Rice cereal in bottle

I just started putting rice cereal in my DD's bottle (my doc advised it) to help with gas issues and she's now doing worse than ever. She's spitting up more and it's projectile half the time. She also seems in more pain, gags and even has watery painful spit up an hour after eating. I can't get her to slow down when eating at all which I know is half the problem but we burp her as much as possible (every ounce or so).

She is currently on Similac Total Comfort and I'm wondering if Similac for Spit Up or Organic Similac might be better. Has anyone had better luck switching formulas instead of adding rice cereal or has anyone tried either of those formulas??

TIA

Re: Rice cereal in bottle

Could she have acid reflux? Does she arch her back and seem to be in pain? She might need something like zantec or Axid. Also, make sure you are using the right sized nipple so that the flow is slower. Also how are her poops? Are they mucous and really foul smelling? Does she sound congested, but it's not a cold? If so could be a milk protein sensitivity or allergy which can be easily tested by bringing in a soiled diaper to the DR.

Re: Rice cereal in bottle

Yeah she's been congested since birth but they do think she has mild reflux (possibly). She does sleep pretty well and is such a happy baby so I feel terrible that she's so unhappy after eating. I use the Y nipple so the cereal can flow but it's so fast. Not sure a regular nipple would work though. Poops seem normal, sometimes stinky but normal for the most part.

Message edited 3/1/2015 10:39:07 PM.

Rice cereal in bottle

I'm surprised your ped would advice putting rice cereal in your DD's bottle since the AAP advises against it. I've heard excellent things about Baby's Only formula.

Re: Rice cereal in bottle

Okay, my Ds was always congested and it turned out to be a milk protein sensitivity and acid reflux. Excess mucous is one of the major signs. He had to go on Nutramigen. For my twins, they have a severe allergy and are on elecare. One twin had reflux and the rice in the bottle did help. My ped. Told me one level teaspoon of rice to every 4 oz. Of formula. I was able to still use the level one nipples (dr. Browns bottles) with this ratio. I never had to use the y cut nipples, which is probably making it worse for her. I would look into getting her tested for a milk protein sensitivity or allergy (easily done) because any of the formulas unmentioned are milk based, so they won't help if it is an allergy. If it's not an allergy, perhaps something for the reflux and a nipple change will help. Good luck. I've been there with 3 out of 4, so would be happy to help. It's so hard to see them in pain.

Re: Rice cereal in bottle

So frustrating. I'm using Born Free bottles I had left over from my older DD so maybe I'll try the regular nipple and those or the stage 2 nipples with the Avent bottles I have. She has her next appt in a few weeks so trying to see if I can relieve some of her discomfort before then. Otherwise I may have them check for an allergy like you suggested.

Rice cereal in bottle

It sounds like more of a milk protein allergy to me. Both of my dcs had milk and soy protein allergies and her symptoms match many of my dd's symptoms. I would switch to Similac Alimentum

Re: Rice cereal in bottle

my daughter had reflux but no milk allergy and we had to put rice in her bottle
doc told us 2 tsp for every oz of milk it worked.
i would switch to Dr. Browns fo rthe gas and when you feed her make sure it is up right.
i just sat her on my lap facing the tv and i kept her up for about 20 min after or put her in the rock n play.

i eventually also had to start her in mylanta about 2 weeks after that and all was SO much better and it did the trick.

Rice cereal in bottle

with dd 2 I had to switch to drop ins and added rice formula from enfamil. with it already added in, it mixes so much better. and the drop ins stopped her from gulping. dr brown bottles were awful for her

she was on meds for acid reflux and still to this day always constipated and gassy, no protein allergy (tested a few times)

Message edited 3/2/2015 9:14:05 AM.

Re: Rice cereal in bottle

Re: Rice cereal in bottle

Re: Rice cereal in bottle

as others have said...sounds like reflux and an allergy. DD has both, she's on axid AND mylanta for the reflux and using elecare for the allergy. We also put rice cereal in her bottle (happy bellies brand). The medication helped the best, but i stuck with the rice cereal because the elecare is so thin.

DD was (and still is) VERY happy, it never seemed to bother her except for when she spit up. you could see how uncomfortable it was. my DD would also have choking fits, so that's when we opted for medication.

it gets better, but without the medication, it would be a nightmare. what helped the most...turning 6 months. she was sitting upright then and started eating food.