how many times/day IF i decide to give rice cereal to my 3 month old!?

as you noticed i did put a question early this morning about if i should start her on solid foods, some of you gave me some suggestions, thank you so much!

now if i do decided to put her on baby cereals,,,how many times a day do i give it to her?>

before her bottle...or does it replace a bottle feeding all together ...do i skip a bottle feeding when i give her the cereals, or give her both at the same time??

not sure how to do this?

thanks again ladies for all ur advise!

[GRose]

Right now I would only do one feeding a day since you want her main source of nutrition to be formula or breast milk. I would give the cereal to her before a feeding since she will be full already after a bottle and wont want to take the cereal. She wont actually keep much in for the first dozen feedings anyways. You can make sure she is getting nutrients from the cereal by mixing it with formula or breast milk instead of water, that way the taste will be more familiar to her. Only give her a couple tablespoons at a time.

[heatherlynn22]

my boys started on rice cereal at 6 weeks. from 6 weeks until about 4 months they got 2 tbsp of rice cereal in each bottle. then from 5 months till now it's about 4-6 tbsp in each bottle.  

[NicMom]

I started out with cereal in the bottle like heatherlynn, from 2 1/2 months to about 3 1/2 months before I started giving him regular cereal mixed in a bowl with formula. I started earlier than some people because he was always hungry and not sleeping very well. Once I started the cereal he went back to sleeping soundly and being less fussy.

[evthing4reason]

i think you should speak to the Dr about this

[GRose]

I know everyone is different but I agree that you need to talk to the doctor, just cause one person says it is ok doesn't mean it is.
I have never heard of any ped saying it is ok to put the cereal in a bottle, you just aren't supposed to do it.

[Linzola1]

I began putting cereal in Julians bottle when he was 6 weeks but BY DOCTORS ORDERS! He has GERD and could not keep the formula down unless it was thickened. I posted about this before speaking to the doctor and got a million and 1 different responses, and considering I didnt want to take any chances on hurting him called her... I am sorry that you are not getting the responses you want from everyone, but your the Mom and we are just giving advice! Good Luck

[alaysha]

I agree with evthin4reason and Grose. You need to ask your doctor. Most doctors recommend never giving cereal in a bottle to your child and also not feeding them cereal in general until they are at LEAST 4 months. Most want you to wait until 6 months because everything is more developed at that time to be able to digest it better.

I know that there is some cases where a doctor will recommend giving cereal in a bottle or before 4 months but usually that is in a medical cases such as Linzola's with the GERD. It does not however mean that this is the norm.

[danielleacor]

I would talk to your pediatrician before anything. I didn't start my son on rice cereal until 3 1/2 or 4 months. I heard so many stories on how feeding a baby solids too early can cause allergies, and digestive problems. So if you're going to try it, start really slow, only once a day, and very watered down with formula. After a couple of weeks, when there's no digestive problems increase the amount slightly. That's what i did, and he's perfect!


Good luck!

[NicMom]

For the record cereal in the bottle was the suggestion of my pediatrician. I only did it with his evening feeding and it helped him to sleep through the night.

I agree with Linzola, your the mom and we are just giving you advice. What works for one baby isn't always the solution for the next.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Yeah, I agree w/ others in that I think you should speak w/ your doc first.  That is always best.  

But just because some babies aren't ready for cereal/baby food until they are 6 months, doesn't mean it is that way for every baby.  Every baby is different.  So, what is right for one baby may not be right for yours.  Or what is right for your baby may not be right for other's either.

I know many people that have given cereal at a very early age and it has been fine, but probably under the diagnosis/suggestion of their ped.  I personally didn't have to do it, but like I said, I know people that have done it and it really helped and made a difference with their babies.

As far as using a bottle to give the cereal.  That's how I have always heard it to be done that young.  The only problem I can see is air, which could happen anyway, whether there is cereal mixed w/ the formula/breastmilk or not.  And my ped said it was okay to do it that way, so I don't really see the problem.

As you can see though, based on what everyone is telling you, everyone's doctors say different things.  Some say no baby food until 6 months.  Some say 4, etc.  So, again, I would still consult w/ your doc first.  You never know.  Your little one may have a different problem all together.

Good luck w/ whatever you decide!

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Oh, and they actually have cereal bottles you can buy specifically for mixing forumula w/ cereal.  I had already pushed the "post" button when I remembered this......

[jessyboy007]

THANK YOU guys for the wonderful advise!!

I know for a fact that my ped. is pretty much open minded....i remember asking him how many times to feed my baby,,and how much i should feed her,,and he told me as much as she will take and as many times as she wants it,,he is for what the baby wants and needs!

so i know if  i ask him if i should feed her solids / cereals, he will suggest to go ahead,,im sure of it, but ill consult with him in a few days about it!!

i was against feeding a baby that young...ive always said that i would do it at 6 months...but everyone is right, i am the mommy and you guys havent seen my girl eat..i mean she is hungry like ALL THE TIME....!! she is a big girl,,,,and her hunger as increased,,,so , ill let you know what i decide to do!!!