Rice cereal mixed w/forumula - what age?

My pediatrician recommended 16 weeks before we started adding rice into the bottles.  However, we are getting NO sleep and they seem constantly hungry.  We started this morning trying to add a small amount of rice cereal to their bottles and they seem to be handling it good so far.  They are eating their entire bottle and sleeping great.  What age did everybody else start adding rice cereal?  

[have 2 kids]

Adding cereal to a bottle has not been proven to help with sleeping.   I was always told not before 6 months.

[pertykitty]

have you tried giving them more formula in their bottle? or waking to feed them again before you go to bed?  you will probably just have to push through the waking up at night to feed them right now as sad as that sounds.

[mami1323]

I tried early on and found my son was struggling to go to the bathroom and was very cranky so I stopped.  My ped does not want me to start until 6 months.

[pertykitty]

i know it must be super hard with 2 babies, addison ate like crazy the first few months, i thought id never sleep again!! but now at 4 months she sleeps from about 1030-11 at night till 6 but sometimes a bit earlier.  it will happen, you just have to wait it out.  nap all you can!

[KellyTexas]

I didn't mean to sound like I was doing it mainly for the sleep (I'm pretty used to the not sleeping way of life, up every two hours - hee hee) - it is more cause it seems their little bellies just can't get full enough.  No matter how much formula I give them they seem to stay hungry.  I don't want them to over eat as then they throw up.  I'm just trying to think of different options.  I've heard so many different ages on the rice cereal that I thought I'd ask you ladies as well.

[have 2 kids]

Kelly-  how much are they eating and how often?

[shamanda]

Kelly, READ THIS: http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/readyforsolids.htm

Mine definitely did that 3-4 month growth spurt thing mentioned at the website above.  Levi was eating 8 oz sometimes, and hungry a couple hours later!  But it ended and he's slowed way down.  He did gain a TON of weight then, though.

My ped just had us start rice but mine are 6 mo.  I'm still not 100% sold, though, because their adjusted age isn't even close.  But Paige started having reflux, so we're trying it to see if it helps.  Also, our ped. said that if they can't eat it from a spoon, they aren't ready. I know lots of people give it in a bottle, but she said that's just starting a bad habit; if they are going to eat, they can learn to eat from a spoon.  It's pretty funny watching them try to figure it out.

[pertykitty]

what if you fed them the cereal at night as opposed to giving it to them in their bottles?  seems like a better solution but i dont have a clue!  your little line backers need a steak lol

[KellyTexas]

Sometimes they will eat 4-6 oz and then sometimes they will only eat 2 oz - I can't get them on a steady oz schedule.  They wake up every 2 hours no matter how much they eat and act like they are starving.  They eat their "adequate" amount throughout the day, but not in any steady amounts.  I thought maybe the rice would help - it seems to be doing ok today - we'll see if it makes them have problems pooping.

[KellyTexas]

We will definately try the cereal at night only, we just wanted to do it during the day today to make sure they didn't have any reactions.  They are great eaters just don't do it in any order - it's very random.  They are sleeping great today and eating so much better.  It's kind of hard to explain.  I just don't want to hurt them.

[Van73]

Kelly I completely understand. My DS is going through the same thing!  he wants to eat every time he wakes up !! lol  He doesnt care if it's 3am or 3pm. I dont mind but I am not getting any sleep and my BP is still completely out of control.......I thought about the cereal too but i am too scared to hurt his little tummy and I dont want that either.  BTW he now weighs over 12lbs!!!!!!!

[KellyTexas]

WOW - 12 lbs.  Geez, he's eating like a champ.  Last weigh in, ours we're only just under 10 lbs.  We go for their 8 weeks check up on the 28th.  I'm anxious to see what they weigh then.  I don't think the formula was helping them gain the weight they needed either and they are on the NeoSure - the highest calorie formula there is.  I am at a loss.

[have 2 kids]

Kelly- 8 wks is VERY early to feed cereal.  If I remember right they were born early weren't they?  

[Crritter]

At 8 weeks it is pretty early and they worry about immature digestive systems not handling it, cereal causing constipation, food allergies...It's tough, I only had one at a time, but it was bad when we were up all night with colic and feedings and reflux...Cam and Carson both ate a ton in the evenings and it helped some at night when they outgrew the screaming and crying jags.  At 8 weeks though they are growing like crazy and even at almost 6 months Cam was eating every 2 hours, cereal or not.  It was rough and I cried at the peds office from exhaustion, but hang in there.  Now he's much better, but he shot up like crazy after that.  They just have tiny tummies and need to eat several meals.  I would not mess with it, especially if the Dr. said to wait till 16 weeks.  Unfortunately, babies just need to eat all the time, but they will space it out soon enough.  Hang in there!

