Adding cereal in the bottle

Maria J Posted: Oct 08, 2003 12:33 AM

Adding cereal in the bottle

Gabriel just turned 3 months today and some people have told me he's ready for solid foods. They recommend adding a little cereal in his bottle especially at night to help him sleep through the night. Has anyone tried this or know whether or not this is a good idea? I've done some research on the internet but not sure who to believe.

2003OCT10 Posted: Oct 08, 2003 02:44 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

If you think hes not satisfied with just formula.. YOU ARE HIS MOMMY AND DO KNOW BEST... Definately try it...

Alexzander was eating cereal at 6 weeks from a spoon. Try it both ways.. My son HATED it in a bottle.. loved it by the spoon.. try the Oatmeal first if you are worried that his little belly might not be ready.. (Rice cereal is binding.. and will cause his belly to feel REALLY bad!)... Good Luck!

jlf41 Posted: Oct 08, 2003 06:58 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

Why don't you ask your pediatrician for some advice?

nycchic_24 Posted: Oct 08, 2003 07:27 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

I am not a mommy yet but I am a preschool teacher and I have heard that this isnt the best thing to do. Most parents who have done this (only from my experience), their children have weight problems. I have also heard that it is harder to get them off the bottle once you do this. Just my two cents.

anna Posted: Oct 08, 2003 07:50 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

We did this and it worked like a charm (as far as helping JA sleep through the night). I dont remember when we stopped it, but probably when he started eating more solids. and we didnt want the cereal to fill him up. I would definately do it.
They LOVE it, and its delicious for them!

NIHA Posted: Oct 08, 2003 09:15 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

A lot of women on my pregnancy board talk about this, and actually there's quite a debate about whether or not it's good.

Totally my opinion, but unless it is recommended by the Dr due to low weight gain, reflux, etc, I would wait to introduce any solids until at least 4 months. I think it will be more like 6 months for Lyla since she's doing fine with BM and some formula.

I have read about introducing solids too early (I think this means earlier than 4 m) as a cause of diabetes and obesity later on. That's not to say that all babies who get solids earlier will be obese or have diabetes. JMO, but I don't think sleeping through the night is that important. And, trust me, I would do almost anything to get Lyla to sleep more, since at 4 months, she's still waking up every 2 hours!

Stacey1403 Posted: Oct 08, 2003 09:27 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

You should NEVER put cereal in a bottle!!!!! It can be a choking hazard!!! I agree with Niha with waiting until 4 months to introduce cereal and I would do it with a spoon and bowl. It will be messy but he will get the hang of it!

Victoria Posted: Oct 08, 2003 09:36 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

I have ready on many baby sites that cereal does not help babies sleep through the night. I suggest you consult the dr first. Annalise was put on cereal at 2 months due to reflux. It was in hopes to thicken what was in her stomach so she would keep more. I gave it to her on a spoon. I diluted it with breastmilk so it was very runny. She did not sleep through the night until weeks after that.

NIHA Posted: Oct 08, 2003 09:39 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

Oh yeah, they say that about formula too, that it will help the baby sleep, but it never made a difference for Lyla.

anna Posted: Oct 08, 2003 09:41 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

I did it after 4months. and I didnt use it as my 'fix it' problem for his sleeping throug the night. He was great at sleeping through the night from the very beginning. It just made him more satisfied, thats all. Would you be more full after a bowl of milk, or after a bowl of milk with cereal in it?

Everyone has their own opinion on everything, and this is another one of em.

JustJodi Posted: Oct 08, 2003 09:48 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

Cerial in a bottle is not safe..
I gave billy a tiny bit of cerial at night at about 3 months.. It helped him sleep better through the night..
I remember the pediatrician saying this was fine.

NuBride Posted: Oct 08, 2003 10:06 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

NIHA!! I completely agree with you! Mia is 11 weeks and EVERYONE said to put her on some cereal because she doesn't sleep through the night, but if that is the ONLY reason, I will not do it.

She is thriving on BM and one bottle of formula a day (the night-time feeding) so I ask myself why would I do it, if only to get some sleep? I knew what I signed up for so I will catch my winks someday but until then, the cereal can wait.

My doctor said the same exact thing about diabetes and obesity..he JUST said that on Friday when we were at the pediatrician. JMO everyone needs to do what's best for them and their child.

phyl Posted: Oct 08, 2003 11:19 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

See what the DR says...and then I would say to give cereal on the spoon not the bottle...but you can also judge a bit more as a mommy. Julianne was ready for food weeks b4 the dr said yes...we gave her a bit of rice cereal w/ BM. Rice cereal did NOT work for her as it was too binding..oatmeal MUCH better! ....some of the reasons to delay starting on solids is that the baby is not ready yet to actually SWALLOW the food...their reflex is to spit it out...

I say ask the dr,,,and try a little...it will make them feel a bit fuller...a bit less gassy...but do NOT depend on it for longer sleeping periods. My DR says babies sleep for longer periods once they hit a certain weight...

HTH

BriarRose Posted: Oct 08, 2003 11:36 AM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

Cereal will only make certain babies sleep thru the night. It does not work for all. My son has a voracius apetite and he was taking in way more formula then he should at 6 weeks, so my ped said to give him cereal twice a day. It made all the difference. He did not sleep thru the night but he finally became a happy baby.

As far as the kind of cereal depends on the baby. My son always had rice cereal. Never a problem. He also had it straight from a bottle again no problem.

But what works for one does not always work for all.

Call your ped get there okay to give cereal. See if they (ped) prefer oat or rice, spoon or bottle.
Then adjust as your baby needs.

Elizabeth Posted: Oct 08, 2003 05:30 PM

Re: Adding cereal in the bottle

This is another of those topics where pediatricians part company on what to do. I never really had the need to try it but my ped was against it, she also said that it is a fallacy that it helps them sleep better at night. Luke was a good sleeper once he started sleeping through, I think at around 2 1/2 - 3 months old but when she told me to start offering him cereal, she said never to put it in the bottle.

If you trust your ped, I'd go with what they say.