baby cereal...

Anna - posted on 01/30/2010

i had the same problem when my second child was just a few months. i did put a small amount of rice cereal in the bottle. i mean a small amount...barely a teaspoon in a bottle of 6 oz. problem is you have to make the nipple hole a little larger but watch it because then it can be tricky...it can come out too fast. just have to do what is best for your baby. good luck!

Erin - posted on 01/30/2010

a baby should not be given anything other than breastmilk if at all possible until 6 mon. it is too much on their guts to process and can lead to a lot of problems- gastrointestinal problems and allergies that will show up starting around 4 months when their immune system starts kicking in. you will notice the baby will push the food back out of its mouth with it's tongue- this is a normal reflex protecting baby- do not give any solids until after this response is no longer present!

Bonnnie - posted on 01/30/2010

Exactly mel! i think no one knows your child better than u. if u don't think he's ready, wait. if u think he could tolerate a little watered down cereal, go for it. most of the reason they say don't put it in the bottle is cuz it clogs the nipple.

Helen - posted on 01/30/2010

I wouldbt give 2 mnth baby cereal or any food types yet...you are bound to be worried about him choking...stick witth hungry baby milk formulas until 4 mnths...then babys digestive system will be ready to cope with food..x

Lisa - posted on 01/30/2010

i fed my little gir baby rice from 6 weeks just make it in a bowl so its just a lil thicker than the milk they wont choke if you make sure theres no lump

Melinda - posted on 01/30/2010

Kyles - there are actually plenty of pediatricians who recommend solids before 6 months.You can't presume that every baby is the same

Julie - posted on 01/30/2010

my dr said to do whatever i thought was right for the baby. and we put a couple teaspoons of cereal in a bowl with some breastmilk it was runny and he sucked it right down. if hes choking on it then hes not ready for it.

Lyn - posted on 01/29/2010

I only know from my experience. My son now 27 years old was a constantly hungry little boy. I started him on cereal at about one month. I literally only put a one tsp in his formula and man that got me six hours of sleep. As he got older I increased the amounts. I never had kids that spit or throw up as infants or older kids only when they were sick.

Justine - posted on 01/29/2010

Your baby should only have formula or breastmilk until they are about 4 months old... Try increasing his formula if hes not "full" from it... Dont rush the baby cereal or solid foods now.... I started both my daughters on rice cereal at 4 months. I took my daughter about a month or so to get used to the spoon, she would try to suck it like her bottle, so at 2 months he really wont know what to do with it. Also, putting cereal in the bottle so he will go longer between feeds doesnt work. I had to put cereal in my daughters bottle to thicken it because she had reflux and she still ate every 3 hours..

Elizabeth - posted on 01/29/2010

two months is probably a bit early for cereal. I'm guessing that he is bottle fed, and cereal in the bottle will just block the teet. I used to use stuff called Farex (for babies)which i brought from woolworths. i think it might be a rice based product, and if you mix it with some of your babies formula to a fairly liquid paste (say like tomatoe sauce) you can spoon it to your baby in a teaspoon. don't rush it though. and more will probably come out than goes in cause the baby sucking reflex is what they are used to and that same reflex will tend to push stuff out of their mouth. Just wipe up the excess of his mouth with the spoon and re try. i would start with trying one or two teaspoons at first and only very gradually increase. Don't make it too thick because you don't want to give your baby constipation. Really at two months breast milk or formula should be enough for your baby. Does he just need an extra bottle at some point during the day. if possible i would recommend holding off till he is four months if you can.

Cherry Mae - posted on 01/29/2010

it is true! when my baby was still five month young, I was get excited to feed her soft foods, but beyond my knowledge her little tummy still cant digest those soft foods I gave, it was then new year of 2010 when I rushed sending her to the hospital because she was really weak, she vomit the whole day and really sick and tired,.. the doctor said if she haven't vomit out ll the soft foods I gave she might undergo tummy operation! her doctor really scolded me,.. but now she is on her seven month her pediatricians already instructed me to give her soft foods like cereals , mushed potato, bananas and juices... don't rush that little tummy of your angel... you must learned from my story...

