How to Add Cereal to a Baby's Food
Many parents choose to add cereal to their child's baby bottle as a way of alleviating acid reflux or getting them to sleep longer (although neither is guaranteed to work). Adding cereal to a bottle only requires following a few simple steps that will ensure easy and safe consumption. However, remember that if you give cereal to a baby who is younger than 6 months of age, you greatly increase her risk of developing allergies. Breastmilk and formula provide everything your baby needs at this age. Also, babies wake during the night both to eat and to fulfill their need for physical and emotional connection from their parents. Do not expect your young infant to sleep through the night too soon.
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Instructions
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Prepare your infant's breast milk or formula in a bottle in the exact manner you normally would, making sure to leave enough room to add cereal.
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Measure 1 tsp. of cereal and add to the bottle.
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3
Shake the baby bottle vigorously until the cereal is completely mixed. To ensure that the mixture still flows sufficiently through the baby bottle, tilt the bottle upside down and squeeze gently on the nipple until a small sample is expressed.
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Open the bottle and add more cereal in increments of 1 tsp. until you have reached the necessary amount of cereal. Refer to the mixing directions on the baby cereal package to get the right proportions.
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Tips & Warnings
Cutting a larger hole in the nipple will allow easier consumption of the cereal mixture.
Doctors recommend that cereal not be introduced to the bottle until a baby is at least four months old.
Be careful that to monitor the temperature of the bottle to avoid burning the child.
Ensure that any additional holes in the bottle's nipple aren't large enough to allow the cereal mixture to choke the child.
References
- Photo Credit BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
