Cereal in bottle, what kind???

Question

My son (4 months old) recently started on rice cereal mixed in his bottle due to Acid Reflux. It has helped tremendously, he stoped spitting up and having projectile vomit. He still spits up but its like normal spit-up now. He doesnt scream and cry with every feeding now. Thank god!! But now he's getting constipated and not having as many wet diapers. Should I switch to oatmeal?? He's getting rice right now. I've heard rice can be binding and cause constipation. Is it ok for him at 4 months to switch to oatmeal?? Or is there another kind I should try before oatmeal?? And is it ok to put others besides rice in the bottle?? I need some advice please. First time Mom, and I'm just not sure about cereal. Thank you tons!! And please dont tell me not to put cereal in his bottle, I would rather do that than put him on meds, besides its been a complete turn around, he's a completly different baby now. Before he jut seemed miserable all the time.Thanks!!

Why isnt it good in a bottle?? I seriously need know thats why I asked. Thanks

I tried the spoon, but he's not ready. My pediatrician told me to do the cereal in the bottle.

Ok, I'm not asking people to tell me its not a good idea, I'm asking if I should switch, no one else but me and my pediatrician knows what better for my son. Like I said he's doing alot better, finally gaining weight, and keeping it down, so I really would appreciate for people not to tell me its not a good idea, because as his Mother I know thats best right now!!! THANKS!!!

He's only been on the rice cereal for 5 dyas.

TM::::::

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE ADVICE!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

I would give the rice cereal a little longer. My pediatrician recommended only one teaspoon per bottle every bottle. We just had to switch to Similac Alimentum for our daughter but the teaspoon of rice still goes in with it. It has helped with the spitting up huge amounts of formula and gagging from the acid taste. I think oatmeal would be too thick for now. You can always try a rectal thermometer with a lot of vaseline to help him go potty. I was weary about putting cereal in my daughter's bottle but I will tell you that she is doing much better with it.

Answer 2

My kids both had severe, documented reflux (grade 4, documented via GI study). And our pediatrician said that meds were much preferable to doing anything like cereal in a bottle.

She said that cereal in a bottle isn't good because a) it's too many calories; b) breastmilk is better and I was nursing; and c) it interferes with babies learning to eat with their hands or a spoon.

She also said that giving cereal too early brings with it a lifetime risk of food allergies, etc, while the meds have no such risks. And you only need the meds for a few months, until the reflux abates a bit as the child grows.

So we gave our daughters Prevacid.

Anyway, at 4.5 months, there's no reason you shouldn't switch to oatmeal if that's what you want to do. Oatmeal is usually the second grain introduced after rice.

But maybe don't put it in the bottle? Maybe now is the time to try spoon feeding instead. (It will still be very, very watery, and you'll get the same effect.)

Answer 3

Rice ceral in a bottle isn't good! But personally, I'm going to start my daughter on a small bit of oatmeal at 4 1/2 months, it's pretty much the same texture as the rice cereal. The rice cereal is fine for now!

Try giving him the cereal on a spoon, people say if in the bottle they can choke.

Answer 4

Oatmeal will be too thick even in a small amount for the bottle.

I too was told by the pediatricrician to add (1/4 teaspoon ) rice cereal to (every other) bottle.

There are bottle style feeders out there, if your little one is ready for thicker solids but not ready for the spoon. I never used one myself, but I'd reccomend personally that you try to spoon feed at least half of the meal.

Contact your pediatrician with any of your concerns reguarding your baby....pediatricians expect and accept that they will be called after hours by their patients parents...so never be afraid to wake the doc up that's what they're there for.

Answer 5

It has never been proved to cause anything bad for a baby with putting cereal in a bottle....(I'm not saying that it's not a good thing to do.. and im not saying its not a bad thing).. But I had cereal in my baby's bottle from the time she was 2.5 months up until now and she is almost 11 months... (she wont be on cereal much longer).....She has always done fine....(I use oatmeal, not rice.. she doesnt like rice).......She never did spit up as a baby either... but another reason I put her cereal in a bottle is because her doctor had me giving her cereal at 2 1/2 months as she wasn't getting enough to eat....and she wouldn't take it from a spoon...very picky eater!!....we used the playtex drop in bottles and now we use vent air bottles.....you really need to talk to his doctor since he is constipated and not really wetting often

Answer 6

I did not put it in the bottle but I did switch back and forth between rice cereal and baby oatmeal to try to keep my son from being constipated. If he did get a bound up I would put a tablespoon of karo syrup in 4 oz of warm water and it usually worked within 12 hours.
I'm glad you and your doctor have found something that works.

Answer 7

Most babies get over reflux at around 4 months. I suggest you try leaving the rice out of his bottle for a couple of days (like 3 days in a row or so)... If his reflux does not return, then you know its not the rice that cured his reflux.

If his reflux returns, then you will know for sure that the rice cured him. As for constipation, I think that 1 ounce of apple juice or pear juice or white grape juice can help. Just give 1 ounce per day, and no more.

I also agree with the other posters that rice in a bottle is not good for the baby. They need formula (or breast milk) in the bottle, not rice, which has very little nutrition.

Answer 8

as a parent 25 years ago, we used infant feeders(which we cant find anymore) we made a mixture of formula and rice cereal. the baby sucked it up which caused the bottom of the feeder to rise with the food. Sort of like a syringe. They were wonderful, and our babies turned out very healthy, and honestly slept better at night when the had a mixed meal.

Answer 9

I've never believed in putting cereal in a bottle. I think it can cause just as many problems as it 'cures', if not more.