Cherry Mae - posted on 01/29/2010

you said it very well,... when my baby wa not yet coming I really spent a lot of sleep,.. I took the chances while she was not arriving because I put into my mind and had prepared myself that I need to say goodbye for the luxurious sleep I had because my baby needs more attention and really wakes in midnight or every 2-3 hours for feeding which all the baby needs for them to grow and be healthy,... little one's tummy is much different from adults tummy so mothers out there don't expect that your li'l one could have better sleep if her tummy is empty, their li'l tummy can only accept minimal foods and they can easily dispurse it throughurine and once it happened you really need to give your lil angels milk to fill their tummy.

Cherry Mae - posted on 01/29/2010

I gave my baby full breastfeed during her first three months and noticed that she slept 8hours straight, and got a healthy figure,... I got back on office when she was 3months and 2weeks young, because I cn't gve full breastfeed she is given formula milk which is most likely the sme as breast milk,.. she had maintain her healthy figure and continue to grow as a smart baby, but I still brestfeed my baby during night time as her bedtime milk, she had a good time sleep..

Sandi - posted on 01/29/2010

I gave my daughter normal milk during the day, then for the last feed before bed she got Hungrier Baby Milk. I breastfed up to 3 months. From 3 months old (on formula) she was sleeping from 10pm - 10am straight. This milk has more starch in so it takes longer to digest but is still gentle on their digestive system.



At 6 months she went onto Good night milk for the last feed which she still takes now, it has small flakes in it so it's thicker. She's just turned 10months old and now sleeps from 9pm to 9:30am.



Hope that helps

Kayleigh - posted on 01/29/2010

hi there

i gave my daughter a teaspoon of cereal mixed really runny with my breast milk just before she went to bed as my milk wasnt filling enough, i started doing this when she was 10 weeks and never had a problem, i just meant she was full and didnt wake u alot durning the night to feed. i guess it wont work for everyone but if your confident enough give it ago.

good luck

Sarah - posted on 01/29/2010

I don't want to offend anyone here, but I think a lot of people have very unrealistic expectations about what babies need. Small babies are supposed to wake up during the night to feed, they're supposed to only go 2 or 3 hours between feeds, they go through growth spurts during which they need more milk. We need to accept that parenting is hard work, and that we need to do what's best for our babies rather than for our own convenience.

Gloria - posted on 01/29/2010

babies are often not satisfied, by breast milk or by formula and they need extra food. why would you leave your child hungry if you can feed her? I supplemented my third childs breastfeeding with formula because he was starving and he became a satisfied, happy infant. All of my kids had cereal in their bottles at 3 weeks and they are all healty. Dont' suffer. the doctor doesn't have your kids screaming in his house all night.

Kathy - posted on 01/29/2010

well I was breast feeding him for long enough him to be filled up.. at the time.. he would eat his fill every 2 hours. I had more than enough milk for him. But he was hungry in 2 hours. The Doctor told me to give him cereal because milk just wasn't enough for him. He refused formula. and when he was standing holding his own weight at 2 months of age well... that was well beyond the supposed development for that young a child. So the best advise is to ask your doctor what he thinks he knows your child and can advise you better that any book which is based on averages.

Naomi - posted on 01/29/2010

Never give a baby under the age of 4 months cereal. Their digestive systems are just not able to handle it. The best food for them is breast milk or formula. If your baby seems hungry, try nursing him for longer or giving him a little more formula.

Kathy - posted on 01/29/2010

As you can see this is one great debate. It seems to go back and forth from one view to the next. Most babies really are not developed enough to be able to digest solids at that young an age. But then there are those that are more developed and need to have the extra nourishment. As I have said before EACH CHILD IS DIFFERENT. That is what is so special about them and makes things more interesting and fun when raising them. My son and my daughter were the exact same size and weight when they were born. My son needed to eat solid foods early (2months) he was hungry all the time. my daughter was content to just have breast milk until she was 4 months old. But my son was walking at 10months and my daughter walked at 9 months. Amazing! Please always remember that your child is unique.

