Can you harm your baby's digestive system by feeding him rice cereal too soon?

Question

At around 10 weeks old, my mother in law thought it would be a good idea to try giving my son rice cereal at night. We did this for about a week when I noticed that he was crying really sharply at night. I stopped feeding it to him about three weeks ago, but the crying continues. He stays home with my husband while I work, and my husband says he only sleeps 2-3 hours during the day, consisting of 15-30 minute naps. He sleeps a lot more when I am home on the weekends (longer naps). Also, we have him on the Enfamil Gentlease to help him digest formula better. Sometimes I think he has gas, so I give him Mylicon, but that doesn't seem to work for him. Is it possible I affected his digestive system giving him the rice cereal too early, or is he just exhausted at night?

Ok, so I certainly didn't post this question to have totally rude people answer it and belittle me. Thank you very much for making me feel worse about the situation. I love 18 year old moms who think they know everything - you were a first time mom too, and I know you haven't done everything right. Go out to another party, leave your baby with someone else to take care of her.

Answer 1

No, don't listen to the morons above me, especially Tiffany D. Back when your mother-in-law was a young mom it was very common to give babies cereal, it has only been within the last 15 years or so that doctors say to wait. The biggest reason to wait is that studies have shown that babies who are given solid food at younger ages have a higher incidence of developing food allergies later on. Rice cereal is considered the most mild and easiest to digest cereal which is why it is usually the first solid food introduced to babies. There are some rare cases of infants who cannot tolerate rice, my son was one of them. He screamed when I fed it to him and it gave him the runs - an indication that he was not able to digest it. I just switched to barley cereal and he was fine. Babies cry a lot, sometimes it's gas, sometimes they just want to be held. Tell your pediatrician about your concerns, he may have you switch to a soy formula or try a different cereal. You're a good mom and your mother-in-law was only trying to help.

Answer 2

The reason why lots of parents give their babies some rice cereal is because it stays with them longer, so they will sleep most of the night. I started my son when he was only a few weeks old. But it was only about a teaspoon or two, and it was really watery - not much thicker than the formula. If he's still crying at night, it could be because the formula only keeps him full for a few hours, & he's hungry again. I bet you can tell if he really grabs the bottle & that settles him down.

I wouldn't give him any Mylicon without the doctors say so, but you might be right about the gas. Some babies are like that. Maybe when he's gassy try walking & holding him on your shoulder & patting his back - see if another burp comes up.

Answer 3

All babies are different. We started my son an rice at about 6 or 7 weeks, and everything was fine. He probably has bad gas, and sometimes mylicon just doesn't cut it. We laid him on his back, and moved his legs straight, then bent to the tummy. He expelled ALOT of gas doing this, and it seem to help most of the time. I also tried the peppermint water trick. Crush up a peppermint really fine, put it in a bottle with some water, and give the child about half. This should help with the gas, and in most cases help the sleep like...well, like a baby.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

Do not feed too early, the baby's digestive system is delicate seeing as though it is brand new and becoming accustomed to digestion. They have to start with breast milk or formula so their bodies can learn to break down the food. Babies are ready for cereal when they can hold their head up and turn head from side to side and if they arent gaining enough weight. I think you should ask the pediatrician before doing it. Also my pediatrician told me that the sooner you start cereal the less nutrients they get from their formula or breast milk. So not only is it crucial to wait for the digestive system it is also crucial for the development of the brain.

With the crying my daughter was the exact same way. Do you use powdered formula? I have found that the ready made formula is much easier on her stomach and she doesnt fuss like before. She would wake up screaming her lungs out 1 hour or so after feeding and spit up...the pediatrician said it is heartburn and prescribed zantac....it has helped tremendously with the crying, ask your doctor about it.

Answer 5

Well, my son was born with acid reflux. He went to many pediatricians to see what was up with him because he hardly ever slept and he screamed all of the time. He went to gastrointestinal doctors and all of them said that he needed to be on rice cereal, 1sp per oz of formula. Now, your baby might not have reflux, but my baby was on rice cereal at 8 weeks of age, and it didn't harm his digestive track. I wouldn't have given my baby rice cereal just for the heck of it, I only did it per many specialists' orders.

I would take him to the pediatrician. If he's screaming at night, something is probably wrong. He might have reflux or colic. Try and get some answers from your pediatrician. My son had something called silent reflux, where they don't actually spit up, they end up swallowing it before it comes out of their mouth, which burns their esophagus even worse. I had no idea that babies could have reflux but they can!

Good luck and don't feel like a bad mom...I don't think you hurt his digestive track, but you should probably take him to the doctor. My son's reflux is gone now but for some reason he still wakes up screaming at night and he barely naps at all during the day. He's a happy baby otherwise. He is 11 months old now. Some babies are just bad sleepers, too. I know, I have one! But please, take him to the pediatrician to rule out anything else.

Good luck with your new baby!

Answer 6

well it sounds normal he is only 10 weeks babys do not sleep through the whole day or night at that time and when he is calmer with you its because he has more of a connection with you then with your husband its pretty normal. I dont think you messed up your baby digestive sytems but yes he is too young to eat cereal right now. the things you can do to calm him down when he is cranky and you know he is not hungry or need of changing is to lay him on his stomach and put him on your lap and pat his back this will sooth him. Or you can give him a warm bath this also will help him sleep.

GOOD LUCK.

Answer 7

I fed my son rice cereal at about 4.5 months because it became both that or i became going to ought to grant him formulation. i'm particular you could tell if she's nursing for starvation or convenience - i became thoroughly exhausted and couldn't devour sufficient! I fed him cereal for about 2 weeks (complicated to save in ideas precisely because i became so sleep disadvantaged). I stop even as he began dropping pastime and gave the impression to be slicing lower back on the nursing. until eventually those days (my chum with a 4 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous were advised 4 months even as he became a infant) loads of little ones had rice cereal at 4 months. i ought to provide it a try with a million tbsp mixed with breastmilk or water. try early interior the day in case it upsets her abdomen and so that you'll watch for any reaction (rather not likely with rice cereal). i imagine this finished 6 months is too imprecise as each and every infant is diverse. once you're extremely in touch you could also refer on your pediatrician. good luck and save in ideas this can end - my son only nurses 3 cases an afternoon now.

Answer 8

Depends on how much rice cereal you are feeding him. You can probably give him 1 teaspoon of rice cereal mixed into his last bottle before bedtime. That will help him sleep longer at night... maybe the whole night but probably not. But as far as straight really mixed up rice cereal, NO. He is much to young for that.

Answer 9

I always did but it wasn't rice cereal. It was a special mix that we always made ourselves made from oat meal.

So did my mother and her mother and we are all of hearty healthy stock! I think it is a European thing as Italians just feed as soon as a baby will take it?

Not a lot mind you... Just a tiny little bit mixed with either breast milk or whatever formula you are using and VERY watery!

I had Big, healthy, beautiful babies, that turned into perfectly beautiful boys! I also made my formula myself using an old fashoned recipie from my mother with canned milk, karo syrup vitamins and water so... I think my kids developed earlier as a result...

Intelligent, attractive, and very regular!

Now if I could only get them to clean their bathroom!

Answer 10

The newest and oldest rule is that they be on breast milk (it is the best for a baby, that would be WHY we produce it) or formula for 6 months. They are NOT BORN with a fully matured digestive track.

At six months start fruits and light cereals. Giving cereals EARLY can cause stomach distress (colic) and allergies!

Breast milk provides all of the healthy immunities that ALL BABIES NEED..

Yes it is possible that it was effected. But all you can do now is to work with it and watch carefully for ear infections or illnesses such as food related allergies.