When to start putting cereal into baby's bottle?

Chantell - posted on 10/18/2009

my son just turned 4 months and i just started giving him cereal but i sujest not to give it to them in a bottle because it is a choking hazard

Chantell - posted on 10/18/2009

my son just turned 4 months and i just started giving him cereal but i sujest not to give it to them in a bottle because it is a choking hazard

Jessica - posted on 10/18/2009

I have to agree with Cyndi. I started both of my kids on cereal when they were at the three month mark. They weren't sleeping through the night and my boyfriend and i were up ALL night long. I would recommend 1 tsp of rice to 1 scoop of formula. My pediatrician recommended that to us when the boys would be up screaming all night long because of hunger. Best of luck to you.

Ingrid - posted on 10/18/2009

which WIC & Doctors are you going to? we go to WIC & have 2 pediatricians & none of them condone putting rice cereal in a bottle! if it's for acid reflux, they might suggest formula w/ rice cereal ground up finer mixed in which is safe to drink.

Tiffany - posted on 10/08/2009

http://www.drgreene.com/21_861.html

Ashley - posted on 09/28/2009

Quoting Lisa:

Cereal in a bottle is a choking hazard! Cereal should only be ate off of a spoon, besides that, cereal has LITTLE nutrition in it. Why not give your baby a bigger bottle instead of rice??? Try feeding rice later at night before a night time bottle. -- Whether or not your child is ready for rice is a different story. They should be able to hold their head up, and a supported sitter. -- The longer you can wait on food, the better. Their tiny stomachs are not developed enough to handle the rice early on, like 5 weeks. It often will end up causing stomach upset and will not be easily digested and will often back them up. There is NO NEED for anything but breastmilk or formula the entire first year(I am NOT advocating, just stating facts). - And if you decide to put rice in the bottle, do NOT make the nipple hole larger! It is that size so your poor baby doesn't choke! It is that small for a reason, and one of them is NOT TO PUT RICE IN A BOTTLE. Would you want to eat rice from a bottle? It's a food, not a drink. If they are ready, use a spoon, PLEASE!

this is far from the truth wic and the doctors say it is perfectly fine to put rice in a bottle, but it is not suggested till they are 3-4 months they also do not have to fully sit up on there own as long as you have them sitting in something in an upright position milk is food to babies and they take that from a bottle people have done it for years and im sure doctors and nurses and people who deal with children everyday all day long know what they are talking about.

Jodi - posted on 09/28/2009

I started at about 2 1/2 months with my son because even after a 5 or 6 oz bottle he was still hungry. 1 teaspoon for every 2 oz seemed to do the trick for us and he started sleeping through the night. he now has reflux (he always did, but now it is diagnosed!) so we tend to put a little more cereal in now to keep him from spitting up. the best advise is that you are the mom and only you know what is right for your baby! don't forget, you do really know best!

Chelsey - posted on 09/28/2009

Most doctors tell you there is no need putting it in the bottle. Personally I think it helps them sleep through the night. I started doing it with my daughter at 2 and a half months old.

Deseree - posted on 09/28/2009

Usually you only put cereal in a bottle if your babies doctor says so, usually if they have reflux or something along those lines other than that I wouldn't.

Loretta - posted on 09/28/2009

I believe it's 4 months. It's full their belly up and make them go back to sleep, lol

Dylan - posted on 09/28/2009

I never put cereal in my son's bottle. Just feed it to them on a spoon. Honestly, cereal in bottles is not the right thing, in my opinion. I think that they need to realize and not associate feeling full, with bottles. otherwise you will have a really hard time weening them from the bottle. Plus, if they are not ready to eat off a spoon, they aren't ready for cereal. I started my son at 3 1/2 months. But, I know all babies are different so you will just have to test it wtih your child.

Shannon - posted on 09/27/2009

In addition, I was unable to breast feed successfully until my 3rd, but you can't compare breast milk to bottle milk much less both to cereal. One feeding of bottle milk or cereal can kill important flora that will take the GI tract 2 weeks to regenerate. I'm not granola, but I do like to read and research and even formula companies state nothing is better than breast milk only for the first 6 months.