Kristina - posted on 01/29/2010

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends delaying the introduction of solid foods until six months of age. Formula is considered totally appropriate until that time. cereal is meant to be taken in when it can be tolerated with a spoon. One tablespoon of cereal is 120 calories--the same as four ounces of formula. Formula alone is a complete diet for a two month old. And formula is also the only liquid that should be put into a bottle. A two month old infant requires 24-32 ounces of formula per day, in four to six servings. Who is advising you to start cereal at this age and why?

Kate - posted on 01/29/2010

ohhhhhhhhhhhh you speak such sense. Please people be aware that there are doctors out there and then there are quacks, NOT all medically trained people are experts in paediatrics!!! To really clarify things you could speak to your child health nurse, a childrens dietitian or paediatrician. In australia They will all agree that a baby should not be given solids until 6 months of age due to digestive imaturity. NO cereal, gelly etc. Breast is best followed by formula until 6 months ...........

Kimberly - posted on 01/28/2010

How old is your baby? He/She should be 31/2 to 4 months old. And then the amount of cereal should be 1-2 tablespoons read the box. Don't think your not adding enough, it should be a gradual process.

Sunshine - posted on 01/28/2010

My daughter (now 6 mths) start eating cereal off a spoon @ 2 mths. What the doctor told me was he preferred her not to be on cereal that young but if she can shallow the food without choking then she might be ready. just shake a little cereal in a small bowl and poor about 1-2 oz of his/her formula in it. If the baby can eat if off the spoon and shallow then they may be ready. Just make sure he/she gets PLENTY of formula that is the most important during the first year. Sometimes just increasing his/her formula might do the trick.

Carolyn - posted on 01/28/2010

I'm a grandmother now. Had three children and all grew up just fine with a couple of tablespoons of rice in their bottles. Two were breastfed out of the three. The grandbabies get some rice cereal in their supplement bottles because they can't tolerate the formula without it. It does wonders for vomiting up the bottle.

Lisa - posted on 01/28/2010

Two months is far too young for it either way. Rule of thumb is 4-6 months before adding cereal or anything more than water, formula, breast milk. I've heard they are unable to digest it before then and it leads to stomach problems, as well as food allergies, later on. Maybe feed more milk, if he doesn't seem to be getting full as is, or if you are just breast feeding, perhaps you need to supplement with formula.

Carolyn - posted on 01/28/2010

Try baby rice cereal and keep it at about a tablespoon and it will go through the nipple.

Put baby on an incline rather than flat in your arms at feedings so he can get used to swallowing without choking. My opinion is two months is too young to try spoon feeding. Too easy to choke, they need to suck and they need to be drinking the formula. Baby food will fill baby up where he will not want as much of the formula and that's where most of the vitamins are coming from and you don't want to risk dehydration with not enough fluids. Also you risk food allergies starting too soon. Foods are introduced one at a time to see how they tolerate. The cereal to start with is the rice.

Fredre - posted on 01/28/2010

Hi! There is a lot of advice and “do’s and don’ts” here. It is important to remember that every baby and mom team is different. If you expect your baby is not getting enough food, check in with your GP, especially if they are still this young and try a few things according to your GP’s advice. It is also important to check baby’s weight at regular intervals to make sure there is sufficient growth. There were quite a few babies borne within my family and friends group that did start on solids at 2 months and some even earlier but it was all advised by a GP. When a baby starts on solids, they need to learn how to use their mouth and tongue differently, they need to practice, so it will take a lot of patience from your side.



Good luck and let us know what worked for you and your baby!

Bridget - posted on 01/28/2010

i put just a little bit in my daughters bottle, but i also make cereal. they say 1 tsblespoon for the first feeding and mix with water or milk. i would just try a very very small amount on the spoon, and see how he does. my daughter was like what is this mommy, but then she was like ok mommy this is not so bad after all. just do a little bit at a time and see how he does. i would also get the plastic baby spoons to feed him the cereal. i should be a little bit soupy but not thick or watery, just in the middle. they do have a phone number you can call about questions on cereal and feeding it to the baby on the box, i believe. email me if you have anymore questions about it. ognavy@Yahoo.com

Tameca - posted on 01/28/2010

How big is ur Bub! The nurse told me that if u got a Long and Chubba Baby Trying Solids to him/her should b around 3-4months if there ready they will Take it back and if there not ready they will keep spiting it out, I started feeding my Boys at 4 months by then he was ready his going on 5months know n his eating well.. i stil is scared abit wit Feeding him spoileds wit a spoon but jst make shore its little bits at times and make shore its not Sitting in his month jst wait to he swollows it Go bit by bit and its much safer i reckon..

