How early can you add rice to infant formula?

Answer 1

You should NEVER add rice to a bottle. Your baby could choke!

Answer 2

Unless there is a medical reason to do so, never add rice cereal to a bottle. The only medical reason I've ever heard of for this is reflux, and it is controvercial. It may help some babies, but at a possible cost to future health. Early solids, even something as innocent as rice cereal, can lead to health problems later on in life such as food allergies, diabetes or GI tract issues. It is a myth that cereal in a bottle can help a baby sleep for longer periods of time.

The earliest you should add rice cereal to an infant's diet is 6 months, unless the baby has reached the maximum number of ounces per day that they are allotted of formula, in which case rice cereal should be started no earlier than 4 months of age. Ask your doctor what the maximum amount of formula your baby can have. If you give your baby too much formula there can be an overdose of some of the minerals, which is why in some cases starting cereal at 4 months can be indicated.

There is no maximum amount of breastmilk per day, so if your baby were receiving breastmilk instead of formula, cereal should not be started until 6 months of age at the earliest, barring health problems.

Before starting rice cereal, make sure all the signs of readiness are there for starting solids, such as sitting without support, and no toung thrust reflex. Also, there is no rule saying that you have to start your baby on rice cereal as a first solid food. It is usually recommended due to the iron in infant cereal to prevent anemia.

Answer 3

Usually around 4 to 6 months for infant rice cereals.

Answer 4

If you are talking about giving them rice cereal mixed with formula, 4-6 months. I don't recommend adding rice cereal into the formula in a bottle at all. It's an old wives' tale that it helps baby sleep and maybe it does but it is not recommended unless baby has reflux or some other condition where your pediatrician recommends it.

You can google rice cereal in bottles and find a bunch of links just like this, but this one sums things up nicely.
http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=861

Answer 5

Your doctor will tell you 6 months. I would just tell you to do it when you feel that he/she isn't feeling full from one bottle. I started my son out with rice at like 3 months. You can pour as much into a bottle as you want. Although the more you add the thicker it gets. If you do add rice to the formula you might want to buy some Karo Syrup. Mix one teaspoon with the rice. It will help keep he/she from getting constipated. Thats why you doctor says it's not good to get babies started on the cerals to soon. Doctors also don't want you to do it soon because they could have a allergic reaction. When they are so young its harder to fight off. I started my son off with baby ceral and food earlier than the doctors said. My son is a very healthy 4 year old. You are his or her mother and can do what you feel is right.

Answer 6

It isn't really a question of how early, b/c you shouldn't do it at all. It's an old wives tale that adding cereal to their bottle is good for them. Yes, baby might sleep better with a full tummy, but he can get a full tummy just by eating till he's full. And part of being a baby is eating often, every few hours. Breastfed babies actually eat every 2 hours usually for a while, b/c it's so much easier for them to digest breastmilk than formula, they have less indigestion and gas. Infants aren't ready to handle swallowing anything more solid than formula or breastmilk, it could make them choke, or give them indigestion. Also, it's just empty calories, which could make them gain too much weight too fast. Giving them any kind of food too soon gives them a higher risk for being obese later in life and for having food allergies. Since the sucking and swallowing functions often aren't completely perfect yet, some babies end up INHALING the cereal into their lungs, causing pulmonary distress.

The research is clear, too, babies who take cereal in their bottles didn't sleep any more any sooner than those who didn't. AAP(American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends NOT to put cereal in their bottles. If you do so, you 'short-circuit' their natural ability to eat what they need, forcing them to take in MANY more calories than they need, setting them up for overeating issues later in life.

Also, think of it this way, babies were made to breastfeed, and you can't put cereal in a breast, so obviously, they DON'T NEED IT!

Answer 7

Well, I put all 3 of my kids on rice cereal at the age of 3 weeks for supplement to the formula. They tolerated it very well and slept great! After about 2 weeks on rice cereal, try introducing bananas or applesauce with it. Always try one thing at a time so if they have any allergies, you will be able to pinpoint the source.

Answer 8

Well depending on the weight of your baby, I started giving my kids rice cereal at about 8 weeks I think. I decided to do that when it seemed that they were not satisfied with just the formula or breast milk and were constantly feeding but never seemed satisfied. I know experts say wait till your baby is at least 6 months old before giving them any solids, but I think that is a load of crap. Use your own common sense and good judgement, mom.

Answer 9

you can try to give when yr baby is 4 mths. by this time, the baby organs are more develope as compare to the first - three months. Friso Rice Cereal are mainly for 4 mth and above baby. It had a very nice fragant and my son love it

Answer 10

I just went to the doctor for my 10 week old, and they gave me a paper saying.. 4-6 months is normal. Dont do it any earlier. If you do it can cause the baby to gain weight and become heavier! It also said that their tongues arent ready for solid foods yet, if they are above 4 months. I would try it at four months and if he/she doesnt seem to be doing it ok then wait and try it in a couple more weeks.

Answer 11

some people give baby rice in 6 month and i go by what the doctor said and that is 8 months