Can a 2 month old have cereal?

Christy - posted on 10/09/2012

i hear thats a myth that babies sleep longer with adding cereal to formula....dont know first hand cause mine has been amazing with sleeping thru the night pretty much since birth...but on the other hand they do say that at 2 months the baby's digestive system isnt ready to handle anything but formula or breastmilk and can cause damage, and mine is 4 months old and his doc said to try and start feeding him solids now so you dont always have to wait til 6 months...baby will tell you when they are ready to start...he watches us eat intently so my doc thinks he is ready....also my mom and mother in law says that they fed us rice cereal very young ..my husband for example started eating rice cereal at 2 weeks old and he is fine...so its on you and whats best for your baby

Kristina - posted on 10/08/2012

my mom is old fashion and says that giving my son a little rice cereal is ok, she said it will keep him satisfied in between feedings. i understand she listened to her mom and s on ,so i am confused so i think i will wait till his 4 month check up and i will talk to the doctor then about it. thanks everyone for your input

Nicole - posted on 11/01/2009

Ok i'm not saying the entire medical world is wrong...but seriously women have been having babies for how long? and back in the day before doctors supposedly "knew" all these things people gave their babies cereal...in a bottle....at 5 or 6 weeks old. Take a look at your gramma or grampa next time ladies. Your mom probably had cereal at 5 weeks. They made it thru just fine. I honestly believe a lot of problems are caused by us....look at MRSA an infection resistant to medication because we have over used pennicilan and alcohol hand wash. we have trained these bacterias to be stronger cuz at every little sneeze we jump and take a bottle of amoxacillan. Now to the point... As a CNA I dont know everything but I work with people that do have the answers. It's not RECOMMENDED to feed an infant cereal, due mostly to ALLERGENS, a POSSiBILITY that your child MAY develop food allergies. Rice cereal is very very mild and IS RECOMMENDED to give to newborns with severe acid reflux as EARLY AS 3 WEEKS. My daughter is almost 3 months and has already been taking cereal for a month. She ate 6 ounces every 1-2 hours and now she is back to a normal 5 ounces every 3 to 4 hours with 1 cereal bottle in the morning and one before bed. My daughter also has been sleeping entirely thru the night for a month. Granted dont put too much in because it does constipate them and their little bodies can't push it out either. But even if just a little bit makes them constipated they may not be ready for it. each baby is different and sometimes a bottle of water will do the trick and loosen things up. My baby was a big baby to start with and now she is showing signs of being ready to take it by spoon. She doesn't have that pushing reflex with her tongue, she is extremely interested in what we eat and watches intently while moving her own tongue to mimmick...My daughter loves her cereal. You need to use your own judgement and be realistic.

Bobbi Scanlon - posted on 11/01/2009

Good morning .. I have been giving my 13 week old daughter cereal for a couple weeks now by the spoon and she loves it .I dont give it every day but a couple times a week is ok..

Georgina - posted on 10/31/2009

I wouldn't, a 2month old cannot process the cereal & it could cause digestion probs down the track. It's better to tough it out now than risk causing future probs. Whatever you do, good luck!

LeAnna - posted on 10/30/2009

I started my daughter on cereal at about 2 mo. and she took to it really well. Never had any digestive problems or screaming fits. Just made it kindof soupy, for lack of a better word. Gave it to her in the evening. I made it with 1 oz of formula, so the bottle was 1 oz less. My son is now 2 1/2 mo. old and I started him on cereal at 1 mo. He was still hungry after bottle, but when I tried to add 1 more oz. he just puked it back up! Started him off the same way as my daughter, and tada! Problem solved!! I know they say not too, but I think each parent has to decide for their own child. Good luck with your decision!

Jessie - posted on 10/30/2009

My father is my sons pediatrician and we have given him rice in his formula since day one. And he is two months old. It might make hi a little constapated at firt but with time his sytem will get used to it.It took my son two days and his bms were back to normal. Just don't give him a whole lot and her should be just fine.

Kaely - posted on 10/30/2009

I gave it to my son when he was 5 weeks old. Everyone says no that its bad for them, but I did it. And my son is just fine.

