Rice Cereal??? too soon?

Alandria - posted on 11/08/2009

my daughter was born two days before and she has the SAME sleep and eat cycle. but i think you are supposed to wait at least until they are three months old

Tiffany Lacey - posted on 11/07/2009

Some babies can swallow off of a spoon. My son is 7 weeks now. I am introducing him to a spoon with cereal and oatmeal, and he takes to it just fine. Some babies develop quicker than others. He was chewing on the bottle, and that is a sign that they are ready for the spoon. Also, the cereal is a not a choking hazard. You still make the formula thin, but it gives it a better consistency.

As for doctors, every doctor has a different opinion. Some say the cereal is fine as early as 3 weeks while other doctors say it isn't good. My doctor insists that the cereal and oatmeal is fine for now, but not to actually introduce him to the baby food until he is 4 to 6 months along for allergy reasons.

Jessica - posted on 11/07/2009

my daughter was on born 7 Sept and she goes to the doc monday for her 2 month check up and i was thinking of asking the doc about baby food to help fill her up as she is always wanting to eat and maybe it'll even help her sleep longer like some of ya'll have mentioned

Casey - posted on 11/06/2009

My son was born on Sept. 21st & was the same way. He was eating 13 ounces in 3 hours at 2 weeks. I was nursing every other feeding during the day, but he was still hungry! We started him on rice cereal when he was 3 weeks. It has helped so much! He was actually full. We put it in a bottle not near as thick as the directions say. It is wonderful! Cereal in a bottle is not a choking hazzard. I work with speech therapists & that is how they thicken formula for babies who have swallowing difficulties & to help babies with bad reflux.

Emily - posted on 11/06/2009

I think your babies feeding habits are normal. My son was born Sept. 19th and his feeding schedule sounds exactly the same as your baby. I've heard that you should only feed cereal on a spoon, never a bottle, and babies can't swallow off a spoon until at least 4 months old. Hang in there, and it will get better.

Rachel - posted on 11/06/2009

I know what you are talking about. My son was born on the 3rd of Sept. and he ears now every three hours and he sleeps about 5 hours now during the night. There is some progress. :) Though we just had our second month check up and the dr said it'd recommended to wait til he is 4-6 months old but we could try feeding him baby food even now, just before we introduce anything new wait 4 days. Good Luck, it will get better if you stick to it, but I know it's hard, I've been there feeling like I'm losing sleep and not being able to catch up on it. Plus not getting too much help from my hubby, cuz he says he's too small to handle. He does help occasionally though which when he helps to me it's a BIG help! Jonathan slept thru the whole night one time -the day before the time change and it hasn't happened again yet, I'm hoping it is soon.

Nicole - posted on 11/06/2009

i was wondering the same thing my baby was born Sept 18th too!

Katy - posted on 11/06/2009

I agree with Kylie, what kind of pediatrician or doctor would tell you to do that at such an early age, outrageous I am shocked by this!!!

Kylie - posted on 11/05/2009

P.S. You should NEVER NEVER NEVER put rice cerial into your babies bottle. Its a choking hazard.

Kylie - posted on 11/05/2009

Hey. Thats completely normal. Feeding every 2 to 3 hours round the clock is completely normal. your bubs digestive system is as yet too immature to handle anything other than breastmilk or formula. Dont worry, the endless feeding wont last forever. Bubs tummy is only tiny as such empties really quicky and needs filling again frequently. Rice cerial as this point isnt a good idea.

Sleep when the baby sleeps, your body has to adjust to having less sleep.. and it will. Trust me, I have a 17 month old as well as my 2 month old, so i CANT sleep when the baby sleeps ;(

Crystal - posted on 11/05/2009

i just had my baby sept. 3rd & yesterday @ his 2 month appt. the nurse said that some babies have to start on the rice cereal way before they are 4-6 months old. it just depends on how fast they are growing.

Tiffany Lacey - posted on 11/05/2009

my son was born sept. 19th, and he was screaming nonstop cuz he was always hungry. He was eating 5 oz every 2 hours! I asked his pediatrician, and he told me to start putting a little cereal in his formula, and it has made the world of difference. I only put two scoops of cereal in his formula and is much happier since he has a full belly. We started it at 3 weeks.

Audra - posted on 11/05/2009

My daughter was about 4weeks old when she started to get a formula scoop of rice cereal mixed in with a 4oz bottle of formula Like the latter baby she sleeps from 9 to about 4 and then again until 8 or 9. She has never had any problem and is now 8 weeks old. She has felt more full, slept better and is a very happy healthy baby gaining weight steadily.

Emily - posted on 11/05/2009

Rice cereal does work, my sons pediatrician told me to give it to him for night feeding. My son has acid reflux, and the rice cereal helps calm his stomach so he can sleep longer, we started cereal at 3 weeks and now he is 6. He eats 5 oz every 4 to 5 hours, he already sleeps all night long he goes to sleep at 9 pm wakes up around 4 am to eat and then goes back sleep until 8 or 9. We give him 1 tablespoon, not a heaping one just evened out, he has slept all night since we started it. Good Luck.

Amy - posted on 11/04/2009

My son was born sept 14th and he has a reflux problem so his pediatrician told me to give him an ounce of rice cereal in his bottle...I did it, and then stopped cause i kept hearing how it wasn't good for a baby that young and ended up going to a formula with cereal in it....but it certainly didn't make him sleep any longer.

Rebecca - posted on 11/03/2009

My daughter was born on September 5th and daughter eats a lot too.. Maybe you should try formula and feed her both maybe but always ask your doctor about when its good to feed her cereal before doing so .. I did the mistake of giving it to my daughter and she hatted it and threw it up so every baby is different ... and the apple juice does work good for constipation and when they get congested and need fluid other then milk which cause her more congested ...

Terra - posted on 11/02/2009

Maybe try giving her a bottle of formula or breastmilk at bedtime i find that helps my daughter sleep 5-6 hours at night! Hope that helps

Elysha - posted on 11/02/2009

My daughter was born Sept. 3rd 2009 and she eats so much and wasnt sleeping as much bcus she was so hungry all the time my dr. told me to put alittle bit off rice cereal in her bottles and that did the trick she even sleeps throughtout the whole nite now! As long as your not over feeding them I think that it is just fine and for the babys sake it might be a good idea!! but Good Luck = )

Deanna - posted on 11/02/2009

That's weird my daughter was born Sept 17th and because she is still tiny 7 pounds 6 ounces, my doctor told us to put her on rice cereal. He said a table spoon is all I need for my daughter at every feeding time, to give her that and then formula. She does great with it, we just mix it with apple juice to help with constipation. She is gaining weight and sleeping better at night. I would just talk to your peditrician about it. We are also using it because she was eating so much then she would vomit everything back up. So she is on it to stay fuller longer, and to help her gain a little weight.

Amanda - posted on 11/02/2009

They say four months is the earliest you can give foods. I'm not breast feeding but are you offering both breast? Or are you interested in maybe complementing your breastfeeding with formula?

Heather - posted on 11/01/2009

I think your Dr would agree it is TOO EARLY to try rice cereal. I am right there with you with the frustration levels on the nursing. My daughter is just a few days over a month old and I was so frustrated with the CONSTANT feedings I was almost always in tears.... What has worked WONDERS for us: I am only nursing every other feeding and then supplementing with formula on the other feedings. It is working well for us and I am not tied to the nursing every 2 hours and my Husband and 5 yo get in on the act too. Good Luck!