How early is it safe to add a pinch of rice cereal to the bottle?

It is never safe and isn’t necessary - milk is all the food a baby needs until they start weaning at 6 months old

@Sophie never safe? Idk about that, all generations in my family did this at some point and we are all alive and well. I don’t know of many Latinos who didn’t eventually put some baby cereal in the bottle. I’m just wondering what age is appropriate

@Sophia ok, bad phrasing - there is no age at which it can be guaranteed safe. Of course lots of people have done it and got away with it but there is a choking risk and it’s also not good nutritionally for baby to fill up on cereal when they should be consuming milk. Starting babies young on consuming empty calories sets them up for obesity in the future. There are issues with arsenic as well. Have a read here https://www.webmd.com/baby/is-it-safe-to-put-rice-cereal-in-your-babys-bottle

@Sophia As Sophia said it's not safe https://www.webmd.com/baby/is-it-safe-to-put-rice-cereal-in-your-babys-bottle It not only increases risks of choking...does not help keep them asleep and has levels of arsenic in rice cereal It's dangerous and just because you family has done it doesn't mean it's safe Plenty of people have their babies sleep with dockatot or blankets and nothing happens but 3500+ babies die a year from SIDS mostly due to this practice. Babies sleeping 3-4 hours max normally doesn't end developmentally till 6 months of age https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14300-sleep-in-your-babys-first-year

At 2 months baby is still very young and it’s completely normal for her to be hungry every three hours. She has a tiny stomach and needs to be constantly refilled. It sounds like you’re doing a great job feeding her.

Just echoing what everyone else has said. My girl is almost 8 months and wakes 4 hourly for food overnight, that is completely normal. You may achieve more sleep but it wouldn’t benefit your baby at all. You’ll be filling her up on something that has no nutritional value. While it may be tiring, it’s normal for babies so young to wake up that frequently. You just have to ride it out. The older generation did lots of things that weren’t safe (they didn’t know it at the time of course), just because we survived them it doesn’t mean we should follow suit. I used to ride in the boot or the footwell of the car, I survived but I wouldn’t do that with my daughter 😂

It’s a generational thing but nowadays it’s definitely not deemed safe to do. The old ‘never did us any harm’ really doesn’t matter when science comes into it. In years gone by they didn’t bother strapping babies in car seats either, and if they didn’t get seriously hurt then that’s brilliant! But we wouldn’t take that risk and do it now because we know better. Introducing any other than milk early can also cause intolerances and stomach issues in later life and certainly is not proven to help babies sleep better. Mama, baby is growing and just needs more milk. I mean no judgement at all,but it’s important that you make your decision based on facts and current guidance,rather than outdated generational advice

@Sophia we are latinos and I've never heard of this, I asked my mom and she said never cuz "they say if you give baby rice at night they will die" Pretty interesting, I wonder if this started from putting rice in bottles 🤔

Alot of things was done for years and for generations but Iver the years more research is done and better safer ways of doing things. Alcohol used to be rubbed on baby's gums for teething which is unheard of now, leaving baby's to sleep in prams which isn't safe, having blankets, pillows, teddy's cot bumpers, all old ways of doing things which is not safe, same as cereal in a bottle, yes it's been done but it's not done anymore due to years of research, it's normal for a baby to wake frequent at that age, food is not the answer at this age, my girl was on 7oz every 3-4hrs from 7 weeks and didn't introduce solids until just past 6 months

That’s normal for her to be waking for feeds also don’t cut her off give her what she needs so if she needs 7oz give it to her Don’t add rice cereal it’s dangerous and not needed

And I couldn't think of anything worse than lying down feeling so full, I wouldn't eat a meal and a drink then lie straight down and expect to go to sleep, and just to add its still normal at 12 months to be waking in the night maybe even longer and once teething starts and sleep regressions trust me it's hard, and you will want to be used to frequent wake ups

@Ali That's what i assume too bit not sure, cuz even now she's 7 months and my mom refuses to feed her rice at night, I never put it in her bottle or even suggested it, I just tried giving her broccoli cheese rice and my mom told me not to 🤔

@Sophia a lot of generations didn't have seatbelts and used to beat their children. A lot of those children are still alive and well. Doesn't mean it was good practise

She even said, "so and so's daughter died in her sleep after she was given rice at night" she didn't remember how exactly-if bottle or real rice

Nooooo

@Sophia 5-6 is way to much for 2 month old. But if you decide a pinch if more than enough. It will help fill her more she will probably drink less that. I wouldn’t do it in every bottle. When I first did it was only at night. My pediatrician okay it but with oatmeal cereal. Both my boys are fine and health at 9 and 5. Just my suggestion and thought. It’s your baby it’s ulimately your choice.