Elizabeth - posted on 10/30/2009

I have a two month old son who wouldn't sleep through the night either. I tried the thickened formula and it just caused constipation. So instead, I increased the amount of his before bed bottle. Usually he eats 4 oz every feeding (about every 3-4 hours) and his nighttime bottle is generally 7 oz. With this and a regular routine at night, he has become much more content and actually sleeps about 7 hours straight, which is a huge improvement from the 3-4 hours he was sleeping. I do know that if you DO decide on cereal, to NOT FEED IT IN A BOTTLE. I can't believe how many people do that, when it is clearly insisted upon NOT to in all pediatrician literature I have ever read. If you do it, use a baby spoon. But try upping the amount of his nighttime bottle before you try to cereal. At least you wont risk constipation that way too! You wont get ANY sleep if he's constipated. Good luck!

Ashley - posted on 10/28/2009

I give my 2 month old daught a little bit of rice cereal in her bottle at night. I give her no more than a teaspoon in a 4 oz bottle. Instead of sleeping for only 2 or 3 hours she'll sleep for 4-5. I dont give it to her in the daytime though then she'll be sleeping all day

Jamie - posted on 10/20/2009

Its to early to be doing that, I would just increase his his serving an oz or two, maybe hes just not getting enough.

Megan - posted on 10/19/2009

My 2 month old gets cereal with every bottle. My pediatrician is the one who advised me to do this. She was having trouble with keeping breastmilk down untill I added. It has also helped me with ther sleeping. She goes to bed at about 9 and wakes up at 7:00 a.m. So if you were to ask me yes its fine. For every 4 ounces of breastmilk I give her about 2 teaspoons of cereal. I hope this helps you get some sleep. Good luck.

Krissy - posted on 10/19/2009

I am a pediatric nurse and I swore I would never give my babies cereal until they were 4 months old because of all the reasons everyone has listed here. This worked for my daughter but my son is now two months old and he was hungry all the time, but when I would sit down with a bottle he'd only eat 2-3oz at a time and would be screaming for food again an hour later. I tried addressing other needs to make sure he wasn't needing something else but nothing worked except feeding. I tried the thickened formula and it didn't change anything. Last week I gave in and started giving rice cereal at night before his last bottle off a spoon (one thing you need to know is putting it in the bottle is a MAJOR choking hazard - lots of kids can handle it but what if your's is the one who cant?) He now eats every 2.5-3.5 hours and is taking 4-5 oz at one time. He also has been sleeping much better at night (6-8 hrs in a row) My advise is do what you want and what feels right no matter what you do someone will tell you it is wrong anyway! Just if you are going to start start slowly and wait to see if he has any adverse effects.

Stacey - posted on 10/19/2009

The way i look at it is this: if doctors will say to give it to a child who spits everything up then it can't be that bad for them. some doctors will tell you to add it just to give the formula some weight to help it stay down.I think it depends on the baby, My first son had cereal in his bottle around 6 weeks and slept through the night by the time he was 2 months. My second son (now 7 weeks) is still getting up every 3 hours like clock-work. i have tried a little cereal in his bottle a couple of times and he only slept about an hour longer so it really didn't make much difference. I will however; try increasing the amount of cereal over the next few days to see if it helps. You know your baby best so do what your instincts tell you. Hope this helps and good luck.

Teresa - posted on 10/18/2009

Doctors suggest waiting until they're at least 4 months. That being said, there are some instances where the will recommend it earlier. Whoever said you should never put cereal in a bottle has no idea what they're talking about. My daughter is 2 months and has reflux problems. Her doctor suggested that if we can't get the medicine to work, thicken her feeds with about a teaspoon of cereal. You just have to cut the opening in the nipple a bit so it will still flow. The only side effect is it can constipate them. Babies that age are designed to live of formula/milk so the cereal does take up room that could go to more nutrient rich sources for them. But if you have an insatiably hungry child or one with reflux problems it's fine. Just to get them to sleep longer, I'd say no. They're only 2 months. They're still getting adjusted. Give it time.

