Will mixing gerber infant rice cereal in with breast milk help baby sleep longer at night?

Question

If so, how much is appropriate for a 2-4 oz. bottle?

Thanks, Millie

Answer 1

You shouldn't give a baby rice cereal, or any other kind of baby food, until he/she is 4 - 6 months old. Lots of people will mix rice cereal in with a bottle so they baby will sleep longer (for the parents' convenience, which is wrong), but baby's bodies are not designed to eat like that. They wake up periodically to eat when they are hungry because they need that nourishment to keep going and their tummies are so tiny, they weren't meant to be overfed with rice cereal. Wait until your pediatrician says it's okay to feed your baby rice cereal, when it's time that should be his/her very first food.

Answer 2

Well, we didn't try that so early. She was about 4 months old when she decided to stop sleeping during the night when she had already been on a wonderful night routine. After a few weeks of screaming nights where she demanded to be fed again, we decided to give it a try. We put some rice cereal in her last bottle, and it worked. She slept the whole night again. Plenty of people say it's awful and not to do it choking hazard, but it's really, really okay. You're still giving the baby a liquid, not a solid. That prepacked rice starch formula also is very, very binding. extremely. i would first of all wait it out a little longer to give your baby a chance to get in their own routine without the help of rice, and if you want to add some, start small by just adding some on your own to the regular formula. It really did help us, though.

Answer 3

Doctors these days say not to give babies any solid foods until they are at least 4-6 months old. My children are now in their 30's and when they were babies my doctor had me start mixing a small amount of rice cereal in their bottle (usually about midnight) when they were just a month old and it did help them sleep longer. I must add that my babies all weighed 8-9 pounds at birth and milk just didn't seem to satisfy their hunger.

Answer 4

It is not good to give a baby under 4 month cereal but when they are ready instead of box cereal which clogs the nipple, try jars of already mixed cereal or fruit (stage one only) and mix two teaspoons for every 4 ounces. I have 4 kids and their doctor agreed that this was safe and also helps get them use to the taste of baby food!

Answer 5

I think that it is IMPOSSIBLE to make a baby sleep longer. He or she will do it when they have reached the age that their tummies are big enough to hold more milk. I don't know how old your baby is, but introducing cereal too early isn't good. You can breast feed exclusively for the first 6 months, then slowly introduce cereals. Don't rush.

Answer 6

It will but not to much if your baby is still on 4 oz then its probably still young. Babys wake up because their hungry so naturaly giving them something that stays on their tummy longer will give you more sleep or it may upset its tummy and have the oppisite effect. If your baby is to young starting solids could cause an allergy which will cause more problems down the road

Answer 7

yes,but give them cereal for lunch and at night. all depends on the age of the baby if between 1-2months old give at least 1 teaspoon of cereal cause breast milk is so thin.

Answer 8

I really don't notice a difference when I use cereal in his bottle, or if I just give him formula. It says how much to use on the cereal box.

Answer 9

No, that's a myth. Babies digestive systems aren't ready for any food until they're 6 months old. Breastfed babies are known to get up more during the night compared to formula fed. It's ok, this phase won't last forever.

Answer 10

Start with a scant Tablespoon for 4 oz. Watch for allergic reactions, as with adding any new foods. Be also aware that the babies stool will change,( odor, color, consistency). Watch for conspitation also. Don't forget to also offer baby water.