giving cereal to an 8 week old?

Question

i think i want to start giving cereal to my 8 week old, partly to see if it will help him sleep but partly because he has reflux and ive heard that it might help with that too, but how much should i give and when, just the first bedtime feeding or two, and how do you mix it, in the bottle or in a bowl and feed with a spoon-he has only been on the bottle...he is formula feed and eats about 4 to 5 oz every 2 to 3 hrs.

Answer 1

I have 2 boys and they both had acid reflux. And we started giving them ceral in their milk when they were a week old. A 1/2 a scoop of the plain ceral (the scoop that comes in the formula can) and make sure that you, you cut they nipple just a little bit. And we started giving our babys baby food when they were a month old. in this thing called an infant feeder. It looks like a bottle and you put the baby food in it and the baby eats it like a bottle. And thats what we did with our boys. And know that are NOT FAT, like most of the people are probably think while I'm telling you this. As for the acid reflux don't change his formula get you Dr. to perscribe him baby Zantac. We had our family Dr. when I had my oldest little boy and this is what he told us to do. The ceral was b/c he was hungary at a week old he was getting up everyhour and eating 2-4 ounces every hour, so this is what me and my Husband and mother came up with the ceral at a week. And it does help them sleep better!!!! I knolw this from experience. But with my youngest we went to a ped, that all our friends recommened, cause that all went to her. So we just followed the crowd. Anyway she made me try all this different stuff cause he had acid reflux to and then she changed his for 3 times and then chaged it to a special formula that was almost $40.00 a can and it still diden't work. Finally I told her that I wanted what my oldest little boy had taken when he had acid reflux the Zantac, and she told me no that she didnt like giving meds to babies. Anyway I got mad at her for being a MORON!!! And she had told me that we had done everything wrong with our oldest child (pretty much). So I went back to my family Dr. and he checked out my baby boy and then perscribed the Zantac and he hasn't had a problem with acid reflux since. But, my just turned 3 year old is 3 1/2 ft tall and weighs 35 pounds and 16 month old my baby is almost 3 ft and weighs about 25 pounds. So my kids are NOT FAT, and these are the things that worked for me. I know alot of people are not going to agree with what I have told you and they are going to call me a MORON for telling what worked for me. But, this is just what worked for my boys. Hope this did not offend anyone. Hope this helps and good luck!!!

Answer 2

My 1st daughter had the same problem. I talked to her pediatrician and he actually recommended putting cereal in her bottle -- I think it was only like a Tbsp per 2-3 oz. to begin with... just enough to thicken it slightly. It helped a little but, she was still spitting up A LOT. In the end, they ended up putting her on Zantac so, that might be an option for you as well. It seemed to help quite a bit once she got on the medicine and had the rice cereal bottles as well. I would talk to your doctor and see what he/she says. Also, there is a special formula that has rice in it but, I've never used it so I don't know how it works. I just used Enfamil Lipil w/ Iron and Gerber or Del Monte Rice Cereal. Hopefully something will work for you and your little boy. Good luck :o)

Answer 3

NEVER put cereal in the bottle. Babies can choke on it.

8 weeks old is a little young for cereal, their digestive systems aren't ready for it yet, so at the very least, you might have to deal with some NASTY diarrhea, or a BAD allergic reaction, some of which can be fatal.

My advice would be to speak to your pediatrician or a pediatric gastroenterologist about a change in the formula. There are ones made for babies with stomach problems, and they can best direct you to the one they think will suit your baby's needs the best.

Answer 4

At eight weeks, your child still has an open gut. This means that the spaces between the cells of the small intestines are spaced such as to allow intact macromolecules, including whole proteins and pathogens, to pass directly into the bloodstream. For a child who is breastfed, this allows the beneficial antibodies in the breastmilk that they eat to pass more directly into the bloodstream.

For children who are not breastfed, this means that large proteins from other foods, which may predispose the child to allergies, and disease-causing pathogens can pass through those spaces, too.

During baby's first 4-6 months, while the gut is still open antibodies (sIgA) from breastmilk coat baby's digestive tract and provide passive immunity, reducing the likelihood of illness and allergic reactions before gut closure occurs. Formula fed babies do not receive slgA from their food.

A child will begin to produce these antibodies on his own at around 6 months, and around this time, the spaces in the gut will also begin to close. This is the point at which it is physiologically safe to introduce cereal or other solid foods; prior to this point, particularly for a formula-fed infant, it is simply unsafe.

Answer 5

Do Not give your baby cereal! At 8 wks the stomach and intestinal track is not developed enough to eat solids. A few years ago we used to be able to feed solids at 4 months, now pediatricians want us to wait 6 months, there is no way I would give to a 2 month old.

Answer 6

OK (you didn't hear this from me but--) my son had reflux and an allergy to every formula made so---------I started making my own formula with goat milk when he was 6 weeks old, at 8 weeks he was eating cereal--I did the rice cereal--and thank God he's 30 now cause otherwise the authorities would be after me--I mixed goat milk, the rice flake baby cereal, had a nipple on the baby bottle that was X -- he swilled that down and slept all nite!! Make a very thin soupy cereal that will go thru the nipple--make sure you burp him good--tuck him in and he should sleep all nite (tho you'll go in and poke him every hour or so----until he's 15!! LOL!!) Good Luck--it'll be fine!!!

Answer 7

giving hime the cereal will help him sleep better with a full little belly, when you mix up that stuff you have to dress it up a little I mixed my babies with formula instead of water so it smelt and tasted like something familliar and I also would put a little jelly or pancake syrup so it would be sweet cuz that stuff doesnt taste good plain if you want to try spoonfeeding then you can but they also make whats called a feeder bottle that you can get at walmart or wherever the nipple is cut differently so that the cereal will come out and you should feed around dinner time for you.

Answer 8

my daughter had a nervous stomach, couldn't keep anything down, Dr suggested rice baby cereal, added to bottle, small at first, enough to thicken the formula, cut a SLIGHTLY larger hole in nipple, it sticks to the stomach better. Worked wonderfully, every week I added just a little more. I started with about 1 or 2 tbsp .and I did it with every feeding because she was losing weight .

Answer 9

Your babys digestive system isn't going to be able to handle solid food for another two or so months. If he has reflux you could try putting his cot on a slight lean, only at a 5 degree angle, just enough so that he isn't flat, but definately not food!!!

Answer 10

at 8 weeks old a baby's body can't handle digesting cereal. dont give it to him. talk to your doc about the reflux - is it really reflux or just spitting up a lot. my son had reflux (he was premature) and threw up EVERY bottle and a few ounces of the replacement bottle, for months. he was on zantac (if i remember correctly)