considering giving a fussy 2 month old baby cereal in a bottle to help him sleep through the night more. he's not colicky or anything, just won't sleep much an wants to stay up for some reason. I'll also been wanting to feed a lot lately so maybe the extra calories would do good. I have read varying things on the internet about it - some good some bad, but I know it's been done for years. Has anyone done this and how does it work? And what I'm really wondering is how much cereal to how much milk/formula? And has there been any negative side effects from it. Answer away :)
2006-12-28 13:20:57 · 20 answers · asked by jdlockhart1979 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
My daughters are now adults. The youngest had a hard time sleeping more than 2-3 hours at a time even at 3-4 months. I add some baby cereal to her formula, but at the suggestion and direction of her pediatrician. It did help her sleep longer.
Call your baby's pediatrician with your concerns and ask if he/she would advice that and if so, what ratio to use. Don't be afraid to call with any questions or concerns, they should be use to that and it helps put your mind at ease.
I know what it is like not being able to sleep more than 2-3 hours at a stretch so I can empathize.
2006-12-28 13:34:05 · answer #1 · answered by Calina 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You should not be in such a hurry to have baby sleeping through the night. They are not really able to sleep all night until at least 4 months. Their stomachs are very small at this point and they are constantly growing. That is why they need to be fed so often. The comment about cereal increasing the risk of SIDS is true. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends only breast milk or formula for the first 5-6 months. There is a reason for that!! Anything else can upset the baby's tender and fragile digestive system. This will cause unusual fussiness and sleep problems. So, it will only add to your problems. You will just have to suck it up for a while and continue with sleepless nights until baby is old enough to eat larger portions and sleep longer. Millions of parents have gone through this and you will too. Don't try to cheat a little extra sleep by putting your baby in danger. It is just a stage and it will get easier I promise. Good luck!!
2006-12-29 11:52:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a nine month old and my pediatrician strongly recommended not putting cereal in the bottle..I also have a 7 year old that I did this for...I tried it against her recommendation and found that it didn't not help him sleeping through the night and started giving him an extra feeding in the daytime and started him on rice cereal from a spoon at 4 1/2 months..This worked for me although he still to this day wakes up occasionally and wants to eat..I think that whatever works for them is good and not try to force them to go all night without eating if they need it...
2006-12-28 23:21:30 · answer #3 · answered by loveitlikethat99 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have an 8 month old daughter. I started giving her cereal at 2 months. Yes she did sleep through the night because the cereal stayed with her longer than just formula. Most often they say not to give them food until 6 months of age... I say if a baby is hungry then feed them. When you are hungry you eat.... so should a baby. Usually a baby is ready for cereal when they have doubled their birth weight. My daughter doubled her birth weight and wanted more than just formula at about 2 months of age, she was also a preemie. Whats the harm in giving it to them.... the worst that could happen is choking, however if you mix it thin enough the baby is not likely to choke on the cereal... it will be runny, not real thick. But just thick enough to stay on/in a spoon. PLEASE DO NOT PUT IT IN A BOTTLE! Use a baby spoon to feed the cereal to your infant. It may be tricky at first but you will be glad you did. I used a cereal feeder (bottle) for my son, and spoon fed my daughter. Both started at about 2 months. I was glad I just spoon fed my daughter. Good Luck! Don't worry too much about cereal increasing your risk of causing SIDS. I was just told by a co worker that sids is actually caused by a heart defect and can strike any person at any age, not just infants.
2006-12-28 21:56:03 · answer #4 · answered by butterfliesformom 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes, my mother is a mother of two but she says it helps it sleep only if it is not a colicky type of baby but the thing is it could end up in a bad result baby's have died from this type of thing, not saying it is bad or anything just not always good. 3 tablespoon of milk/formula and 1 table spoons cereal should work but do not take any chances if u have a bad feeling about it do not do it.
Hope I helped
Have nay other questions email or messange me at Monkey78362@yahoo.com
2006-12-28 21:29:45 · answer #5 · answered by happy_go_lucky 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It will more than likely help him sleep better at night but I really wouldnt suggest putting it in a bottle caus ethen her will not get used to the fact of eating off of a spoon which is what I would suggest you to do.....just make enough cereal for a couple teaspoons full ...make it sorta runny but not too runny to where it looks like liquid and feed him like once before bed to start off with and then if he does good with it for a week or so then i would up it to twice a day ....once in the morning and once at night until about 5 months and then you can start introducing the fruits and the veggies to the schedule of food
2006-12-30 01:09:29 · answer #6 · answered by kierstensmom102705 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did that with both my kids. It helped them sleep longer because it kept them full longer. I honestly don't remember when I started doing it though, you may want to ask your pediatrician if it's ok. But I think it was closer to 3-4 months.
I never did measure exactly how much cereal I was putting in, use very little. You don't want the milk to thicken up, it could make it harder for baby to swallow and present a choking hazard. Generally i put in just enough to cover the bottom of an 8 oz bottle, about 1/2 oz at the most, then fill to 8 with milk (formula in my case). Shake it very very very well to mix it all in. I always held mine up to a light to make sure it was completely dissolved
It worked very well for me. I know we all got more sleep from it. But ALWAYS, when in doubt, ask your pediatrician. He knows best.
2006-12-28 21:26:39 · answer #7 · answered by immortal_angel_01 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your baby wont sleep through the night if you put baby cereal into the bottle. Maybe try to add a feeding during the day instead. Even though it has been done for years, pediatricians are now advising against it. Good Luck!
2006-12-28 21:30:43 · answer #8 · answered by michaellandonsmommy 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Giving your baby cereal doesn't help them sleep through the night. I feed my daughter 4 tbls of cereal with a spoon right before bedtime and she still wakes up at least twice for a little bit of formula. If you do, do it then only put about a teaspoon in it. I did do it for my daughter in her bottle before feeding her with a spoon and it didn't help, plus there is the chance that your baby could choke and sometimes the formula can get through the nipple when cereal is in the bottle. Hope this helps.
2006-12-28 21:25:09 · answer #9 · answered by mdoud01 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It is all going to depend on your baby. Sometimes it will help them sleep longer but you may want to try and change there day time schedule to make them want to sleep more at night. If you do decide to use the cereal, i would try one tablespoon to 4 oz of formula. Good luck
2006-12-28 21:41:41 · answer #10 · answered by pierronmom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