Shannon - posted on 09/27/2009

Do research with the American Academy of Pediatrics first. It is highly frowned on. If you must, spoon feed liquidy cereal in small bits, but it's better not to feed them any cereal until 4 to 6 months and 6+ months is the recommendation. They are finding too many long term medical risk factors.

Tabatha - posted on 09/27/2009

Quoting Lisa:

Cereal in a bottle is a choking hazard! Cereal should only be ate off of a spoon, besides that, cereal has LITTLE nutrition in it. Why not give your baby a bigger bottle instead of rice??? Try feeding rice later at night before a night time bottle. -- Whether or not your child is ready for rice is a different story. They should be able to hold their head up, and a supported sitter. -- The longer you can wait on food, the better. Their tiny stomachs are not developed enough to handle the rice early on, like 5 weeks. It often will end up causing stomach upset and will not be easily digested and will often back them up. There is NO NEED for anything but breastmilk or formula the entire first year(I am NOT advocating, just stating facts). - And if you decide to put rice in the bottle, do NOT make the nipple hole larger! It is that size so your poor baby doesn't choke! It is that small for a reason, and one of them is NOT TO PUT RICE IN A BOTTLE. Would you want to eat rice from a bottle? It's a food, not a drink. If they are ready, use a spoon, PLEASE!

I think that is a bunch of BS if you ask me.My daughter has had rice in her bottle when she was little less than a week old.She is 4months and 2weeks old.and you know what she is only 13lbs even.I give her 6ounces of formulla with 2 scoops of rice and a size 3 nipple.SHE DOESN'T CHOKE!SHE GETS PISSY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A BIG ENOUGH HOLE TO GET THE RICE OUT.It all depends on the bottle.What size you get.And it helps her sleep wonderfully throughout the night.And you know what my doctor is happy with it.Cause If I didn't put rice in it she  would be under weight right now.So I don't know what this woman is talking about.Go for it.My daughter had a hard time just keeping her special formula down.But once we put rice in it.she kept it down nicely and was the happest baby ever.So whenever you think your child is ready for it do it.Any way your doctor will tell you that you can put cereal or oatmeal in their bottles.And Breast milk will back them up to.I've talk to many wise women aka old people that have told me that.And by the way lisa FORMULA AND BREAST MILK ARE CONSIDER FOOD.JUST IN LIQUID FORM!!!!!! I hope this helped you hun.Really I do.it's up to you and I've had no problem with started my daughter on cereal early.It's all up to you.

Debby - posted on 09/27/2009

From what I have read thus fa?? Looks like ALL babies are different when it comes to feeding time. :) Best thing to do is just observe and see how your baby acts and most of all, discuss it with your doctor if your baby is still feeling hungry. Times have changed and everyone is different. Good Luck to all....I never fed my babies cereal in a bottle. I spoon fed them both. I had two healthy boys and they are still doing quite well!!!

Anne - posted on 09/27/2009

Don't do it... If they bring up milk then the danger of them aspirating it (breathing it in) is made much worse by the thickener. It is a risk NOT worth taking. You would never sleep again if your child choked on its milk because you thickened it... That's besides the evidence that it is dangerous to give young babies cereals before 6 months as their guts are not sufficiently developed.

Anne - posted on 09/27/2009

The danger of a baby aspirating (breathing in) thickened milk - such as that with added cereal - is much higher. It is very dangerous to thicken milk ESPECIALLY in refluxing babies!

Amomof2miracles0207 - posted on 09/27/2009

My doctor told me never to put cereal in their bottles. I started my boys on cereal from a spoon(mixed with breastmilk, formula or water) when they were around 5-6 months..but my boys were preemies also so things were a little different with them. If unsure I would talk to your baby's doctor and see what they suggest after all they know your baby the best of anyone.

