when do you give your baby baby rice

Kendra - posted on 05/08/2010

Mine is 3 months old and he eats 5-6oz every 2-3 hours so we give him a 5oz bottle of breastmilk with just one tablespoon of cereal. Yes, Ina bottle and yes, it helps him sleep longer. He used to get up every 3 hours to eat now he sleeps 8 hours or longer. He's still pooping the same therefore I assume he's handling it just fine. He's a little above average height but his weight is fine so I don't see why it hurts to help him sleep better.

Lorena - posted on 05/07/2010

all this mommy's are right, but i would just suggest to do what your mommy instincts tell you. for example my baby is about to be 3 months next week and i started putting baby cereal on her bottle 2 weeks ago she was happier but i noticed she wouldn't finish the bottles and gain whole a lot of weight so since i hadn't consult it with my pd i stopped and only gave it to her on night bottles . its really depending on how baby takes it and consulting with your pd helps. & your mommy instincts.

Anne - posted on 05/06/2010

My daughter is almost 3 months old and she has been eating cereal since she was 2 months old and i breastfeed her. She has her last feeding of cereal at 9 and sleeps until 5:30 . Her peidiatritian said if she is not getting the 2 mixed up and is digesting it well then it is fine. It is now in her routine and I find her a happier baby then in her first 2 months.

Meghan - posted on 05/05/2010

I didn't give my first rice cereal until he was 4 months old and he weighed the same as your daughter at birth. My newest little guy is on the same track as your daughter. I wouldn't give rice cereal until at least four months old because she is doesn't need it nutrionally yet. I won't be giving my 3 month old rice cereal until at least 5 months old because he has eczema and he could possibly have food allergies so I will have to take things slowly with him.

Rachael - posted on 05/04/2010

the world health organisation recommends not befor 6months and they are able to sit up and hold them selves properly.

Debbie - posted on 05/04/2010

My baby is 13 weeks and has her last 6oz feed around 9pm goes down of a night around 10pm and sleeps through the night and wakes between 6-7am. She has 1/2 teaspoon of baby rice/porridge to 1oz formula at lunchtime and loves it. She has no constipation. Health visitor said every baby is different and will start on solids at different times. You will know when your baby is redy for solids they will let you know!!!

Nicole - posted on 05/03/2010

My son is now 12 weeks and 3 days old. He has been on single grain rice cereal since he was 7 weeks old and we started giving him sweet potatoes at 9 weeks old. He was born at 36 weeks and weighed 6 lbs and 2 oz and is now at around 13 lbs. He takes between 4 and 6 ounces of formula every 3 1/2 to 4 hours. At 8:30 pm he gets 1 ounce of formula mixed with cereal and about 2 teaspoons of sweet potatoes and is asleep by 9:30 pm. He ususally wakes up around 5 am, takes 4 ounces and sleeps for another 3 hours. His pediatrician says he's healthy for a preemie and is happy that we're giving him cereal and veggies. Hope you found this helpful.

Danyelle - posted on 05/01/2010

I heard around 4 to 6 months was normal... their guts are not mature enough to digest it properly before that. I also think its suggested to spoon feed rather than put it in a bottle.

Claire - posted on 05/01/2010

emily has a 7oz bottle with half a rusk in it keeps her going right through the night til 7 but has a feed every 4 to 41/2 after she wakes in the morning . shes 12 weeks

Mellanie - posted on 05/01/2010

Although I breastfeed, it is my understanding that babies do not need anything other then breast/bottle until 6 months. I am on my third child, Emilia is 2 1/2 months, Joaquin 3, and Dylam is 19. The earliest I started with rice was with Joaquin at 5 1/2 months. If you start to early it can be hard on their delicate digestive systems that are not fully developed yet, hince the need for only milk. Also, you run the risk of them developing food alergies if you start to early. It sounds like you just have a healthy eater on your hands, she was a little thing at birth, maybe she is just making up for it now. my boys were both about 7.5 at birth and my baby girl topped out at 8.5, my boys are healthy and were not starved as my grandma said at the time! She thought I should give rice right away also....Good Luck and enjoy your little bundle