[tiredbuthappy]

i am surprised that your ped said to give them cereal in the bottle. research the topic by doing a quick internet search and you can find all different perspectives.
I searched the AAP site, and it brought up links to obesity.

Dr. Greene's website provides an interesting explanation:
"I’m much more concerned about a subtler issue. Babies are born with a wonderful mechanism for knowing how much food they need. During the early months, they take their cues from the volume of what they drink. Adding cereal derails this mechanism. It forces them to take in deceptively large amounts of calories. It teaches them to overeat... Drawing on the wisdom of experience and the latest scientific knowledge, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against adding cereal to the bottle. It may be tempting after your 16th straight sleep-deprived night to cut a bigger hole in the feeding nipple to add rice cereal. But it won’t offer lasting help, and it may be giving your baby a lasting gift that both of you will regret."
http://www.drgreene.com/21_861.html

[tiredbuthappy]

also, what signs of hunger are they giving you? aap says that many babies are being overfed because parents misinterpret other cues as hunger cues, and because of parent's obsession with emptying the bottle (guilty here of that one!!). of course, the aap is the final authority on all topics, but most of their position statements are based on the most current scientific research. it's very confusing and frustrating to us as new parents, because the results and research is always changing, so guidelines are constantly changing.

[tiredbuthappy]

while this site is not an academic site, it does site it's references for the perspectives it states, and most of these references are scholarly
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/tipcerealinbottle.htm

(sorry for all the sites and research- it's the scientist in me!!! also, it's a topic that interests me.)



also found this study:
Infant sleep and bedtime cereal.  
Michael L. Macknin, Sharon Vanderbrug Medendorp, Mary C. Maier. American Journal of Diseases of Children.  Sept 1989 v143 n9 p1066(3).


Abstract:

In has long been held that starting infants on solid foods at an early age improves nighttime sleep patterns. In an effort to promote uninterrupted nighttime sleep, parents start giving solid evening meals during the first few months of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests introducing solid foods between four and six months of age. This recommendation is based on the fact that waiting to introduce solids prevents an overloading immature kidneys, overfeeding and force feeding by parents, and allergic reactions to food. To evaluate whether an evening feeding improves nighttime sleep, 106 infants were fed one tablespoon of rice cereal in milk bottles before bedtime at either five weeks or four months of age. The early introduction of solid foods did not improve the ability of infants to sleep through the night. It is suggested that sleeping through the night is a developmental and adaptive process having nothing to do with the introduction of solid foods. Most of the infants in this study slept six consecutive hours by 12 weeks of age and eight consecutive hours by 20 weeks of age. There was no observable relationship between the introduction of solids and sleep.

[KellyTexas]

I just wanted to reiterate that my ped said not to give them cereal until 16 weeks.  Not sure if he meant in the bottle or not.  I didn't want you to think that's what he said.

As for their hunger signs, when they cry we check a few things - their diapers, then we hold them and try to rock them, wrap them in their blankets to see if they were cold or uncomfortable and then we check to see if they want to eat.  It's always the bottle they are crying for.  It's never just to be held or changed.  Half the time they are still dry.  

And I just want everyone to know that we are not adding tons of cereal - we are only adding maybe 1 tbsp at the most to their 4 oz bottles.  It is still very runny and you can hardly even tell there's cereal in there.  Not sure how much is too much.

[Crritter]

I have always been told no cereal in the bottle, pretty much what the above poster was quoting.  When you start them on cereal; it's only 1 or 2 tablespoons, so you really are giving them a lot even if it doesn't seem like it.  It's up to you and all Dr.'s will be a little different, but I would ask.  My boys pretty much cried all the time, but when they were really upset it was hunger and they seemed to want to eat all the time, I understand where you are coming from. I would just be very careful about cereal in the bottle.  I have only come across one Dr. who recommended it, but my co-worker who swears she was told to is also not the best at telling the truth, so I can't totally believe anything that comes out of her mouth.  Anyway, it's up to you and your ped and your babies, good luck, sleep will come in a few months.

[AndiJ78]

No cereal in the bottle, even the cereal makers themselves advocate AGAINST putting it in the bottle. Even if it is 6 ounces every 3 hours, you feed them 6 ounces every 3 hours. It sucks, I cannot imagine how hard it must be with two, but I spent nearly a year with each of my kids not sleeping more than an hour or two a night due to only being able to nurse off of one side. I didn't have the benefit of two breasts to fill them up, so my one breast was working double duty.

It does get better. This is such an insignificant period of time in the grand scheme of things. Keep the cereal out of the bottle, your kids will thank you for it.

