When do you start adding cereal to a babys formula? Or are you even supposed to add it to the formula anymore?

Question

My 3 month old will completely finish off a 4oz bottle of formula. Should I add cereal to it, or make it 6 oz instead of 4?

Also, I heard you arent supposed to add cereal anymore, but make it seperately? Is this true?

When I thought my daughter had acid reflux, the on call pediatrician told me to add some cereal to her bottle!? Why would she say that if it isnt good for her?

Answer 1

If your baby seems fussy after they have drank the 4oz bottle like they're looking for more then, maybe boosting them up a few more ounces will do the trick. I know that a lot of mothers and nurses are leary of introducing cereal too early as they might choke. But it is suggested that you wait till about 6 months of age. Then try mixing one teaspoon of baby rice cereal to a sloppy consistancy of formula or breast milk. Use a soft tipped spoon. If the baby doesn't seem interested leave it for a few days. But remember it takes a while for babies to get the hang of using their mouth and tongue. So sometimes when you put something in their mouth they'll push it out with their tongue. That's not always a sign of disinterest. If the baby swats at their mouth or perhaps turns away then you'll know they're not interested.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

No food until 6 months! Just up the amount you're feeding by a couple oz until your baby is satisfied. NEVER give your baby food (no matter how runny you make it) in a bottle! All that cereal and other baby food needs to wait until your baby is at least 6 months old (pediatrician will probably tell you 4 months but at least wait that long) all your baby needs now is milk. Even after a few more months when you start solids, it will only be a few tablespoons per day so don't overdo it or your baby will have a mean case of constipation! When you get to that point you can make the cereal with just plain water or with milk (my daughter preferred milk). Remember when you get to solid foods always feed your baby with a spoon, NEVER put it in a bottle, it will be messy but that's what babies do : )

Answer 3

Why add the cereal to the formula? Why not just start your baby on cereal a few times a day? Make the bottles 6 oz see how that goes and go from there. 3 months is a little early to start cereal but go with the hunger needs of your baby and not by some book...mother generally always knows best!! Dont feed cereal too late into the evening...stick with breakfast, afternoon and early evening...make sure its digested prior to bedtime.

Answer 4

feed the baby formula until one year old then you can switch to whole milk, cereal comes separately at about 4-6 months old , starting with rice, etc. slowly add different cereals every week, then start veggies, once a week. that way you can monitor allergies. adding too much at once then you won't know what caused an allergy. if baby is drinking all of the formula and still seems hungry add more. 3 month baby may need 8 0zs by now. let baby guide you.

Answer 5

I didn't give my daughter cereal with her formula until she was 5 months. The doctor said for me not to give her cereal any sooner than that because her digestive system is more developed at 5 months. If you need to increase her milk to 6 ounces I'm sure it's ok. My daughter was eating more often and I had to increase her milk from 2 oz to 4 oz when she was 2 or 3 months. I hope this helps.

Answer 6

It is not recommended that you put cereal in a bottle. You are supposed to feed it by spoon, when the baby is between 4 and 6 months old, depending on if the baby is ready.


* Okay, reflux is a different situation. We do suggest adding cereal to the bottle in that case. It help keep the milk down.

Answer 7

My daugher started off on the 4oz bottle.

She is now three months old, downing an 8oz bottle with cereal in it.

My pedi had me add cereal a little after 2 months with the 8 oz bottle.

Answer 8

Because I have MS and my baby was eating every 1-2 hours and it was VERY hard on me I started mine on cereal before he was 2mo. I put the dry cereal in the blender so it would be fine & not flakey.
As far as 4oz bottles, that doesn't sound like enough.
And as far as what we're "supposed to do anymore", don't get me on my soapbox about how everyone did everything wrong for 100's of years & they've just recently learned how to take care of a baby!
Every baby is different & a devoted parent should know their baby well enough to know what's right or wrong for it.
Good luck to you. :-)

Answer 9

My two boys had reflux and had cereal in the bottle at the age of two weeks. It is fine. Just start out slow and watch for signs of allergic reactions.

Answer 10

It is true that you are now told not to add the cereal to the bottle but to feed the cereal seperatly. You can up the ounces in his/her bottle. I know that you are to wait to feed babies solids until they are about 4 months old, solids meaning rice cereal. Try upping the ounces in your baby's bottle and try rice cereal when he/she turns 4 months old, but feed the cereal seperatly.