Breanne - posted on 09/26/2009

I started my son off on rice cereal in a bottle at 2 weeks old! He was to fuzzy and didnt want to sleep at two weeks old so my mom told me to try it. It does help them sleep better.

Christina - posted on 09/26/2009

Talk to your doctor. I know these forums are great and help you feel better, but a pediatrician knows best. The nurse that visits our house recommended not doing anything but breastmilk or formula until they are 6 months old. It should not be in a bottle because children must learn that food is eaten with a spoon and has texture. It is also a choking hazard. Bottles should never be given to them in their crib at night for the specific reason that they may develop baby bottle tooth decay.

It is an old wives tale to feed your child cereal to help them sleep. A solid routine helps babies sleep better.

Angie - posted on 09/26/2009

I started when she was 2 months old she's now almost 4 months and yes it does help them sleep I give her a bottle w/ cearel at nite for bed and one in the morning around 11 am

Crystal - posted on 09/26/2009

start cereal whenever you feel the babys ready .. .each and every baby is different and require to start at different ages for different reasons ... may i suggegst not putting it in a bottle to!

AISHA - posted on 09/26/2009

i just started and my daughter is 3months but i do one bottle after bath time and only a teaspoon. But they say you shoudn't introduce solids until six months but I need some sleep. I did the same thing with my other to children and everything was fine. all children are different though.

Miz Supawoman - posted on 09/26/2009

No that is totally not true, you are absoulutely not suppose to put cereal in their bottle at all.

Simone - posted on 09/26/2009

my opinion is that if there ready to eat they need to take it off a spoon cos it helps develope there eating. also cereal is a morning thing it may actually contain things that will give bubs alot of energy.

Alicia - posted on 09/26/2009

I totally agree with Lisa Bundy, nothing should be added to a baby's bottle, my 1st son always had extra formula before bed. Even when he was breastfed he wanted a top up of formula. I think that they will sleep all night when they are content and ready, nothing we can do will make them sleep all night, it's something they work out for themselves.

Zoe - posted on 09/26/2009

i would say wait untill he or she is six months and give good night milk it helps alot but if the child is younger give some mashed up rusk with milk spoon fed it worked for me. x x you could put rusk in bottle to but make sure that it is fully disolved into the milk and use a fast flow teat XX

Jamie - posted on 09/25/2009

Also, sleeping through the night is developmental, not due to solids, though, if they are developmentally ready, it can help. It also can do nothing to help.

Jamie - posted on 09/25/2009

Never unless specifically told to by a doctor. Rice cereal has very, very little nutritional value. You want them getting what they are meant to have.

Trisha - posted on 09/25/2009

Quoting Nicole:

When to start putting cereal into baby's bottle?

I was wondering about how old should a baby be to start feeding them cereal in their bottles at night?? I heard this can help them sleep better too. Is this true??

i never put ceral in my babies bottle but i started her on cereal at 4 mths and then just started adding fruits then vegies they say not to put it in their bottles its s chocking hazzard

Lisa - posted on 09/25/2009

I'm currently at home with my kids, but I work days care in the infant's room normally.The USDA guidelines for solids is to feed baby off a spoon, and to not put it in a bottle, and that baby should be 3 months before solids are introduced. HOWEVER, if you feel you really want your baby to have a little more filling food in his belly, try making a very small bowl of rice cereal ( abt. 2 tsp of rice, if that much). Mix in a little bit of the cereal at a time and leave it thin - it should be like "thick" milk. Then put it in the bottle, or use a spoon to drip it in his mouth. Since baby doesn't know the spoon has food on it, offer a bottle at the same time. when he opens his mouth for the botle, you drip in some cereal, then give the bottle for s few good sucks. If you use the bottle, make sure the cereal is thin enough and free of clumps so it can pass through the nipple hole.