Bonnnie - posted on 01/28/2010

i fed my 2 month old cereal. i watered it down a bit , and he only had a couple bites, but it was enuff to fill him up so he'd sleep thru the nite. and he never choked, spit it back @ me a lot, but he never choked.

Brenda - posted on 01/28/2010

you are alound to put cereal in the baby's bottle. I was giving my 3 week old cereal through a bottle and when he got 3 or 4 month he was eating it out of a spoon. I have giving all my children cereal through a bottle and still do even to the kids that I keep.

Louella - posted on 01/28/2010

Did someone tell you to start him on solids? Is he not gaining weight with just Bottle/Breast? He really shouldn't be having food till 5.5mths when his tiny body can digest it properly

Faith - posted on 01/28/2010

i always put just a little RICE cereal in the bottle- that's what the Doc told me to do!! just don't over do it!!!! And now my baby is HUGE!!! lol

Danielle - posted on 01/28/2010

before u try cereal try a different formular or change the teat size on the bottle I thought my baby was always hungry but he was just frustrated coz he couldn't get the milk out quick enough so was only havin half a bottle at a time I waited til he was 3 1/2 months before I started weaning and now he loves his grub!!!

Shannon - posted on 01/28/2010

You know Emily, I was thinking back and the one baby I did try cereal in the bottle with is now 19. I only tried it a couple of times at the advise of older moms, but it seems I began feeding her cereal with a spoon around 4 months. I know now it is six if they are breastfed. The point is, you have to make this choice, your baby doesn't have one in the bottle, only in the spoon. It will need to be soupy if you decide to do it. My opinion is still not to give it to them, because my 19 year old, does have a problem digesting some food from about 14yrs old on. Since I did give her cereal, I will never know if I caused that problem for her, or if she was going to have it anyway. That's what you will have to think about too. I have seen babies act hungry, but it was because they had a full tummy and it was like they knew, if they ate more, they could spit up and feel better :) Good luck with your decision...

Donna - posted on 01/28/2010

Why would you want to feed a 2 month old cereal. He is getting all he needs from the breast or bottle. 4 months of age is the youngest I would start them on any cereal and yes it has to be really soupy.

Jessica - posted on 01/28/2010

I wouldn't feed him cereal at two months. They used to recommend starting cereal at 4 months; now it's six months. I wouldn't introduce this until later, and then I'd do it from a spoon, not a bottle. At 6 months, he likely would have no trouble eating from a spoon, once he gets used to it. All babies really need during the first six months of life is formula.

Teresa - posted on 01/28/2010

Formula or breastmilk is all your baby will need until about four months. That is when you can try introducing baby cereal or other smooth foods on a spoon. They have to develop the ability to use their tongue properly first.

Tracy - posted on 01/28/2010

if they are hungery FEED THEM, i was feeding a couple of spoonfulls of cereal at about 6-8 weeks. they were hungry. it did wonders. they wern't satisfied with just milk. just give a very little. yes they are going to spit some out but they will wash most down with their milk. also it helped them sleep longer at night too don't let people guilt you into thinking that milk or breast milk is best. let you child tell you what they need. only you know what is best for your child. all the best......................

Sophie - posted on 01/28/2010

Why on earth would you give a 2 month old anything apart from breast milk or formula? Babies digestive systems cannot tollerate, are not designed, to take solids in ANY FORM before 6 months. It can DAMAGE THEIR BODIES. They dont need it. If you are bottle feeding then i would seek advice from you health visitor or midwife. If the possibility that you are breastfeeding then go to a support group, or just put the baby to the breast more often and you will make more milk. Also make sure you are getting to the hind milk where it is lovely and fatty and nutritious. The only thing you will be doing is clogging up its system, making them go longer between feeds. It is not going to give them any nurishment. If you baby wants to be fed a bit more often it may be a growth spurt and you should listen to your baby and give it more milk, they know what they need, they are perfectly designed. To want to rush into that stage is madness, enjoy your baby while its still a baby!

