-law has the hardest time getting her daughter to eat out of a spoon now because she gave her food in one of those infant feeders. My Pediatrician said that the infant feeders that you put food and cereal in should be taken off the market because they are not safe. If the baby sucks down cereal through a nipple like milk they can over eat and it can cause stomach aches. Totally up to you though. If you are needing some pointers on sleeping through the night you can message me...I might have some good tips. Hope this helped a little.

Sassy makes a food cereal nurser bottle. They are available at most stores that have baby stuff (Target, Baies R US, Meijer ect. They have a nipple made with a hole large enough for cereal and stage 2 foods. Most pediatricians don't want you to use them. Some claim that babies wont learn to eat off a spoon. I spoon fed both my boys some foods, and gave then ceral and fruits in the feeder bottles. I am expecting now, and will use the feeder bottles again when the new baby comes. They are dishwasher safe. I didn't start cereals until they were four months old, and then started other solids at 6 months.
Good luck! God Bless <><
J.

I agree with Meagan. They say you really aren't supposed to add cereal to bottles, it's simply delaying their ability to eat solids with a spoon, swallow food, etc. It has been proven that it does not help with sleeping through the night as well.

They also say to not feed babies until 4-6 months and the closer you can get to 6 months the better. Before 4 months you are setting him up to possibly have more allergy problems with food.

The X is a good idea. But like the other women said, be very careful to make a small one, or you'll have a big mess on your hands! Another Idea would be to mix the cereal in some really hot water then cool it by filling the rest of the bottle with cold water. That may help it smooth out a bit.

Good Luck!

I am not too familiar with the Playtex Nurser System because I use the Playtex Ventair System and they have different two different sizes for nipples. Stage 1 and Stage 2, so I have to use the 2nd stage to put cereal in his bottle. The doctor told me that sometimes you have to get a safety pin or straight pen and make the holes bigger for the cereal. So far using the stage 2 nipples have worked. Although I have also been told that they make bottles just for adding cereal and food to them. I believe they are called Infafeeders, but I was told the only place you can find them are at Walgreens. I found something like it but I'm not sure if you can use cereal with it at Baby Depot.

I have never done this or used it but I know they have special bottles made just for cereal feeding have you tried looking for one of those at the store? I know when my daughter was a baby I would take a toothpick and stick it through the hole in the nipple to make it a little bigger, although I never mixed cereal with her milk. I guess the only suggestion I thought about was the cereal feeders you can buy. But you've probably already thought of that but if not hope this helps. Good luck.

B.,
When my son was born and after a few months his formula was not enough to fill him up I spoke to his pediatrician and he said to never put it in a bottle, put it in a bowl and make a small amount and feed him by a spoon, he was 3 months old at this time and the doc said this would help his tongue motion to learn to eat from a spoon and would also help with his sucking motion said it gives him a jump on more solid foods that came later. He is 5 now and I never put it in his milk. Good luck.

They have a spcial kind of bottle that you can use for it...I think they have it at babies r us. I can't remember where I have seen it. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
A.

I added cereal in both my kids bottles. My son I started at about 2 mths I think. But if your not adding alot cut a small and I mean small X in the nipple. The more cereal u add the bigger the X. And I don't know your reasons for adding cereal but the theory on the baby sleeping longer with the cereal really depends on the baby. it helped with my son but didn't my daughter. Also depending on the formula u use and if it's for spitting up or refux u might want to try the enfimil AR. It's supposed to be great for that and a lil easier on the nipples....

I have an almost 6 month old son with extreme acid reflux. Since 2 months old he has been on thickened milk. (Dr's orders) But, we used the Enfamil AR Lipil with the added rice starch thickener. I love the ready mix....except the color that stains.....but the powder sucks, as I have asked for requests before it clumps bad!!! So I just switched him to regular formula and am adding rice cereal to it. It has also been ok approved through the Dr. I am adding 3 TBSP of rice to it. I have tried every kind of bottles known and the only one that works is the Avent with Stage 4 nipples.

But, I wouldn't add the cereal without your Dr.'s orders...and still wouldn't do it unless the baby have reflux problems. When they are old enough for cereal they should eat it from a spoon!!! I agree with everyone else that you shouldn't even do it to try to get the baby to sleep. Other methods work without changing feeding habits. HOPE THIS HELPS!!! :)

Is there a particular reason you want to add cereal to his bottle? Most doctors and books will tell you that as far as sleeping better is concerned it's an old wive's tale. sleeping through the night is a developmental milestone...not a matter of being full. Unless you baby has reflux or some other medical problem and the doctor told you, then I would not suggest putting the cereal in the bottle. But if you really, really feel the need, then you should probably buy one of the bottles made specifically for adding cereal...they have a special nipple that won't clogg up. I have seen them at target and at babies r us.

