Is it ok to give a small amount of rice cereal to a 7 week old?

Answer 1

no.

Answer 2

It is not recommended to put cereal in a baby's bottle. In the early months, your baby will be able to suck and swallow liquids but cannot safely swallow solids especially if it is in a bottle. It poses a choking hazard and it is a myth that it fills them up so they will sleep at night. They did that in the old days. Ask any good doctor and they will say NO. Babys should be eating cereal with a spoon. They need to learn about the texture and at 6 months, it should be watery. You gradually thicken it as they get older. These are some signs your baby is ready for solids: She has good control of her head. She is able to sit upright in a highchair or infant chair. Her mouth opens wide when it is offered. So wait until they are 6 months old.

You also run the risk of allergies later on as your child grows. Their digestive system and immune system is still immature and can develop allergies by introducing things other than breastmilk or formula before 4 months of age.

Answer 3

I gave rice cereal to my daughter when she was 8 weeks old. Imagine, all of our grandmothers and grandfathers were given all kinds of things at a young age and they are all fine! Not to mention, I started baby food at 4 months and then table food at about 6 or 7 months. It was mashed potatoes and stuff like that. And she is healthy as can be!

Answer 4

IT is okay but I don't recommend it at this young age.You are supposed to wait until they are 3 months old first.That's far from that in relation to developmental milestones.They say it makes your baby sleep through the night etc but waking up to eat is vital.Read up on it!!!!If you do then you should just put one tsp per 4 ounces of milk.Very thin.....It should be in a cereal bottle also.I would not do this...waking up is vital to brain development, bonding with the baby, it is the foundation for your child knowing they can depend on you because you are there when they need you in the night etc.Its a bigger deal than you think....Try a warm bath with lavender, a baby massage in calming lotion, diaper change, and bottle, burp and then rocking to sleep.And just for future reference when your child is ready for baby food.....do the vegtables first....(this really has benefits...read up on that one also)..one food type at a time for a wk so that you will know if your child is allergic or not...Like for example you give your child squash today and peas tomorrow...then your child has an allergic reaction you won't know which food caused it.Hope this helps..Congratulations on the baby.Take care of you!!!

Answer 5

They say your not supposed to, but I did, my mom did with all 4 of her kids, and alot of other people i know did as well. I started at about 8 weeks and my daughter is now 15 months and couldnt be any healthier, me and my brothers and sisters are all fine too. I would just start out with a small amount at first, like once a day at night time or something like that and see how he/she does. It did make my daughter a little constipated so i had to cut down on how much i gave her. Good Luck, and Congratulations.

Answer 6

To all those that told you yes or put a bit in the bottle. They are wrong and it could harm your baby. Babies body is unable to process and digest the cereal this young. If you are bottle feeding, start solids (cereals etc) at 4 months, if you are breast feeding start at 6 Months (Unless told otherwise from doctor/health nurse.)

Giving baby cereal at 8 weeks and in the bottle was something our parents and their parents did. Since new research, it is advised that you dont do it.

Answer 7

When my middle was 8 years old, Dr. encouraged small amount of rice cereal mixed in formula. Formula was still liquid consistency so did not cause digestive problems, but curbed hunger for a couple of hours more

Answer 8

That is a bit young for my tastes--but lots of people do it. Make sure it is very diluted with formula. Only give like 1/4 a teaspoon.
Use a spoon to feed the baby the cereal. If you put it in the bottle you really can't determine how much ceral the baby got as most will stick on the sides of the bottle.

Answer 9

This rice cereal question has to be one of the most common ones around, especially between parents and grandparents.



The latest recommendation (from the American Academy of Pediatrics) toward rice cereal is that no solids, including rice cereal, should be given to a baby before 4 months of age (even 6 months of age if there is a strong history of allergies in the family). An exception to the rule is when a baby has a severe gastroesophageal reflux (or regurgitation) with feedings. In that case, rice cereal thickens the feedings and prevents the food from being being thrown up.



The rationale to the above recommendation is that a number of babies do NOT have a strongly developed swallow and gag reflex, until 4 months of age. Choking and aspirating (breathing in their own vomit) from solids can cause lung problems and death. Is this common? No. Has it happened? Yes. Is it worth the risk? No.



Also, when rice cereal is given to babies less than 6 months of age and there is a strong history of allergies in the family, rice cereal may increase the risk of allergies in those babies (in later years).



Okay, so you probably don't like that answer. And, I'll bet if you're like most grandmas who come in our office you will say, "Rice cereal helped my babies sleep through the night and didn't hurt them". And, I totally believe you. But, I can tell you stories of babies and children dying in their cribs and beds as a result of choking on their own vomit.



I guess my point is this...will it hurt your baby or any baby to wait until 4 months of age to eat rice cereal? No. Can it possibly hurt a baby to have rice cereal before 4 months of age? Yes.



The bottom line to all of this is that as Pediatricians, it is our job is to tell moms (and grandmas) anything that may prevent their little ones from getting sick or dying. But, it's ultimately up to the parents to make the final decision.



I am not sure if that helped you, but thank you for your question.

Answer 10

new borns don't need anything but breastmilk or formula... unless a doc/midwife has said otherwise. They don't have the stomachs a five month old would have. I wouldn't chance giving a 7 week old something like rice cereal.... could really upset them. Stick w/ the milk or formula and wait it out till they are at least five months.

Answer 11

Make it really runny with formula, and spoon feed it to him/her. Don't use too much. We started it around 2 months of age... our son was almost 10lbs at birth, and all of my relatives kept saying to give it to him. He just loved it too. The doctors will say to wait until at least 4 months of age though. So it's up to you, maybe see how your baby does with it, then go from there. My son has been perfectly healthy-nothing wrong at all and is now almost 14 months.

Don't put it in a bottle! The tip of the nipple won't allow it to come through unless you buy one of those special bottles. Plus, by putting it in the bottle, they will ingest it much faster... and not get used to the spoon.

Goodluck!