Is any of this rice cereal actually getting in?!?!

We saw my pedi yesterday and she said that the girls' weights are a little low so we should definitely start rice cereal and first foods. Anyone have any tips to get them to keep it in their mouths? It seems like every spoonful I put in they flip all the cereal right back our with their tongues. I don't remember it being this hard with my daughter, but maybe I forgot. I'm not sure if they are getting any of it!!!!

 

They'll get it, it just takes time. . . I swear in the beginning it was all on the bib and not in their mouth, but after 3-4 days they got the hang of what they are supposed to do with it. That said, once they got a taste of something other than rice cereal I could never get them to eat the cereal again, as the 1st foods and oatmeal taste SOOO much better.

 

It's normal for them to still have the tongue-thrust reflux that young, and it's actually a sign of not being ready for solids.

I'm surprised that your pedi recommended starting solids in order to help with weight gain, since solids have LESS fat/protein/calories than breastmilk or formula, and take up room in the babies' tummies when they could be filling up on milk/formula instead. It's like trying to gain weight by eating salad instead of triple-creme Brie.

I wouldn't worry about how much cereal they get, if you decide to continue it - if you're at all concerned about their weights, I think the way to go would probably be just to nurse more, or offer bottles more often.

 

I try making it a little funny. Then but the tip into their mouth and let them suck it off. That is how they are used to getting food and if you put it into their mouth they will use their tongue like they do with a nipple and it all comes back out. Hold the spoon in their mouth until they suck it off, sometimes that is like 10 sec. Good luck it will get easier. Hopefully that makes sense.

 

We started our girls around the same age. One took to it within a week or so, the other one took a lot longer. She was tongue thrusting for a long time. Just keep at it and they will get it. I never forced the issue with mine. If it was upsetting to them, we stopped. I just let them do it at their own pace and soon they were eating like champs.

 

QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Mar 14 2008, 12:24 PM) [snapback]669528[/snapback]
It's normal for them to still have the tongue-thrust reflux that young, and it's actually a sign of not being ready for solids.

I'm surprised that your pedi recommended starting solids in order to help with weight gain, since solids have LESS fat/protein/calories than breastmilk or formula, and take up room in the babies' tummies when they could be filling up on milk/formula instead. It's like trying to gain weight by eating salad instead of triple-creme Brie.

I wouldn't worry about how much cereal they get, if you decide to continue it - if you're at all concerned about their weights, I think the way to go would probably be just to nurse more, or offer bottles more often.


Dittos to the above!!

 

Kim, I believe my girls are the exact age as yours ... mine were born on Nov. 13. We had their 4 month appointment today and were also told to start on rice cereal. Do you mind me asking how much your girls weigh? Mine are 10 lbs 13 oz (4 lbs and 13 oz at birth) and 11 lbs 6 oz (5 lbs 6 oz at birth).

I was excited about starting them on cereal tomorrow until I saw your post. Good luck with the eating and thanks for letting me know what we might experience! Hang in there!