Go to wal-mart and buy a feeder. It looks like a bottle except it can only hold food not straight liquid as the bottom has this plunger thingy that slides closer to the nipple as the baby sucks the food. The nipple has a larger hole for the sole purpose of feeding foods through it. Or you can do it the old fashioned way and use a baby spoon. But keep in mind that a spoon is going to take some practice for your baby as well as you because right now he has this whole tongue thrust thing going on, but he will learn...just be patient.

I used to cut my own nipples on the bottles to make the hole bigger, but you can also buy what is called a y-cut nipple. I found a link for these nipples at Target. Good Luck!

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-1/qid=116587533...

Do not add cereal to the bottle. ask almost any doc and they will say no. cereal is not meant for bottles, its a horrable idea and way to many people do it. it causes chocking hazards and it does not help baby sleep. if you think baby needs more to eat then try watering the cereal wayyyyy down and spoon feed him.

This probably isn't what you want to hear, but I would advise not putting cereal into your baby's bottle. If your baby isn't ready for solid like matter yet, he/she could choke on it. Cereal doesn't make a baby sleep more or even better..
Good luck

My daughter was on the Enfamil A.R. formula which is thicker than most formulas because it has rice starch in it and we had a time finding nipples that wouldn't clog up. Avent makes a variable flow nipple for thicker liquids...it has 3 different stages in the one nipple depending on how it's turned.

Babies really shouldn't start cereal until between 4 and 6 months. They don't need the extra iron from cereal until 6 months.
And you shouldn't put the cereal in a bottle because it could be a choking hazard. Cutting your bottle nipples or buying the Y shaped ones let a lot of food go in your babies mouth, which makes you baby more likely to choke on the liquid/food.
Be very careful doing this.

Unless there is a medical reason for adding cereal to the bottle you shouldn't be doing it.You should start spoonfeeding when baby is 4-6 months.

I cut the nipples as well... you have to be careful not to cut it too much.... just make an X. It's hard not to cut too much so take your time and if you don't have a steady hand, like me, ask someone else to do it. Good luck! I also have one of those 'cereal bottles' and it tends to leak out the bottom.

B.

there is a special bottle for cereal...not sure what it is called but it has a collapsing bottom to help push up the ceral ...just look or ask someone at the store...it has been 14 years since i had one so i dont know naything else about it sorry..but ask the pharmacist they should know...L.

First we used Level 2 nipples, and finally moved up to Y cut nipples by DR Browns...I really don't understand how people say you aren't EVER supposed to put cereal in the bottle, but they make Y cut nipples for thicker liquids...such as cereals.

Note: I didn't start my daughter on Rice cereal until she was about 4 months old. Don't overdo the cereal, rice cereal has no fiber and can lead to constipation. Other cereals have fiber and are better for your child once she is older. Rice is the best to start with since most babies arent allergic to it.

Hope this helps and good luck!

THEY HAVE CEREAL NIPPLES, I HAVE FOUND THEM AT BABY'S R- US ALSO, TRY TO GET A NIPPLE WITH THREE HOLES IN IT THEY ARE KINDA IN A TRIANGLE, OR ALSO TRY ONE THAT HAS AN X, OT CRISS-CROSSES NOT A HOLE.... THIS WORKED FOR ALL THREE OF MY CHILDREN!! GOOD LUCK!!
L.

Hello B.,
I went through the same thing when my first son was a baby (he just turned 9). I tried putting the gooky cereal in a bottle mixed w/ formula and like you said it only stops up the nipple and doesn't let baby have anything! I realized that spoon feeding was much more productive for all involved. Just mix the cereal and formula in a bowl and you're all set. The first couple of times he will probably throw a fit b/c they don't understand why they can't suck on it but they quickly get the hang of it. You will want to have a camcorder or camera handy b/c it is too cute and funny. My babies were always starving and I couldn't shovel it in fast enough. I would suggest, especially for the first few times, that you feed him right when you think he is starting to get hungry. That way he may be a little more accepting and patient if he doesn't feel like it's been 2 days since he last ate. Anyway that is what worked for me and I cleared it w/ my Ped before I did anything. You may want to as well. Hope I have been of some help.

Good luck!!
A. P

Please ignore all of the people that tell you that cereal in the bottle is a terrible idea. This is YOUR child and you do what you and your pediatrician think is best. I had to add cereal to my son's bottle (my Dr's orders) to help with his acid reflux and I had the same problem. I kept buying different nipples and none worked. I finally bought some cheap ones and cut an X in the center. Took a few tries to get the right size but it worked like a charm.

Babies R Us has special nipples for cereal feeding. I never fed my son cereal from a bottle, so I don't know how well they work. I just mixed it up in a dish and fed it to him with a spoon. It doesn't have to be thick. Just enough to stay on the spoon without spilling. But I didn't start feeding him cereal until he was 6-months old.