I have a question about adding cereal to a bottle. I have tried to add a small amount of rice cereal to my son's bottle, but it only clogs up the hole in the nipple. I am not putting very much at all in, so how do I avoid this? I use the Playtex Nurser system. Maybe I need a different kind of bottle nipple. I have tried using a nipple with a bigger hole, but that doesn't work either. I have heard countless people say they have added cereal to milk or formula, so I know it can be done. I could never figure out how to make this work when I had my first child.
brandi
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...lisa
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 <><
Jacque
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!
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.
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.
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.
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....
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!
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.
Brandi,
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.
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.
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.
Abby
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.
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.
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/addcerealtobottleexpert/
http://www.drgreene.com/21_861.html
http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/bottlefeeding/jf2.htm
http://www.babycenter.com/expert/baby/babyfeeding/9155.html
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.
Dear Brandi,
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,
Ellie
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.