which nipples to use for rice cereal added to formula?

Question

does anyone have any suggestions on which nipples to use or how to make them a good size for the thicker formula to pass through?

Answer 1

You really aren't supposed to add cereal to formula to make it thicker. Cereal should only be feed by a spoon around 4-6 months of age.

"It is interesting to note that children who begin solid foods with rice cereal in their bottles don't learn the instinct of stopping when they are full. This is because deceptively large amounts of calories come in without much increase in volume. As a result, kids that are fed rice cereal in a bottle tend to have excessive weight gain, both as infants and later in life. Other than that, children are very good at regulating their own intake. By starting with a spoon, resting between bites, and stopping when your child is full, you will be laying an excellent foundation for good eating habits throughout his life."

Answer 2

They make Y cut nipples for thicker formulas because Enfamil makes an AR formula for babies with feeding problems (reflux). I've worked in a peds. office for years and currently have rotation in and out of the NICU at a major hospital and I can tell you that adding rice to bottles for babies with reflux is a common practice. This allows the formula to stick to the ribs and decrease the amount that is brought back up during a reflux episode. It is very important to get reflux under control because it can cause major problems including breathing problems so I hate to tell some of you this but it is standard practice for reflux babies. I see doctors and nurses prescribe this and so this themselves for babies in the NICU that were born prematurely and have malformed pyloric sphincters. Half of the time things doctors tell you NOT to do I see them doing themselves.

If adding rice to bottles is so dangeous then maybe somebody needs to pull items off the shelves such as the Enfamil AR and Y cut nipples for thickened formulas. Oh and even though the Enfamil AR is thickened with rice startch instead of just rice that does not matter you still get the same result. Actually, the Enfamil AR is a lot thicker than just adding the rice yourself so it is really more dangerous for the baby (that is according to some of you). I've had three kids with reflux and all of them had rice in their bottles. None of them developed allergies, eating problems, or excessive weight gain. In fact, my kids are all average when it comes to their weight. Actually, of all the babies I know that were given rice in their bottles none of them are overweight, no allergies, and no eating problems. My sister has three that were on added rice and they are all fine also. Do what you want it's your baby and you know him/her best. Like I said if it is so bad then doctor's in the NICU or nurses for that matter probably should't be giving it to babies, Enfamil AR should be taken off the shelves, and Y cut nipples should be pulled because why have them if you can't thicken formula.

Answer 3

Just about all brands of bottles make there nipples in the stage 2 category for feeding with cereal. For instance, let's just say you used Gerber bottles, stage 1 would be birth to three months for slow, and stage 2 would be 4 months and up for cereal feedings, it has a bigger hole in the nipple. I'm sure if you look just at the nipples in the store you will find that most brands carry stage 2.

Answer 4

The only thing I have found that works is the "feeder bottles" from Babies R Us. Walmart carries feeders but they don't work very well. They can be hard to find. I only bought one set at Babies R Us and now I am having a hard time finding them. I think its called the "Sasy-Infant-Feeder-Nurser"
The link below looks like the ones I use.
I make her regular bottle and pour 2 oz in to a bowl, Next I mix it with rice cereal until its the consistency of apple sauce. Then I spoon it in to the feeder.
Hope I helped.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sassy-Infant-Feeder-Nurser-Kit-Baby-Cereal-Bottle-New_W0QQitemZ260112673227QQihZ016QQcategoryZ20402QQcmdZViewItem

Answer 5

You really arent supposed to feed rice cereal in the bottle unless directed to do so by the doctor. Rice cereal is to be given when they are old enough to push the food in wh=ith their tongue ( not out). Until this point they dont need it, and if they are able to eat it, you should be feeding it to them on a spoon.

Answer 6

I would highly recommend not giving a baby cereal through a bottle unless you were told by your pediatrician. Just make a watered down rice cereal and give it to your baby with a spoon.

Answer 7

I used Dr. Brown Y-cut nipples

Answer 8

Unless you're acting on advice from your pediatrician, you shouldn't be adding cereal to formula in a bottle.

Our pediatrician told us NEVER to do that. (And we had two kids with severe reflux.)

If you're starting cereal to try to keep food down, just mix formula and cereal in a bowl and give it to your baby with a spoon.

Answer 9

rice cereal is not a good idea to add to formula
there are thickened formulas out there to buy

Answer 10

Use a knife and cut a cross in the top of the hole, if directed.