Sally - posted on 09/25/2009

If your baby is waking at night hungry then maybe a richer milk or larger feed at night will help. all three of my boys started on solids at 3-4 months. they were all big hungry babies and no amount of milk would keep them happy. every baby is different. maybe a couple spoons of baby rice before bedtime feed would help.

Michelle - posted on 09/25/2009

I STARTED MY BABY ON CEREAL IN HIS BOTTLE AT LIKE 2 1/2 MONTHS TO 3 MONTHS FOR ACID REFLUX HIS PETITRICIAN SAID IT WAS OK AND IT HELPS WITH THE ACID REFLUX VERY WELL

Sandra - posted on 09/25/2009

I always heard that you should not put cereal in a baby's bottle because that increases the chances of choking.

Kate - posted on 09/25/2009

Ask your doctor. I'm pretty sure he/she will say that cereal in the bottle is NOT a good idea for several reasons. But more importantly, every baby is different and has different sleep patterns. Babies often wake because they need to eat in the middle of a growth spurt or when they are waking because they are working on something developmentally. Try to wait out the night-waking and it will probably cut back after a couple of weeks.

Gwen - posted on 09/24/2009

i didnt realize it goes to last person who responded to question i thought it would go to lady asking question Oops:)

Marina - posted on 09/24/2009

I breast fed her for as long as she would eat that way but she didnt get enough or something, I had no choice but to feed her formula. Her doctor told me it was ok to put the cereal in her bottle and I was doing it anyways. BabyTalk magazine says that instinct tells you what to do and I knew that Zapheria wasnt getting full since she'd be angry and hungry in an hour and a half.

Gwen - posted on 09/24/2009

p.s breast-feeding is best! look up Phthalates

Gwen - posted on 09/24/2009

Unless baby has reflux dont do it, if you start out overfeeding your baby, could lead to obesity later in life.

Marina - posted on 09/24/2009

I had to start putting cereal in my daughter's formula almost immeadiatly. She was always hungry otherwise. I think it all depends on the kid.

Sarra - posted on 09/24/2009

ugh dont get me started on the cereal thing, if you wanna give you baby cereal give them cereal...my doc recomended 1 tbl spoon for every 2 ounces of formula and youll probably have to make the nipple hole bigger the avent brand bottle makes a thick fluids nipple and they work great...there is no right or wrong answer its opnion and preference so dont let anyone make you feel bad for giving cereal

Karen - posted on 09/24/2009

Quoting louise:

Quoting Lisa:

Cereal in a bottle is a choking hazard! Cereal should only be ate off of a spoon, besides that, cereal has LITTLE nutrition in it. Why not give your baby a bigger bottle instead of rice??? Try feeding rice later at night before a night time bottle. -- Whether or not your child is ready for rice is a different story. They should be able to hold their head up, and a supported sitter. -- The longer you can wait on food, the better. Their tiny stomachs are not developed enough to handle the rice early on, like 5 weeks. It often will end up causing stomach upset and will not be easily digested and will often back them up. There is NO NEED for anything but breastmilk or formula the entire first year(I am NOT advocating, just stating facts). - And if you decide to put rice in the bottle, do NOT make the nipple hole larger! It is that size so your poor baby doesn't choke! It is that small for a reason, and one of them is NOT TO PUT RICE IN A BOTTLE. Would you want to eat rice from a bottle? It's a food, not a drink. If they are ready, use a spoon, PLEASE!

I totally agree, the doctors frown on it for a reason!

Bigger bottles don't work with reflux, they just throw up the extra you put in! Cereal (1 formula scoop per 4 oz of prepared formula) thickens it enough that reflux babies can keep their cereal down. You can buy the tri-cut nipples that open based upon how hard your child sucks. Or make the hole slightly bigger...not much bigger than a pinhole. I have 3 children. My oldest had cereal b/c he was STARVING at 1 mo old, and just couldn't take more than 4 oz at a time and was eating every HOUR! My 2nd one had reflux...and we tried the lipid formulas first. So a little cereal kept it in his tummy, but we did have to give him extra fluid (MINUTE amounts!!!!!) to keep him from getting backed up, and this was under a Dr supervision. My baby girl (who is 6 mo) didn't need it until about 3 mo, just b/c she was hungry, and bigger bottles just made her spit up more. It depends on each child.