Gloria - posted on 01/28/2010

put it in the bottle, just make the nipple whole a little bigger. It wont hurt your baby in any way. If you are breastfeeding, supplementing with a formula bottle at 6 and 11 pm can also help, when your baby is extra hungry.

Kristie - posted on 01/28/2010

Babies shouldn't start on cereals until about 4 months. Start with rice and then to oatmeal. Follow directions on box. It takes a few tries for babies to get a hang of it. If you are concerned about your baby being fussy and thats why you are giving him food, look for other reasons why he may be fussy. Fussiness isnt always a hunger issue. Could actually be the opposite. Look for your local WIC office for more guidance on infant nutrition. I teach Infant Nutrition, and am a Lactation Specialist.

Amber Lynne - posted on 01/28/2010

yes-you can spoon feed an infant. I myself was spoon fed as an 8 day old...as instructed by the pediatric specialist I had from being a preemie. I had issues and needed nourishment.

The cereal should be very soupy, just thick enough to be able to keep some on the spoon. I started my son at 2.5 months. Keep it very thin & runny and he should be fine.

Natasha - posted on 01/28/2010

My pediatrician told me that I should not start adding solids until my baby was 4 months old, so that's when I started with all 3 of my kids. I think at 2 months, not only can they not digest solids well, but they don't have adequate swallowing reflexes to take in anything harder than liquids. However, always check with your pediatrician. If you're feeding your baby breast milk, adding formula helps make them fuller.

Shannon - posted on 01/28/2010

Awesome answer!

Stephanie - posted on 01/28/2010

At 2 months he is not ready for cereal. He is not yet producing the enzymes to break down the cereal and he has also not yet developed the intestinal bacteria needed to fully absorb the nutrients in any food other than breast milk or infant formula. If he still seems fussy after a feeding he may just need to suck longer. Infants have "non-nutritive sucking needs" Try a pacifier. He may also be having an episode of colic, of simply need to burp. Talk to you pediatrician and take him in for growth and weight checks. Weigh gain and 6-10 wet diapers a day is indicative of adequate nutrition and hydration in an infant. Feeding an infant anything but breast milk or commercial infant formula before 16 weeks of age will at best result in vomiting and at worst lead to stomach ulcerations which can perforate the gut lining and lead to a life threatening infection. Talk to your pediatrician, they are there to help.

Shannon - posted on 01/28/2010

Just don't do it. Doesn't make them sleep longer, it is not good for them and if you falsely add weight to them, your pediatrician won't be able to tell you if they are getting enough of the nutrition they need from breastmilk/formula, because they appear to be putting on weight. Also if they do go longer between feedings, they are probably not getting enough to drink either. Hope that helps. P.S. Two of my 4 children appeared to want more bottle, but they actually wanted water, I found out when I offered it. You have to try different things, remember, they can't talk, you gotta guess.

SUSAN - posted on 01/28/2010

I put cereal in the bottle and it did not hurt mine. My middle child started on cereal at 1 week old. If you spoon feed, use a small baby spoon and hold child in an upright position (don't feed the child when he is laying down). They make feeders for baby food, cereal to go in. It look kinda like a bottle and helps the baby from getting air. If putting cereal in a regular bottle be sure it is soupy enough to go through easily, you may have to enlarge the hole a little. Hope this helps.

Janet - posted on 01/28/2010

Rice is naturally the least allergenic and the easiet digestable food in the world. Which is why it's your baby's first food - you wouldn't want to feed them anything else.



You don't feed your baby rice - or any other food at this stage unless he can't go at least 3 hours without feeding. But, just like you and me, some days you are more hungry than others and need a bit more. It's actually really cute to watch them suck the rice off the spoon with their little tongue - very precious!