what age did you add cereal to bottle?

my son is 4 weeks old and I'm ready to start adding cereal to his bottles!  He spits up a lot and doesn't sleep great at night. I did add cereal to my DD's bottle around this time as well. Thoughts? Is it awful to do this?

 I didnt know it was okay to do that before the baby was 3-4 months old.  I've never put cereal in a bottle but I know lots of people that have and none started before then.  That I know of anyways...

 Here in the UK all doctors advise NOT to start solids until 6 months for all sorts of reasons.  I really do think that 4 weeks is waaaaay to early.  I had a big baby (over 10 pounds) and we started solids at 6 months exactly. 

I know there are special thickened formulas you can buy to help prevent milk coming back up.  After I stopped b/f, my son started on a thickened 'comfortable digestion' formula to ease his wind.  My friend's baby was on this formula too as she was very 'sicky' with her bottles.  Maybe you could try that? 

Also, I would not be expecting a 4 week old to sleep 'great at night', he is still SO little!!  I was up feeding MANY times a night at 4 weeks!!!!!!!!

I thought putting anything other than baby's milk into the bottle was a HUGE no no.  I have never done this and don't like the thought of it either.

If trying your baby with solids I'd give them it from a spoon and baby should be at least 3-4months old before even considering solids

HTH

That does seem really early to do that. My pediatrician does not recommend doing that at all. She said that you should introduce solids when they are ready (4-5 months) and only spoon feed so they can get used to the texture. I think at 4 weeks, it could cause tummy troubles. Can you just increase the amount you are giving at each feeding? How often are you feeding as well?

 thanks guys. yes, I know it's early. I was only gonna do it once at night. My mother, MIL, aunts etc all put cereal in the bottles as early as 2 weeks and we're all ok  I'm not expecting the baby to sleep very long just at least 3 hours! he just wants to suck all night laying next to me. It's too much. I may have to just start formula all the time. The BM just goes right threw him. also, he sleeps longer during the day 

baby takes between 3-4 oz at each feeding. although I don't know how much he gets when he nurses. he seems to want to eat every 1 1/2 hours -2 hours! 

Putting cereal in a bottle is a choking hazard and it's a myth that the baby sleeps better.

I'm the odd mom out! I put a little cereral into my baby's bottles starting around 3 months. They all slept better at night and were more content. With a tiny bit, it's not a choking hazard.

I am weary of the allergy hype. DS1 was given baby food (like mashed fruits and veggies) at 6 months (as I was a first time mom and followed the rules exactly). Anyways... he has allergies to all nuts (thankfully, not severe). My DS2 had foods at 4 months and is allergy free! Our pediatric allergist is one of the best in the country, and shows me study after study of allergies needing to be linked to genetics somehow down the line, and I'm no expert, so I follow her advice. I could NEVER wait until 6 months personally, as I think baby's bodies grow, and they need some substinence besides BM/formula. That's my opinion.

What works for some may not work for others. To the OP, try giving him a little cereal and see how he responds. If it helps, great! If it doesn't, you can always try again down the road. Good luck you!

I never did.  I didn't introduce anything except formula and breast milk til they were 6 months old and plan on waiting that long with Ava as well.

I started giving DS1 & 2 rice cereal at 2 months, although I never liked giving it to them in the bottle so I would really water it down with formula and make it as thin as possible and spoon feed it to them. I had no choice really, by 2 months without the added cereal they were both wanting an 8oz bottle ever 2-3 hours, after adding the cereal they would take a 6oz bottle ever 4 hours.

I can't remember if your in the US or UK, if your in the US I would say at his age try the Similac R.S. formula, it has added rice starch to help with frequent spitting up. They didn't make this when my boys were babies, both had reflux, it would have been a whole lot easier if they had. 

eating every 1 1/2 -2hrs is normal for a baby his age.

My dd had to drink the formula with added rice in it since she had reflux issues and it was the only thing that worked. She spit up a lot and it really helped her keep food down.Maybe you could try that.

 maybe you can try other things to try and keep baby sleeping a little longer at night..

from bath time routines to swaddling...

or even a pacifier if baby wants to suck a lot.. 

but I agree.  I wouldn't add anything to the bottle other then formula..

my dd1 was up every 1 for 2 hours when she was little.. was sooo hard on me.. 

so I feel you!

 We did this with our 1st 2 babies and they didn't sleep any longer... I agree w/pp I think it's a myth.

I think 4 weeks is a little young. I waited until my children were 4 mo. and yes, I did put a little in their bottle. I didn't make the hole anybigger just got the older baby nipples. I would see what your ped. says.