Choking is an issue.....if you're going to walk away from your baby while they're eating their bottle. All of my children adapted to spoons without any trouble, and the boys even gave up their bottles shortly after we stopped formula without any kind of fight.

It does NOT help them sleep better. Again, each child is different as to when they'll sleep. Oldest...8 weeks, like clockwork, but fought to stay awake. Next one...fought to stay awake, and still wakes up & comes into my room sometimes (he's 5). My baby girl drops off on her own w/out rocking or anything, but she still wakes up to eat every 2-3 hours. It doesn't matter if she gets 6 oz with cereal or 4 oz of formula.

ALWAYS check with your pediatrician. Explain what you ARE doing, and what is or isn't working. There are very good reasons for not trying cereal too early, and they are valid, but again, each child is different. Baby foods are best started at 4-6 mo, depending on your child. You try a small bit of veggie first, if they take it ok, and have no problems, add a new type of food every few days, to make sure there are no allergies. Slowly introduce different kinds of cereal. Rice, then oatmeal, then mixed grains. Make it with formula rather than water, and once they get the hang of it, add a bit of baby food (veggies work too!)

Feeders can be great for on the go moments, but spoon is always best. It's how they learn to eat. If they fight for the spoon you're feeding them with, give them a 2nd one, so they get a feel for it, but you're not struggling.

Just remember it is YOUR baby!! You can always try SMALL amounts, then watch for reactions. There is always the worry of constipation if they aren't ready and allergic reactions as well. You can always stop and go back to just formula if they don't seem ready. God bless you and keep you and your little one. :-)

Denyel - posted on 09/24/2009

Never! Putting cereal in your baby's bottle is an old way of feeding. The only exception is if your child has a medical condition (i.e. acid reflux) and it is prescribed by the doctor. Otherwise there is no need for a baby to have anything else but breastmilk or formula for at least the first 6 months. Then solids can be started but breastmilk and formula is still reccommended to be the main source of nutrition for the first 12 months.

This is all from my research and from the pre-natal classes I have taken at the hospital.

SheriAnn - posted on 09/24/2009

This is kind of a mixed emotion for most. Myself would neverrrr put cereal into my childs bottle.Yes it can help them sleep better at night,but if you wanna do the hole cereal thing, then go to walmart or somewhere((i found mine at walgreens)) and get a cereal bottle.its a bottle made JUST FOR cereal.my daughter has reflux and needed cereal at three weeks of age so she was too young for a spoon so i got the cereal bottle.She was also eating from a spoon at 5months.so you might wanna try that.

Liz - posted on 09/24/2009

I'm a Dental nurse from the ACT, we teach families to only drink milk and water, especially before the age of 3 as children get used to drinking sweet drinks and then wont drink water. Eating fruit in stead of drinking juice is the best way to get nutrition and live a healthy life style with out causeing dental decay and obeseity.

Liz - posted on 09/24/2009

Trish don't put cereal in your babies bottle it is a bad idea, talk to your doctor first. It can cause problems in the future with food allergies. Fomula till approx 6mths old.

Liz - posted on 09/24/2009

It's too early and feeding them early can cause future food allergies

Liz - posted on 09/24/2009

You shouldn't feed children solids until they are 4mths old. It's a known fact giving children solids before the right age can cause food allerges

Liz - posted on 09/24/2009

Quoting Nicole:

When to start putting cereal into baby's bottle?

I was wondering about how old should a baby be to start feeding them cereal in their bottles at night?? I heard this can help them sleep better too. Is this true??

Rose - posted on 09/23/2009

It just really depends on your baby and how well he handles things. My son is now three months and for the past month has been having cereal baby food and juice. And he handles them all fine. Its what you are comfortable with. If you think he's ready for it.