Andraya - posted on 10/14/2009

noooo don't do it their digestive system can't handle cereal yet. my 2 month old is only sleeping like 1-2 hours at a time it's hard I know. But if u give a baby food too young they can develop severe food allergies as well

Donna - posted on 10/14/2009

I think that the whole rice this sounds good :-) I did it with my first who is now 13 months old. He only slept for 2 hours at a time at any given time. My mom and grandma convinced me to give him a bit of cereal. I was hoping for a miracle and i didn't get one lol. Then i told myself things will change when he is 6 months old. Well they didn't :) so I said ok 8 months old he started to sleep 3 hours in a row. He is now 13 months old and to this day does not sleep through the night. It has gotten much better he sleeps 4 or 5 hours then wakes up lets out a couple of cries and goes back to sleep on his own for the most part. once in a while i have to go in and give him some snuggles. I personally think its luck that it works for some. I asked my doctor about it and he said it has something to do with the sugar. I don't know but i have to say that I am happy that I got all that extra time with him during the night. I look back on it now and i am kinda thankful for it. Maybe i am just crazy but i just loved holding him and no matter how tired i had become just looking at his handsome face made it all worth it.

Brenda - posted on 10/13/2009

I'm an older mom from the old school and i do put some rice in formula and breastmilk.She sleeps alittle longer.before it was every 2 hours.now we are up to 4-5 hours.

Stephanie - posted on 10/13/2009

Our pediatrician said they can't have cereal in their bottle till like 4 months at the earliest....Their little tummies aren't ready to digest that yet.....

Dawn - posted on 10/13/2009

i add rice cerel to my two month olds formula once in awhile to help her keep it down. it is very hard for her to drink straight formula all the time because of her acid reflux. the docter told me it was ok. she has had no problems digesting it and is very healthy and much happier :) make sure you talk to your doc. and also remember you know your baby best, no other mom can tell you whats best for your child

Michelle - posted on 10/09/2009

Hi, my daughter was eating all of the time, basically if she was awake she was eating, and she wouldn't sleep for more than 20 minutes without waking to eat. She also spit up every time. I did some research and talked to my family about it. I didn't want to give her cereal, but at that point neither one of us were getting rest and she was never full. After the first bottle with cereal she finally got full and slept for more than 20 minutes. The rapid flow nipples and just a bit of cereal 1 tbsp allowed her to eat without getting too much in at one time. Everyone has their advice on what is right. You have to choose for yourself what is right for you and your baby. I hope my comments help your decision. Don't feel bad if you do or don't. Check with your pediatrician and see what they say.

Stevie - posted on 10/05/2009

i have 3 kids under the age of 3. i put it in my first sons at 3months and it worked great. my second at same age but didnt make a difference. i have a 5 week old but i havent done it w him yet. i think one tablespoon in 6oz is fine if it helps depends on the kid

Claire - posted on 10/05/2009

Hello,

I think you'll get mixed advice about this. Guidelines say no solids before 17 weeks, but preferably 6 months, but when its you in that situation, you'll try anything! Sleep deprivation is unbelievable and I'm not surprised its used as a torture device!

I just wanted to say have you tried the hungrier baby formulas that are available? Or stage 2 milk, which are designed to keep a hungry baby fuller when they are too young to wean?might be an idea to try. Also, have you got a bedtime routine established? By that a mean things you do the same way every bedtime, so he knows its bedtime, not a horrid, rigid regime!!!

Good luck with going back to work, its very difficult to do, and its good that you're addfressing the sleep issue now rather than a few weeks in when you're more exhausted! I hope it works out for you, but remember, all mums have instincts that are usually 100% right. Good luck :-)

Kristie - posted on 10/05/2009

try a thickened formula bottle before bed time, i hear it works

Jennifer - posted on 10/04/2009

How much/often is he eating during the day? My 1st one ate every 3 hrs round the clock and when he was 6mo we started rice cereal and he became constipated for a week we quickly switched to oatmeal. I heard from many drs rice cereal is constipating. For my 2nd child, I decided to feed her every 2 hrs in the beginning to start a routine and lights on during the day and off after 8 (except TV), now at 2 mo she sleeps from @9 to 2/3 sometimes even 4/5, not always be usually, much nicer than the 1st. also when she wakes at night I give her a pacifier if she falls back asleep right away -yea, if not I feed her and she is 12lbs now so she's getting plenty.

Loveasia - posted on 10/04/2009

Well my son is also two months old, and I do give him a half of scoop of cereal in his bottel right before bed around 1100 and he wakes up around 7 or 8 for another feeding..

It helps me out alot since im in school!!!! And he hasnt had any kind of negative reaction to it like gas or spitting up.

Amanda - posted on 10/04/2009

You shouldnt unless its b/c of reflux the cereal helps with that cause its thick. Ask your doctor they might tell you to though.