[Darkestlight]

I tried cereal with my DD at 3 months and she didn't take to it so I stopped and just started baby food at 4months.  most smart doctors will say NEVER put cereal in their bottle. It doesnt help them sleep at night.

[KellyTexas]

WOW - where did you come from?  I haven't heard from you in months.  Your baby has to be on it's way to college by now!!  hee hee   How are you and the kidlet doing?  It's great to hear from you again.

[peekawho]

Kelly, I have to echo what everyone else said.  If they can't take it from a spoon, they are not physically ready.  
They do not need the empty calories from a useless carbohydrate like rice cereal in any amount.  If you are only putting such a small amount in their bottles, the extra calories are negligible anyway.   Any "improvement" you see is coincidental, when you realize that you are diluting such a tiny amount--there is no way it can be helping their tummies stay fuller.  
Unfortunately, a small amount of rice cereal can cause constipation and all the other problems everyone stated.  Some problems may not be evident well into later childhood.

So if a tiny amount in the bottle won't help, and can hurt, why do it?

If they are hungry often, they need formula, not empty filler.  

[tiredbuthappy]

hmm. are they using a pacifier? maybe they just need to suckle. dd went through that phase as well. if they aren't already, maybe you can try that.

[saj39]

Well I have to say that after 3 babies and 1 on the way. I tend to do my own thing, Most peds ay wait until they are older. I myself put a teaspoon in my babies bottles at about 5 weeks. I had no problems and my babies sleep through the night after that. They say not to b/c of potentional allergies, but I had no issues. My third baby came home from the hopital at 3 days old sleeping through the night so with her I waiting until about 8 weeks. I am not saying to try it, talk to your ped and decide yourself. My good frind took her 8 week old to the ped yesterday and explain to him that her baby was crying to eat every 2.5-3 hrs and taking in 4 oz. each feeding. He told her to mix a bit of rice cereal in with some apple or peach baby food and spoon feed him an evening meal. This way he could learning to eat from a spoon and it would be filling for him. This worked well for her. I guess it depends on the ped. Good Luck!!!

[alaysha]

Some babies can't fall asleep without something in their mouths. Like tiredbuthappy said you may want to try a pacifier. I was told my ped to start feeding cereal between 4-6 months (longer you wait the better) and that they have to be at least 15 lbs before they can eat it.

[beautifullychaotic]

I have always given my babies rice cereal in their bottles as soon as they were a month old.  Although I have heard there is no proof that it helps a baby sleep..It always worked for me.  And a girl that I babysit for just had her baby about 4 months ago. Her baby has acid reflux and she was told to alternate rice cereal and oatmeal cereal in her bottles at a month or less old. So far so good.

[cantwait4baby]

My dd always slept good without cereal in the bottle.  My mother as I am sure many others from her generation will advise "I put cereal in your bottle".  I was a new mom so at 4 months I tried it for no other reason then to see if she liked it and of course she did but when I told the doctor he almost chopped my head off along with the women on here so I immediatly stopped.  It never had any change on her sleeping habits.  I only did it maybe 3 times when the doctor informed me that was a NO WAY.  He advised of all the risks involved.  He said only formula for the first 6 months but if she could eat cereal from a spoon it was ok to give her a ittle which I then started.  

At 5 months she had a horrible episode during a feeding that ended in me calling 911.  Turned out after 4 months of testing is was due to an asthma attack during a feeding in which my daughter had reflux so she was not getting enough air and I had no idea until she passed out.

I never fed her cereal again.  The doctor tried to assure me the cereal itself had nothing to do with that situtation that she was 5 months old and ready for the cereal and there was no way of me knowing about the reflux or asthma since she had to prior symptoms but I tend to disagree I think it did have something to do with it and although she is eating table food now I still am afraid of the cereal.

Sorry for the long story just wanted to let you know that is it not a good idea to do the cereal thing and it will not help your babies sleep.

Good Luck.

[GNicole]

I know I am probably going to get blasted for this but at around 4 1/2 months we started adding cereal to Avery's bottle. Doctor said it was ok because Avery was so big and nothing seemed to satisfy her. She did sleep better after we added the cereal, I am sure because she was always hungry. Good luck to you! :)

[cantwait4baby]

YOU DID WHAT??? haha just kidding.  Did your mom give you the idea too?  My mom was really pushing it. Now we are both trying to get the darn sippy cup to work and I think Eva has had enough.

[GNicole]

HAHA! My mom did suggest that because (are you ready for this?) she gave my brother cereal when he was 2 weeks yes I said 2 weeks old. My brother was 10 lbs. 14 oz. at birth and nothing satisfied him. The doctor told her it was ok. Of course that was a long time ago, my brother is 37. So actually Avery was small at birth (9-2) compared to my brother. LOL!