CHRISTINE - posted on 05/01/2010

My son is 2 months and 2 weeks...and his pediatrician said that it was okay to give him rice. Not scoops. Just put some in between ur thumb and index finger like 2 times and sprinkle it in his formula. It fills my son up during the night. He goes to sleep at 9:30 don't wake up until 2am and again at 6

Brianna - posted on 05/01/2010

I am a nurse and I work at a pediatrician office. It is not recommended to start rice cereal until your baby is at least 4 months old, has doubled her birth weight and is holding her head up. At that point you need to use a spoon to feed her watery rice cereal until she is able to swallow it well then gradually increase the thickness and amount you are feeding her. I would suggest you call her pediatrician and see what they recommend. Hope that was helpful.

Kelly - posted on 05/01/2010

that actually sounds very good. as long as she's growing I would try and hold off on starting anything. ask your MD though.

Amberly - posted on 04/30/2010

my daughter was 5.12 and her twin brother was 6.5. my nurse for newborns said that they cant start rice cereal until 4 months because their digestive system isnt developed enough and it can cause bad constipation and worse a infection actually. so i would wait until 4 months and then no baby food until 6 months... thats what the nurse and my pedi said

Amy - posted on 04/30/2010

:)

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids...

I found this site today. It gives more reasons why it's best to delay solids, and explains them very clearly.

Stacy - posted on 04/30/2010

KUDOS TO AMY DULOCK! Thanks, Amy, for your research and insightful post! Your explanation as to why we should NOT give solid foods early on is very clear and easy to understand. This is my 4th baby, now 2 months 1 wk old. My oldest turned 20 last Saturday! I never gave my babies solid foods early on and have taken a lot of flack from family members for it. Now I can explain it to them in your words :)

Rebecca - posted on 04/30/2010

thanks amy thats useful info for me this is my first baby and i am still learning on what to do and what not to. People keep telling me different things i have found circle of mums has really helped me out finding what other mums who have young children do xx

Amy - posted on 04/30/2010

Babywise is awesome!! I didn't do it with my first son, but did it with my second, and what a difference it made! He's happier, gaining weight faster, and we're all getting a heck of a lot more sleep!

But back to your first question: babies have what's called an "open gut" until they are at least 4 months old (but beware, it's almost always closer to 6 months before it closes). This means that the cells in their intestines have not bonded together, so there's space in between. The gap allows for whatever goes through the intestines to pass directly into the bloodstream. This space is perfect when babies are nursing/drinking formula because it allows the much-needed nutrients to be absorbed by the blood directly, without being broken down. The gap starts to close around 4 months, and is usually completely bonded together by 6 months. The gap is very beneficial to babies - unless parents give them anything beside breastmilk or formula before it's closed. Then, the body treats the solids as foreign objects, and creates antibodies against the proteins in the rice cereal (or anything else they're given), and can cause allergies. Also, since the intestines are not mature enough to break down the solids, it can cause upset stomach, gas, constipation, etc. Also, our bodies produce enzymes that help to break down different things we eat (fats, proteins, starches). Babies do not have high enough levels of enzymes to break down starches (including rice) until 6 months, enzymes to break down fats until 7 months, and proteins until around 9 months (that's why you shouldn't give your baby meats until then). While your baby may not have any permanent effects from starting solids early (although allergies are much, much more likely), why put your baby through any 'trauma' (I say that in the loosest form of the word! haha) when you don't have to? Research has proven that giving solids does not make them sleep longer...it just will cause unnecessary internal upset.

I've done tons and tons of research on this, I promise! :)

Sarah - posted on 04/29/2010

My daughter is 8 weeks and she still wakes and feeds every 2-3 hours. She's drinking about 5-5.5oz at a time. I would wait on the rice cereal until between 4-6 months.

Rebecca - posted on 04/29/2010

Thanks guys for all your comments, i kept hearing about baby wise method so i read up on it and have sort of started to get her in a routine of feed time, play time for an hour then nap time and she goes about 8 hours after she is put in bed bout 8.30pm,so she wakes between 4.30am and 5am then gets up at 9am for bottle and playtime. so mummy is now getting more sleep without having to distrupt babies digestive system xx

Crystal - posted on 04/28/2010

My daughter is 3 months and has slept up to 10 hours at night with only breastmilk and probably only around 6 oz, at that. I would stay away from rice cereal because its not good for their digestive system and it has no additional nutritional value. Nor are there any studies to prove that it increases the length of time they sleep. Some babies are good sleepers and some aren't. I would wait for 6 months before introducing any solids. Anyway, Good Luck.

