has anyone added cereal to formula?

has anyone added cereal without getting the go-ahead from your ped to do so? i'm taking the boys to the ped tomorrow, but they seem to be hungry - they are both eating about 28 - 30 oz per day. that seems like a lot. what does/did yours eat at 9 and 11 lbs?

 

I have heard that the rule of thumb for formula intake is 2.5oz per lb of body weight per day. So, that would put your 9lber at 22.5oz and your 11lber at 27.5oz. But, with that said, my twins were small eaters and never ate their "quota" and my other kids consistently ate more than that. So, I think what they are eating is within the normal range. I have added cereal to their bottles for reflux issues only.

 

I have been adding cereal to my boys formula for a couple of weeks. Not a lot, usually half to a whole teaspoon at their last bottle. It seems to calm them quicker. They are also very big eaters, and big boys! It seems to help, but don't believe the miracle stories about sleeping through the night. I was told that and my boys sleep a lot with or without the cereal.

Shannon

 

My DS is 11 pounds and we just bumped him from 4 ounces to 5 ounces per feeding, times 7 bottles a day so he eats 28-35 ounces a day. I wouldn't add the cereal without talking to your pedi first, but it sounds like we just have big eaters. DD eats 3-4 ounces a feeding, so she gets 21-28 ounces a day (probably closer to the 21 mark) and she weighs about 10 pounds.

 

Why not just give you Ped a call if you are concerned. I added cereal at 6 weeks only because we were having reflux issues.

 

I was told by our pedi not to add any cereal in till they were 4 months old because it can affect part of their brain. Every doctor is different. I think I started my older son at 3 months or so but I will wait now. Both my boys are eatting 6oz easy.

 

I have never done this because of the pedi recommendations... but my mom did it with me and I turned out fine.
At least, I think I turned out fine! My DH might say otherwise at times!
But also, my little girls never seemed extra hungry.

My DH's mom said she started feeding him cereal after 3 weeks (I'm assuming in the bottle).
I wonder if he needed it as a growing baby... he's 6'4'' now.

If your boys seem very hungry then you should do what you think is best for them. You are with them day and night and know how they tick and what makes them happy. Talk with your pedi about it if you have health concerns.

It might also be a "growth spurt". Although I've always kind of laughed at this term and at the "schedule" they have for them!
Isn't their first year of life a growth spurt?

 

I DID NOT consult my Pedi with any of my girls. I went with my gut. With Em, I started at 2.5 months....she is perfectly fine. With the twins, we started last week, though havent' done it every night. With Carlie, we were given the go ahead b/c of AR. We started with the bottle, but I think doing it in the bottle is a PITA!! I never did it in a bottle with Em....only spoon fed. That is what we are doing now...spoon feeding it. Carlie loves it, but Claire does so-so w/ it.

When I took Emily to her 4 month appt., I was asked if I had started cereal. I said yes and told them when...I was told to start baby food Stage 1 w/ her at that point.

If you really think about it, did our parents consult a doctor about when to start cereal...probably not. We all turned out fine. Sometimes you really need to just go w/ your gut!!

April

 

I got the "go ahead" at the 2 month appt for DS. He was spitting up A LOT. He told me to put 1 teaspoon for every 2 oz. He was eating 6 oz (and spitting up puddles) and now 4oz. As you can tell... DS gained a lot of weight! It has slowed down already.. They are going to tell you its too early. I would wait until 2 months..