Inge - posted on 10/04/2009

My son is two months old and has colic, I took him to my ped, and he said that you don't sit with colic after 8 weeks, you start giving hom cereal once a day, with a spoon, (just before he has his bath) then you give him his bottle after. This works for us and babe really seems to like it.

Jaclyn - posted on 10/03/2009

I really think it is HIGHLY advised against. At the end of the day, you are the child's parent and will do what you decide to do, but the WHO recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months and if formula feeding to wait until the child is at least 4 months to introduce solids. Drinking milk and eating more solid food require different muscles in the mouth. A baby at 2 months old does not have the required muscles to safely eat the food. As said above too, you should NEVER give anything other than milk in the bottle. Even when you do introduce juice (after 4 months), it should come from a spoon or sippy cup. Bottles create a longer contact period with teeth and can cause enamel wear and cavities in young children.
Regarding sleep, that sleep cycle is completely normal for a 2 month old. It really isn't until 3-5 months that most will sleep any extended period of time.

Ashley - posted on 10/03/2009

its ok

Mirka - posted on 10/03/2009

no, bc their stomachs cant digest it yet .. they say to wait till a minimum of 4 months but its better to wait till 6 months

Jackie - posted on 10/02/2009

Its not recommended to give them any food till they are about 6 mnths old. Their digest it properly. Trust me you don't want to have to deal with a constipated baby. My Daughter was constipated from formula and she did nothing but scream for 3 days I thought I was going to lose my mind lol. I would suggest that you talk to your doc for some helpful suggestions.

Alecia - posted on 10/02/2009

Also, you should NEVER put cereal in a baby's bottle!! It is only to be fed to them with a spoon! All the pediatricians/literature say this!!!

Alecia - posted on 10/02/2009

No it is not! A two month old infant does not have the enzymes needed to digest cereal, they only get those enzymes at around 4 months of age! (This is coming from a mom who is an RN) The best way to help your little one sleep through the night is to establish a schedule and bedtime routine. We always give our little girl a bath with lavendar and then start rocking her and singing/reading to her around 8:30 pm. If you are breastfeeding you can give him a little bit of supplemental formula to help him sleep thru the night. Try baby-wise!

Jessica - posted on 10/02/2009

I too have an alomst 2 month old, and she has acid reflux. I put just a teaspoon or so in her bottles and I think it helps. She doesn't sleep a full 8 hours at night, but she will go 6, and for a 7 week old I think that is pretty good!!! Just make sure it isn't too thick because it will clog the nipple and he will just get frustrated!!!

Samantha - posted on 10/01/2009

My son is 2 months old and i put a little bit of rice into his last bottle before bed to help to sleep longer...he has no problems as of yet and seemed to really enjoy it

Kristina - posted on 10/01/2009

Hey there Heather! My son is 7 weeks old and I starts 2 days ago adding a little bit of rice to his formula to allow myself to get some rest...after the 4th bottle it has worked miracles!! My ped told me it was ok but only add a small amount. Good luck!

Cheryl - posted on 10/01/2009

A two month old does not have the enzymes to digest cereal, and though it may not "hurt" the baby now, it can cause digestive problems down the road. To get your baby to sleep longer through the night try this: Get some Lavendar Essential oil (available at the health food store or food coop). After an evening bath (and when you are ready to feed baby and put him down for the night) put some olive oil in the palm of your hand and add a few drops of lavendar. Smells nice! Rub his little body, massaging his muscles and talking sweetly to him. I use this in lieu of baby oils/lotions. Baby (and Mom!) will sleep soundly! Not recommended for daytime use as an all-over oil, but it is also a cure for infant acne and cradle cap. Great stuff!

Rachelle - posted on 10/01/2009

I know they say not to, but I did it with my first son. He got about 1 tablespoon of rice cereal in a 6 oz. bottle as his last feed before bed. It helped him a bit with sleeping longer, but not much. I increased it slowly as he got older. He is very healthy and it never hurt him.

Autum - posted on 10/01/2009

You can if it is a little bit. However, it is harder to digest and could make your son constipated, and believe me you do not want that. My son was constipated from the formula and he screamed and screamed.

Kathy - posted on 10/01/2009

According to my doctor, no. They should only have breast milk/formula until they are 6 months old. Even then it's not suggested to put it in their bottle. You could always consult you Pediatrician about this but with this being my 3rd child all the Pediatricians I've talked to throughout the years have said the same thing.