Not full after an 8 oz. bottle?

Hi there. One of my babies, Evan, drinks about 8 oz. and then doesn't last 3 hours. He gets hungry at about 2.5 hours (sometimes at 2 hours!). His brother, on the other hand, could probably go closer to 4 hours on the same amount. The boys are 4 months old. What do you think? Does this mean he's ready for rice cereal? I don't think he has the head control to eat it! Oh, I should probably mention he's about 17 lbs (maybe a little more) and doesn't wake to eat at night.

 

If he's finishing an 8oz bottle every time, I would definitely start with rice cereal. I started mine at 4mo. (per our ped.) they didn't have the best head control. I put them in their bouncy seats and fed them that way. Maybe just a little rice cereal would tide him over until it's time to eat again. It's great that he's sleeping through the night. Sounds like you just got a hungry, growing boy. I say try the cereal and see how he does! With Ped's. permission, of course .

 

I'll check with the doctor next week, I guess. I just worry about allergies - I think I'm ultra sensitive because I still feel so guilty that I don't breastfeed (I know I should be over it by now) and I just want to make sure I do everything ELSE right!

 

If he's eating that much, I would definitely say he's probably ready for some cereal. That's one of the signs, of course head control is definitely helpful. You should check with your doctor & see what he/she thinks. Sounds like a big, healthy boy!

 

I don't have advice, but I'm in almost hte same place as you! My son is just under 3 months, and always finishes his 8oz bottle, and sometimes acts like he is mad at me for not giving him more! Thank god he is usually satisfied for 4 hours during the day ... but he doesn't make it through the night, he still wakes for a bottle around 4am ... not that i'm complaining, cause he goes down around 8Pm. Anyway, my ped told me we would start him on cereal at 4 months ... so i'm sure your ped will allow you to ... good luck, and let me know how the cereal goes!

caba

 

Kyle was soo unsatisfied with 8 ounce bottles that I started doing some research on the criteria for cereal. This is what I found that seemed helpful.

1) Is 4 months of age or older
2) Has doubled birthweight
3) Weighs 15 pounds or more
4) Is consuming 32ounces or more in a 24 hour period.

Kyle was two weeks shy of 4 months but met all of the other criteria so I went for it. What a huge change in disposition!!! It was really like night and day for him!

 

my twins started at 4 months old. They(especially my boy) were wanting more than a bottle. I started giving them a litlle cereal, and they loved it. I made sure it was o.k. with my ped. first. But, try it out and see.

 

We started cereal at 3.5 months because they were both polishing off well over 45oz a day, eating more than 8-9oz per feeding, and wanting to eat every 2.5 hours. Both of them took to the solids immediately - the loved it and it really did seem to help. We did just cereal for a few days and then added some banana to it for a couple weeks. At about 4 months, we started adding stage 1 baby foods. To this day, I have very hearty eaters! Sounds like you might have one too...

 

We started the kids on rice cereal at 4.5 months because our son also wasn't satisfied. What a difference it makes! He is so much happier now! We're holding off on adding anything else until 5 months, which is when the pediatrician wanted us to wait until. (Yes, I disobeyed the ped, but we're all happier and we haven't seen any adverse reactions.)

 

1) Is 4 months of age or older
2) Has doubled birthweight
3) Weighs 15 pounds or more
4) Is consuming 32ounces or more in a 24 hour period.

Wow my boys were only just under 12lbs at their 4 monther a few weeks ago and my ped gave me the go ahead to start them, she's pretty liberal though. They usually only drink under 20oz a piece but they are recieving oatmeal in the bottles (ped said ok to that for puke control).

I dont have the problem with not getting enough. I have all I can do to get them to take 4 oz per feeding. They have eaten cereal (the oatmeal) on the spoon and have already had fruits and veggies. Yes the Pediatrician knows all. We are not on a regular schedule for solids yet.

Good luck

 

Honestly, DD was on cereal on 3mths, and at 4mths the peds told me to start baby food.

My niece weighed 18lbs at 4 months her doctor also told her to start baby food....I would say a definet yes on the cereal. Plus, their weight gain starts to slow down once you start with cereal and baby food. That is why her doctor told her to do....she was gaining too much too fast and was (still does) every 2hrs. She is a moosker let me tell ya!!

April