Hi Moms,
My daughter, who is 16 weeks old weighs about 12 pounds. I know this is average for her age group. Anyway, she's eating 6 ounces of formula every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I really don't think she needs to eat 7 ounces at one time, she still spits up quite a bit once in a while. At her 2 month check up her doctor had mentiond, since she was eating at the top end for her age, if she's not getting enough calories we should consider putting a teaspoon of cereal in her bottle. I was so surprised, I thought that was an outdated practice. Now, that she's around 4 months I'm wondering if it would help her feel fuller longer. She has a drs. appointment in a couple weeks, but I was looking for any opinions or advice on the issue. Thanks in advance!
Thanks for all the advice. I am using the Enfamil AR, I bought it thinking it would help with her spitting up. It was way too thick and she couldn't get it out of the bottle so we mix 3/4 regular formula and 1/4 AR. I think what I'll end up doing is waiting for her doctor's appointment in 2 weeks. I want to start cereal but I really don't think she's developmentally ready to eat from a spoon. Hopefully in another 2 weeks we can have her neck muscles develop a little more. She actually slept through the night last night, her last bottle was around 5pm (It's after 7am now) and she's still asleep, maybe she was going through a growth spurt and it's leveling off. I feel so culeless everyday! That's life with a baby!! Thanks again, I love knowing that I have people to turn to!
they recommend starting cereal between 4 and 6 months.. so you could start now..
I have also heard taht if the baby is taking more than 32 oz of formula a day it is time to start cereal.
Start with one tablespoon of rice cereal with enough formual to make it the right consistency.. (pretty runny) I would do one meal a day.. in the evening..
You dont want to fill her up with cereal as it is not as nutritious as formula.
Oh wow, I JUST asked the same question the other day...http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/13065878282317135873
anyway, I ended up adding a 1/2 tbsp of cereal to every bottle and it made quite a difference.
She doesn't spit up as often.
She doesn't require as many bottles per day.
Her stools have straightened out (they were hard one day and runny the next)
She seems much happier.
There is alot of debate on this subject andI am sure you will get several representative opinions that show that, but this mom is glad she tried it.
Wish you luck, sister.
Keep us up to date?
T.
Call the Dr.'s office and see how much cereal they reccomend to introduce her to at this age...
i started my dtr on cereal @ 4 months, and it was the best thing b/c she was actually full. she ate all the time too. go w/ your gut :)
Absolutey try the cereal! My son was a big eater and I was breastfeeding him all the time...he was about four months when my doctor said the same thing...when we started the cereal, my son was happier, more content, and didn't eat as often. People even noticed the difference in him. The cereal that I used was the Earth's Best rice cereal and he liked it so much that we used the other grains as well.
Good luck!
Here is a few things for thought.
My daughters, I have 2, both had (one still does) GERD. They had rice cereal at 3 weeks. It works. That being said moms for years have been giving their children home made formula & cows milk by 6-8 months.Those babies all turned out fine. Mothers have been feeding babies cereal at 8 week or earilier (such as myself) those babies all turned out fine.
Babies will tell you when they are hungry & full. Use those clues.
Good luck and talk to your pediatrician
I think I'd be finding another Dr. after that advice. That IS outdated and has been shown to increase risks of choking in babies. The ONLY reason you would consider putting cereal in a bottle is in severe cases of Reflux...even then you need to be very careful.
My second born ate every 45minutes-hour his first 2-3months and it was suggested that I pump and put some cereal in a bottle for him at bedtime...tried it for 3 nights. It made no difference at all.
Babies eat the amount they need and how often the need to eat. I nursed all of mine and they fed anywhere from every 3hrs to every 1.5hours at that age. It's quite possible that she has a high metabalism or is getting ready for a big growth spurt.
Feed her when she's hungry, she's obviously a healthy weight (btw my 3 were 16-17lbs at 4 months...LOL so 12lbs sounds like a lil' peanut to me :-D ) so I wouldn't sweat it.
The cereal is used for two reasons. One is to fill her more the second is to help witht he amount of spit up. The dr's feel if its thicker more filling she will not through up as much because it will be to heavy to come up. How much is she spitting up. Is it more than two onces. Cuz if so she may have acid reflux. Most babies who are born there flap in the tummy where it opens and closes for food to stay in is not developed and they tend to spit up more. So by using the cereal they feel its helps weigh it odwn to stay also you should have her sitting up when eating like in her car seat or on your lap. Don't cradle her witht he bottle. That helps to keep it down too she needs to sit up for about an hr after she eats. with them cradle position they tend toget air bubbles ant than they have more of a chance spitting more up. I don't really remmender how much they eat at 4 month i think at that time there suppose to be at 4 to 6 oz. But don't quote me I am currently pregnant this is always all new to me every child four children down the road I still can't remember sorry Good luck and enjoy her.
My son started eating some rice cereal at around four months after his doctor nearly fell out of the chair upon hearing how much breast milk the kid was sucking down. He's one now and regularly consumes bowls of pasta larger than most grown ups.
I have a 21 week old daughter. At 16 weeks she was doing the very same thing. She is a big girl, 15 lbs at her 4 month check up. Anyway, I don't know anyone recommending putting cereal in the bottle. At 4 months they can take cereal by a spoon and they need to get that oral stimulation soon anyway.
I started with rice cereal also, very runny. She spit everything out at first, which did not really solve her hunger problem right away. Before long, she was a pro. she is happier, more content for longer periods of time.
Good luck!
Hi there.. Try Enfamil Lipal AR--the formula has rice powder in it so it's thicker and might help your daughter stay fuller longer.
