Rice cereal

For those of you who use rice cereal I have lots of questions...
1. What is the purpose of it?
2. How old was DC when you started it?
3. How did you introduce it and how much?

Anything else you wish to add about it.

DD is 3.5 months. Until recently her routine was eat at 7:30p, sleep peacefully for 6-7 hours, eat for 15 min, and then sleeping another 2.5-3 hours. Every night for the past month or so she has been fussing through her evening feeding (which is a bottle of Breastmilk... All other feedings I BF). During this feeding, She sucks vigorously, and gets tons of air in. Then she starts screaming and burps a ton. We have tried going up to 3month nipples, changing bottles, feeding her later, feeding her earlier, checking for a collapsed nipple (DH says it is not collapsing). We know the issue is gas, we just can't fix it. Because she isn't eating as well, she isn't sleeping as well. I spoke to a friend who is a physician asst. for a pediatrician and she said to try rice cereal in the bottle and to go up to 6+ months on the nipple bc it might help with gas and make her more full so she will sleep better.
I am skeptical about introducing this that early and using a 6+ month nipple so young. I have also read that putting rice cereal in a bottle isn't a good idea, but can't find anything explaining why.

Message edited 12/4/2013 9:19:22 AM.

Rice cereal

I just introduced cereal but I skipped rice and did oatmeal. I never heard anything good about the rice and heard it constipated them. The oatmeal has been going well and she's def not constipated. Lol.

Best time is in the morning to introduce anything just in case they have an allergic reaction you're awake to see it. Start with a tablespoon of cereal and mix it with bm or formula to a good consistency.

I started at 5 months but anytime between 4-6 months is good. Not before and not after.

Message edited 12/4/2013 8:38:45 AM.

Re: Rice cereal

i started dd around 5 months. as pp mentioned, starting between 4-6 months is ideal (at least that is what my pediatrician said)

I believe you start with rice cereal or oatmeal first because it doesnt have much flavor, it just gets them used to a new texture. after they are used to that you can introduce baby foods.

i followed what it said on the box - 1tablespoon of cereal with one ounce of formula (i believe that was the recommendation on the box). but i found it to be very watery, so after the first day i made it thicker and dd still ate it.

i gave it to dd at night for two reasons
-we were too busy running around getting ready for work/daycare in the morning i didnt have time to feed her
-i thought it may help her sleep better at night if she had a full tummy

Re: Rice cereal

Early on DS preferred rice cereal to oatmeal so that's what he got.

The purpose of all foods early on is just for practice - that includes cereals, fruits and veggies. All for practice - teaching the baby how to eat.

DS was just shy of 5 months when he was ready for solids.

Not sure what you mean by "how did you introduce it." Basically just put it on a spoon and try to feed the baby. At first most babies don't want very much because it's all new - the texture, eating, etc. So they may only take a tiny amount - maybe 1 or 2 spoons. I always offered until DS turned away.

Re: Rice cereal

I know it may not be popular opinion, but my mom and MIL suggested putting a little cereal in DD's bottle to fill her up because that's what they did with their kids at an early age. She is only a little over 2 months so I'm going to wait. At 3.5 months? I'd say try it, especially because your friend that works at the ped's office suggested it.

Re: Rice cereal

Rice cereal

we started DD with oatmeal cereal because i too had heard that rice cereal constipated them. but i did eventually let her try the cereal when she was older and she was fine on it too

Rice cereal

We did oatmeal instead of rice.

Rice cereal

We did oatmeal instead of rice - maybe try some gas drops?

Rice cereal

I would add gas drops to the bottle. I don't think rice cereal in her bottle would help at all for that. Try diff bottles too. Dr browns are great but there are many others. It could also be a phase that as she matures she will grow out of it.

Re: Rice cereal

We actually added rice cereal to DS's bottle, per his GI, but it was for reflux issues, not for gas. Also, I don't think it filled him up any more and it did not change his sleeping habits. Only time got him to sleep more.

For gas, I'd try gas drops or gripe water.

Re: Rice cereal

Rice cereal

I agree with PP...the rice will help spit up or reflux, not gas. For gas put gas drops into the bottle, or try gripe water before bed to settle tummy.

Rice cereal

Not sure what kind of bottles you have tried, but the Playtex nursers and gas drops in the bottle work wonders me.