Right Time for Rice Cereal in Formula?

People that say to add cereal to formula or breastmilk do not know what they are talking about. Cereal does not make them last longer between feedings, that is a myth. My son is 7 months and I started him on cereal at a little over 5 months, he did fine with just the breastmilk as he is over 20 lbs already. I didn't mix it with formula. I just mixed it with water and fed it to him right out of a bowl with a spoon and he did great. Pediatricians say not to give solids this includes cereal until 5 or 6 months, they nutritionally don't need anything other than formula or breastmilk until then. Hope this helps.

Hi there!

My doctors told me to wait until approx. 4 months before giving my kids rice cereal, because they need to be a little older to learn how to swallow thicker things properly.

So I waited and just gave it to them from a spoon. I never put it in the bottle -- even though I received lots of advice from people who believed that I should. It worried me too much, so I just waited until it was right for me and it worked out perfectly. Hope everything works out for you, too!

Personally I think it is way to early. Most doctors say not to introduce cereal until at least 4 months some say 6 now. And they very rarely say to put it in the bottle. I tried cereal with both my daughters at 4 months and they wouldnt eat until 5 months.

yes it about the right tim 2 to month wic don't pay for it intill 6 month just so u know

I know it isn't really recommended to put cereal in bottles. Doctor's usually don't say to introduce cereal or any other foods until at least 4 months but sometimes even 6 months. I am glad he is doing better with just the formula. I have 3 children, one of which will be 5 months tomorrow and I just now am introducing cereal. I hope that helps.

They say not to start any solids until 6 months. If you think he needs it. Ask your own doctor. Only you and him know what is best for your baby.

R.,

Hello! First of all, congratulations on the new addition! Babies are so wonderful! As far as feeding Hunter cereal, each baby's development and needs are so different. My family was telling me to put cereal in Gracelyn's bottle at like 3 weeks. I didn't though. Some of my friends have started it that early. I don't think I started that until about 3 months. Gracelyn did really well with it. But, that doesn't mean that all babies will. I would suggest holding off for a little bit. My doctor told me not to start until around 4 months. I also started giving her cereal off the spoon (VERY thin consistancy) at around 3 1/2 months. You are the only one that can tell that your baby is ready. So, unless he isn't sleeping at all at night, I wouldn't rush it. You are doing the right thing, wait and see what the doctor says. Good Luck!

K.

I would not put rice in the formula either. If he is doing fine on just formula that is great! The only time I have heard to try some rice is if the baby has a hard time keeping the formula in like if they have reflux. If he is good on formula wait till around 4 months and like the other lady said do it on a spoon!!! Good luck and enjoy your son! They grow SO fast :)

My first son who is now 5 years old was given rice cereal in his forumula when he was 2 months old and he never gagged on it. My second son who is now 21 months old again was given rice cereal in his formula when he was 2 months old. That son would gag on it and throw up, etc. Come to find out he was allergic to rice. After he got older even if I didn't know the rice was in something he would throw it up. Maybe he is allergic to the rice. My third son who is now 5 months old is now on rice cereal (I waited longer with him, because I was terrified that he was going to be allergic to it also). There is nothing wrong with giving babies cereal in their formula. In fact if you read on the box it recommends putting formula in with the cereal. Also sometimes your child isn't quite ready to be spoon fed and the cereal in the formula will help them get a little more nutrients. I know that the official people say not to do stuff like this, but come on if it was up to them our kids would starve. For example if you go by the Dr's you aren't supposed to give babies extra water, because they get enough in their formula. Well sometimes babies aren't hungry, but they want something to drink. All the years of people having kids and all the stuff that people used to do and now look at all the healthy people there are in the world even though all the stuff they did in the past is now not alright to do.

If your son is only two months old, that is generally too early for anything but formula. Unless the baby is really hungry even after finishing a bottle and your doctor approves it, infants really shouldn't start "solids" until they are four months old. Hope this helps!

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend not to start solids until six months of age. Here is a link with more information:

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/...

I have heard of people putting cereal in with the bottle. I never tryed it. It's not recommended to do it that way. I started to feed my first daughter cereal at 3 months. I think it's recommended to start at 4 months. My daughter wanted to eat every two hours still thats why I started cereal to help with that. L.

Hi R.!
Personally, I don't think babies that young are able to handle rice in their bottles yet. Their stomachs are so little. I had people telling me to do that with my youngest - she's 2 now - because she ate ALL the time. Her pediatrician didn't recommend it, either. I would say unless it's suggested by your baby's pediatrician, just stick to the formula.

Hope this helps!

K.

I totally agree with that. My Dr. says that adding rice to their bottle just makes them fat and when they are old enough to have it they should be eating it from a spoon not a bottle.
Good luck!
C.

The typical age is 4 to 6 months. Your baby should be able to sit up with a little support on his own before you consider giving him cereal. Also in my experience only older mothers still give that advice, which has been discredited over the years, that giving cereal will help your child sleep longer or eat less often. Consult your ped. before trying agian because at this age your babies stomache just can't handle breaking down cereal or other solids. You did really good taking him off the cereal when he showed problems. And don't worry sometimes it is really hard to know which advice to follow and what to politely ignore. Good luck!

Hi R. - Wait until your pediatrician says it's okay to give Hunter rice cereal. Putting cereal in formula is an old wives tale to supposedly help the baby sleep more and more soundly. Hunter's stomach can't properly digest the cereal yet. Typically, a pedicatrician will give the okay at the 4 month appointment - but everyone is different.