Colleen - posted on 04/28/2010

The Rebecca,
Regardless of what anyone says, or what old wives tails you've heard, their digestive tracks are not developed enough at this age to give them rice cereal.
Wait until at least 4 months. Feed her bigger forumula bottles, by 3 months, she should be taking 8oz about 4 - 5 times a day - and God willing, she'll sleep through the night for you!
Good luck!

Marjolaine - posted on 04/28/2010

i heard no solids till after 5 mos because the tummy cannot handle it early and it will give them food allergies when they get older my son falls asleep at nine every night for 5 hours on 4 oz of formula and then 4 hours of formula again and then 3 hours after that and breast milk through out the day

Belinda - posted on 04/27/2010

There is also a technique called Baby-led-weening. You'll notice the baby will want the food soonish, just put the spoon to their mouth and if they seem interested it's about time.
This usually happens naturally somewhere between the 4-6month mark.

Don't force it on them early though because it can confuse them and they end up having trouble with feeding from bottle or breast as well as solids, because they both involve different types of swallowing/sucking.

Lisa - posted on 04/27/2010

My daughter will be 3mos this week and has been having rice bottles for over a month. It's the only thing that will sustain her...she's always hungry and plain 'milk' isn't enough. My health care provider suggested it in her case. No constipation problems and now she'll eat every 4hrs instead of every 1hr a 5 1/2oz bottle. Good Luck.

Angie - posted on 04/26/2010

My daughter is 2 months as well. She has been chugging 4 oz bottles of breast milk every 2-3 hours. When we feed her at 8pm she will sleep until 3-4am. We have her 2 month check up tomorrow and we were going to ask about having a formula feed at night to see if that will help her sleep longer. I have heard no cereal until 6 months as wll

Christa - posted on 04/24/2010

You really shouldn't until 4 months preferably 6 months. Their systems can't handle it until then. Breastmilk/formula is all they need until then. Giving them cereal won't make them sleep any longer. My 10wk old sleeps 8 hrs and she is exclusively breast fed. I use the book babywise. It's about getting them on a schedule, my first slept through the night (8hrs) at 11wks using the same thing. I'd look into something like that if you are looking for more sleep. I've heard good things about the baby whisperer too, but I've never read that one.

Jolene - posted on 04/24/2010

durring the day mine eats every 4 or 5 hours. i give her rice with her bed time bottle and she sleeps for like 6 or 7 hours, she drinks between 6-8 oz at each feeding. they say its to early but if i dont give it to her at night and i little in the afternoon she is crabby and wants to eat like 5 or 6 oz every 3 hours!

Kimberlee - posted on 04/24/2010

my doctor advised against it until 6 mos because she said it can increase the risk of type 1 diabetes.

Emma - posted on 04/24/2010

Babies shouldnt start solids until they are 4 months old. Only start solids earlier than that if your health visitor says so. Babies stomachs cannot cope with solids before 4 months. And as for putting it in your baby's bottle well, your health visitor would have a fit.

Jennifer - posted on 04/24/2010

My daughters pediatrician told me that if she is eating over 32oz a day to add cereal to her bottles twice a day. It actually gave her constipation though so I stopped it for now and just give her another bottle.

Ashley - posted on 04/22/2010

I asked my daughters peid the same question and they told me when she is about 4 months old.

Karen - posted on 04/21/2010

My son is two months old also. He was ten pounds two ounces at birth. He takes a six ounce bottle every five hours or so. My step-daughter is now four. When she was a baby we, her mother and I, gave her a rice bottle (rice cereal mixed with formula) at night before bed. When she woke during the night she was given her normal formula bottle. In the morning for breakfast she got rice cereal mixed with juice fed to her with a spoon, not in a bottle. Hope this information helps you.