Never safe https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/bottle-feeding/index.html ( from the CDC, one of several world recognized health organizations)

@Ali research indicates that formula fed babies sleep deeper than breast milk fed babies. Regarding sids, it is both related to airway access ( why back sleeping is reccomendation) ... But also there has been a chemical found in the brains of babies who died of sids that they have an abnormality in their hippocampus that affects their abilities to wake and sleep.

https://www.calhealthreport.org/2014/12/18/brain-abnormality-may-cause-cases-sudden-infant-death-syndrome/amp/

At 2 months old, it's very normal for her to feed every three hours. Note: the major growth spurts are 3 6 9 weeks and then months

Are you pace feeding her bottles and using an appropriate nipple size? Later when baby is old enough for any solids (current recommendation for that is 6 months; when they no longer have an open gut and are showing all outward signs of readiness), you could simply feed cereal with a spoon rather than add to the bottle where it becomes a choking hazard.

It’s just normal for. A two months old to wake up every three hours they have a tiny stomach ..

My mother and my aunt try to push this on me. My mother actually won’t shut up about it and mentions it scary time she sees us. It’s absolutely a generational thing. My son is 12 weeks now and exclusively breastfed, BUT he’s finally sleeping long stretches. He’s sleeping 4-5 sometimes almost 6 hour stretches. He feeds a lot during the day though, every two hours. It does get easier, mama. Hang in there!!!

It is never safe to add baby rice or cereal to their bottle. At 6 months you can start feeding baby rice or baby cereal but please do not add this to a bottle as it is a massive chocking risk

My daughter is 5 months and still feeds every 3 hours. Theres no way I'd consider giving her any food yet. It's normal, also why are you not letting her drink more than 5/6 ounces? If she's finishing the bottle then she wants more xx

Never. And why are you stopping her at 6oz? Babies need to feed on demand for brain development.

She’s still too little! Those are normal wake windows especially if you’re cutting her off. Babies at that age feed on demand and are growing very quickly and need a lot of calories to support brain development. Rice cereal is just filler and won’t be a nutritional benefit to her. I know it’s rough to be feeding that often, I struggled with supply and had to supplement with formula sometimes and it was so hard and I was exhausted all the time, I get it. But she’s too young for anything but breastmilk and/or formula

You're cutting her off but then she's waking every three hours hungry. One is causing the other. Babies cluster feed in the evenings so they can sleep well at night. It's also not possible to overfeed a breastfed baby (from nursing). If she wants more, give her it. They go through growth spurts and shouldn't be denied food when they want it.

It’s very normal at that age to wake for milk after 3 hours 🙂 Trying to knock baby out into a deeper sleep for longer with things like rice cereal could increase SIDS risk and I personally wouldn’t do it as it’s not natural

Don't cut her off on food Do definitely pace feed her, though

Everyone here has talked about the choking hazard which I agree but also pediatricians don’t recommend any food or water for babies before age 6 months typically. They only need milk and it should be on demand as their stomachs are very small so they get hungry fast. I asked my pediatrician at 4 months if I could start feeding my daughter rice cereal because she was interested in foods but she told me to wait until 6 months so I wouldn’t try anything unless you run it past your pediatrician first. Good luck! 🙏

At 2 months it is normal for them to wake the cereal does not always work. I didn't start giving my lo cereal until he was 4 months. Also I don't think you should cut her off let her get full she might be staying hungry.

I wouldn't cut her off, let her eat more than 5-6oz if she will. That would help more than adding rice cereal

My friends two month old was a hugeee eater and was drinking 6 oz every feed and when she googled it also said it was way too much but when she went to the pediatrician they said it was fine. If you dont cut her off and keep feeding will she and has she thrown up? Just wondering if her tummy could be bigger to hold more, you can try giving a bit more vs cutting her off Also as everyone else has said very normal to be up every 3 hours, i did lots of top up with formula as i didnt have as much breast milk and i think it definitely helped keep them fuller