Adding cereal to Infamil AR?

Question

Okay...it's me again with another question about formula! Last night was the first night in about two weeks that I did not put rice cereal in my sons night-time bottle; I didn't add any because I switched him to infamil AR yesterday morning which already has a rice cereal substance. However, last night was the first time in about two weeks that he didn't sleep 4 1/2 to 5 hours straight, he woke up every three hours hungry. So my question is...would it be okay for me to add rice cereal to his bottle tonight even though the infamil AR already has some? I don't want to overdo it!!??

Answer 1

You shouldn't add cereal to bottles. 1. It is a choking hazard 2. They don't learn to eat properly. How old is your baby? you shouldn't feed them cereal before 4 months because their digestive system isn't working yet. Maybe he needs a little more formula at a time? Does he seem satisfied after you feed him?

Answer 2

I know it is tempting to put the cereal in the bottle, but it really doesn't make the baby sleep longer. Your baby will go through different kinds of fluctuations where he'll sleep great and then wake up more often and it's easy to try to attribute it to him not getting enough to eat, but just feed him the regular formula. If you want to feed him cereal, give it to him on a spoon before bed time and then top that off with a regular bottle (if he is the right age anyway)...but I'm not so sure that feeding the cereal will even make him more full anyway.

Answer 3

Okay, so i've read what most on here have said about NOT feeding your child rice cereal. I take it you've been doing this awhile and so far a success. Pediatricians HAVE TO ADVISE ALL PARENTS NOT TO FEED THEIR BABIES BEFORE 4 MONTHS OLD. (hmmmm..) the reason for this is , THE PARENTS CAN SUE THE HECK OUT OF THEIR PEDIATRICIAN FOR BEING ILL ADVISED. With that said, I like you, feed my son (which by the way he is 12 years old now) he does not show the signs of what everyone has been coping and pasting from certain sites about being fat, having alergic reactions to foods etc....etc...etc.... As for the chocking hazards, well again it seems to me that you know not to lay your child down to feed them, when you feed them rice cereal out of a bottle this is where the choking hazard comes from. Obviously you know what you are doing. As for your child not sleeping through the night, it's because now the child is use to having a full belly before going to sleep it would be tough to not feed your baby anymore cereal. Take it one step at a time, you know what your child needs to satify their needs. Parents for over centuries have been raising children the best they can, and so far it has worked. So as the Mom you have to make the decision the best you can, noone can tell you what's right or wrong for your child, because remember you are the caregiver 24/7 and every child is different. I can't stress that enough. BTW I now have a 3 month old who is satisfied with formula, my son on the other hand was a DEMAND Feeder, so I had to feed him @ 3 weeks old and his development thoughout his 12 years have been wonderful. Feeding your child at a young age doesn't change anything. As for the child sleeping through the night after feeding, Well mine did and so did many other mothers to whom I spoke to when they fed their children early. So go with your motherly instints, you'll know what is best for your child, you and you alone. The rest of us have our own opinons, but however your the one who has to take care of the little one. So I say start out slow and see how your child reacts with cereal in the new formula.

Good Luck and all the best

Answer 4

Give him a little time to regulate to the new formula. How old is your baby anyway? Long stretches of sleep aren't good for a young baby. Rice cereal in a bottle is a choking hazard and can cause digestive problems and obesity later in life. Its natural for a baby to wake up at least once or multiple times during the night to feed. Just give him another bottles.



5 reasons not to put cereal in a baby's bottle:

#1. You can cause your child's allergies. . .



While no one agrees completely on what it is that actually causes allergies, we do have enough research to see certain connections. One, very well documented connection to serious allergies is when a baby has been exposed to the allergen too early. Putting cereal in your baby's bottle, even rice cereal, can cause allergies.



#2. Choking hazard



Some infants do not fully have their swallowing reflex fully developed at birth. Sucking cereal from a bottle can cause a choking hazard. . .and babies have actually died this way. Choking on cereal from a bottle certainly isn't a common cause of death. . .but why do it when it is linked to something like choking?



#3. Digestive Issues



There is a connection between babies who have solids too early and digestive problems. The fact of the matter is that baby tummies are designed to take in breastmilk. When you can't breastfeed, there's formula which mimics breastmilk. Baby tummies are not designed to take in solids, and it's not surprising that they malfunction when forced to do what they're not designed to do.



#4. Obesity



One key factor in obesity is infant feeding. Infants are born with a self regulatory ability to take in only what they need. By feeding on demand and following a baby's cues, you are essentially helping them form habits of eating when hungry and eating until they feel full. This sets them up for a lifetime of healthy eating habits. But when you add cereal to a bottle, it bypasses their system and essentially they take in more calories than they need.



#5. It Doesn't Work!!!



There is no scientific evidence to support the notion that baby's sleep better with cereal in their bottles. The truth is, babies are designed to wake frequently at night. Dealing with sleep deprivation is part of the parenting package.

Answer 5

i answered your last question as well an drite now i think you are trying too hard.

wat i said wen you asked the last question was that you should not be in a hurry to make your baby sleep for long periods and that i have tried an dtested adding cerealboth rice and wheat to my babaies formula and it does not make him sleep any longer than when it is just formula but obviously you are asking questions but not heeding what the answerers are saying.

YOU will be overdoing it if you add more rice cereal to your baby's formula that already contains cereal and you are in too much of a hurry to get your own 'beauty' sleep by trying to make your baby sleep longer.

i have woken up countless times in the nite and sometimes i dont sleep for up to 3 hours straight,but am not compaling as i knew what the ramiifications of having a child were,and i will do it again and again but i am not in a hurry to literarily force my son to sleep so i can sleep well myself..and note that i am also doing a full time post grad course at th esame time so i should have areason to complain.

give your son time to grow in his own way..dont force things that are not neccesary on him for your own convenience.

let him be..stop adding cereal to his feeds and give him longer feeds if neccesary so if he drinks 6 oz increase it to 8oz and furthermore dont ask questions if you do not wish to use the answers you receive.

and in your case you certainly do not use the answers you get at all.

good luck