Cereal in a Bottle

[Country Kids]

All I remember about cereal in a bottle from when my kids where little was it was frowned upon. I remember people (older then me) saying only lazy people would put cereal in a bottle for their babies. I guess it was thought that if you couldn't feed it to them from a spoon and had to put it in a bottle you where lazy.

I also remember though that if your child had their bottle/pacifier/diapers past age two you were lazy also because there was no reason for a child to have any of those at that age much less past.

[AnneCordelia]

many of you mentioned it being dangerous, unless they are reflux babies, is the risk somehow lower then? Or do you just take the risk bc it helps? Is it a choking risk?

I have never had a daycare family ask, but I do have friends who do (and they have mentioned thier babies suffering from reflux)

Its all about risk outweigh benefit. In a healthy baby the risks of cereal in a bottle are not worthwhile. In a baby with reflex then the risks, while still there, are worth taking because the benefit of baby keeping calories in the belly outweigh them.

[jojosmommy]

Flame suit zipped.....


Cereal in a bottle doesn't help reflux any more than feeding it to them the traditional way. It does however limit their ability to regulate feeding amounts and has been linked to obesity later in life. Its also bad for teeth since the cereal has more sugar and acid than straight formula does. It also is a choking hazard since it thickens over time when mixed with formula. Cereal mixed with breast milk will not thicken in the same manner- which also means it doesn't "solve" the reflux issue as people claim.

[crunchymama]

Flame suit zipped.....


Cereal in a bottle doesn't help reflux any more than feeding it to them the traditional way. It does however limit their ability to regulate feeding amounts and has been linked to obesity later in life. Its also bad for teeth since the cereal has more sugar and acid than straight formula does. It also is a choking hazard since it thickens over time when mixed with formula. Cereal mixed with breast milk will not thicken in the same manner- which also means it doesn't "solve" the reflux issue as people claim.

I agree completely with everything you just said and wanted to ad, Cereal in bottles before 4 months is also known to cause food allergies later in life in some babies.

[MaritimeMummy]

I agree completely with everything you just said and wanted to ad, Cereal in bottles before 4 months is also known to cause food allergies later in life in some babies.

That, and also adding that rice cereal is really nothing more than filler...white starch, empty calories. Starch = sugar/carbs. Increases the likelyhood of childhood obesity. Equal to that of an adult eating a whole bag of chips downed with a litre of pop just before bed every night.

[Lilbutterflie]

Flame suit zipped.....


Cereal in a bottle doesn't help reflux any more than feeding it to them the traditional way. It does however limit their ability to regulate feeding amounts and has been linked to obesity later in life. Its also bad for teeth since the cereal has more sugar and acid than straight formula does.

Completely agree with this.

My MIL used to say to me ALL the time how I needed to give my babies cereal in the bottle before bed so they would sleep better. She did it with my DH and his sister from the time they were newborns to about age 1! They were VERY chubby babies but outgrew it as children. However, they are both in the OBESE category as adults & struggle constantly with weight. Obesity is not in their family, so I TRULY believe it is at least in part due to being fed those "smoothies" in the bottle as babies. She even got my husband on the band wagon & it caused so many fights between us when our children were babies! I stuck to my guns & did not allow it.