GOOD LUCK!

I have three children and I would never put cereal in their bottle. He is way to litte. And they usually unless reccomended by a doctor don't need the extra calories. Maybe when he is about four months offer only from a spoon. If he is truley ready for solids he will take it from a spoon. Also I would always use a whole grain rice cereal gerber has one. M.

Hi R.,
If he isn't ready for cereal don't force it. Also don't put it in his bottle. Feed it to him with a spoon. He could choke on it. If you are feeding it in his bottle because people tell you he'll sleep better at night. That's just a myth. My ped. told me that is not true. Plus I have read that. I would definatly wait until he is ready. I started both of my boys at about 4 months. He doesn't need anything other than formula at this point. Good luck.
Chris

Personally, I wouldn't put cereal in a bottle. It is a choking hazard. If your son is satisfied with formula, then leave it at that. I didn't start feeding my son cereal until he was about 4 months and I fed him from a spoon. If you are concerned with him not getting enough to eat, talk to your pediatrician. As long as you and baby are comfortable and satisfied though, there is no reason to change :o)

Yes - 2 months is WAY too soon to worry about solids. Babies can live just fine on liquids exclusivly for 6 months.

I'm sure you have a great reason you're not breastfeeding but my son had ONLY breastmilk for the first 6 months. He is 13 months now and still about 60% of his nutritional needs are met with "mama milk".

Why are you giving him cereal??

My daughter still hadn't slept through the night at 2 1/2 months old. So when I went to the doctor, he started her on one teaspoon of cereal per six ounces of formula. Then told me to increase it slowly to three teaspoons. She's been great on it. She's now four months old. At first she had to get used to the her bottle being a bit different but that was only for about the first week. For me it has been great, but not all babies are the same. If there is no certain reason for starting the cereal then you may want to hold off a bit.

R.,

First of all, I'm very envious that you love in such a beautiful town. My husband and I try to stay at the Belvedere Inn as often as we can.

As for the rice cereal...depending on how much formula he's drinking, it should be very little cereal, and only if he's having problems, such as GERD (reflux) or not feeling full. All 3 of my girls (1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2) were on cereal very early because of various digestive problems (never before 2 months). One issue we came across was the difference in the consistency of each maker of rice cereal. Or it might just be that you're not dilluting it enough. Also remember, that cereal, even in very small amounts, is much more filling for him than just formula.

My advice, personally, would be to talk to his doctor or nurse pract. Every baby's different, and yours may not be ready for that stage yet.

Best wishes to you and belated congratulations.

L.

Hi R. well i always heard not to put rice cereal in the bottle because of that fact. like you said it's like he's choking on it. my pediatrician had said that is exactly what will happen. they will get to sucking so hard to get it out that they can choke on it esp. if it comes out and shoots down their throat. i wouldn't even worry about it. there is no reason to put the rice cereal in there. some people say it helps them sleep. i started giving my son rice cereal because of this when he was old enough which they say between 4and 6 months and for him it didn't help. hope this info helps.. again i wouldn't worry about even messing with it. he is getting enough from the formula.

Our ped does not recommend cereal until sometime between 4-6 months. Sometimes you can start around 3 -3-1/2 months if the baby has good head control.
I wouldn't put it in the formula either.

I'd give it up in the bottle all together for this reason alone. Many babies can't swollow thicker liquids from a bottle. If you want to do rice cereal do about a tablespoon on a spoon once a day. However... I would wait until he's 4-6 months old before even doing that... babies don't have the proper digestive enzymes built up in their system to digest solids before 4 months. The only time you should do solids before 4 months is if it's recommended due to reflux or something similar.

Does your Dr's office have a nurses line? Maybe call them if your not sure.

C.

I was told by my pediatrician to wait until my son was 4 months to introduce rice cerial because younger babies may not have the digestive enzymes to handle it until that age. Check with your doctor! Is there any reason you feel you should give him rice cerial other than some people thought you should? Like did the doctor express concern about weight gain? Usually formula or breastmilk is enough for babies that young.

Hi! I am a mother of two boys: one 2yrs old and the other is 6 months old. I started my oldest on cereal at 4 months and my youngest at 3.5 months (he's a much bigger baby and he was not satisfied with only milk). But please DO NOT listen to your friends! Follow your doctor. The doctor will tell you what is right. Family and friends don't always follow the right directions. I.E., my parents still try to give my 6month old peanut butter, and he can't have this until he is atleast 2 years old for allergy reasons. So, please follow what your doctor tells you and not anyone else. At 4 months when you give him cereal try to first spoon feed him. It's something he has to learn. If it doesn't work you can put it in the bottle, but always keep trying the spoon. Trust those mommy instincts! God Bless sweetie!

Hello,
I don't think you should be feeding your son any cereal in his bottle. Everyone told me to feed mine that way too, but our doctor told me not to and that when we feed him cereal, it has to be from a spoon. That he needs to learn how to eat both ways. I didn't start feeding my son cereal until he was 4 months old, and then it was just thicker than formula. Our son is 7 months old now and I just started feeding him 3 meals a day.
Good luck!!

Hi R.,

You're right, it is too soon. My doctor said not to introduce it to my baby until she was 4-5 months old, depending on her development. Then, we only put a tablespoon in there, to introduce it to her, which seems like nothing at all. She is now 9 months old and eats cereal by the spoonful and loves it. If you're worried about him sleeping longer, try giving him more formula, that worked for my daughter.

They say 4-6 months. I wouldn't even consider it at 2 mo.