Can you add cereal to breast milk?

Question

my friend breast feeds her son and wants to know it she pumps can she add cereal to it since her son is always hungry and never gets full she doesn't want to put him on formula but she doesn't know what else to do

by the way he's a 3 weeks old i know its kind of early to start cereal but is there anything else she can do to full him up the formula fulls him but it makes him gassy and constipated

Answer 1

Cereal added to a bottle isn't good at all, and for a 3 week old it worse. Babies that young can only digest milk. Maybe she should start pumping all bottles, so she can see how much the baby is actually drinking

Answer 2

I agree with McMom... No cereal.

Btw (almost) all baby's drink a lot in the beginning....  

Answer 3

Yes if he was older she could mix the breastmilk with cereal--However right now IS WAY to early! If she gives him cereal now it could mess up his digetive system or he could develop food allergies..If he is not full enough she needs to supplement with formula and it will take a week or two for his body to adjust to it. Every other feeding or every 2 feedings she should give him a couple ounces of formula..It is making him gassy and constipated now probably because she isnt doing it every day and his body is not used to it.

Answer 4

You should never add cereal to your baby's milk, either it's breast milk or formula. He needs the milk... it's way too early to try to cut the feeding in anyway and cereals in the bottle are dangerous. Sorry, you'll have to deal with the frequent feedings :(

Answer 5

Short Answer :NO

Long Answer: NO because its dangerous. At three weeks baby can not digest cereals and putting it in her milk will only cause her to choke. No solids until six to eight months! If bubs is hungry offer more breast feeds - simple.

Answer 6

NO NO NO NO.  It would be dangerous.

Answer 7

yes you can add a little cereal to the milk..i had to with my daughter cause she seemed to never be full.  but it also depends on how much she is already feeding him.  sometimes if you feed 3 ounces every 2-3 hours it usually does them fine..if not then cereal (make sure you start with rice) would be fine...start out with just a very little bit at first about a teaspoon and see how he does. good luck

by the way i had 3 doctors tell me this was ok..my daughter was NEVER satisfied until a little creal was added..she is a very healthy baby bout ready to turn 2.

Answer 8

NO do not give a 3 week old cereal he is suppose to be hungry and feed all the time she really needs to speak to her health visitor or contact a breastfeeding support group and get some advice and make sure she is producing enough milk to feed him so he does not dehydrate or have other problems.  Get some hands on help with the breast feeding there is loads of help midwives, hospital, health visitor, doctor and support groups.

Answer 9

Please do not damage your babies health by giving him cereal. Please. Just stick to breastmilk alone for at least till he is minimum of 6 moths old. It is recommended that you start adding mushy solid food to the diet when he is around 8 or so months old.

Answer 10

Giving him rice cereal will just make him more gassy and constipated. If he is hungry feed him, I had to feed my son every 2 hours round the clock for 6 months......that's hungry, lol

Answer 11

No - her baby needs nothing other than her breast milk.

It is far to early to give her anything else.

"The following organizations recommend that all babies be exclusively breastfed (no cereal, juice or any other foods) for the first 6 months of life (not the first 4-6 months):

World Health Organization

UNICEF

US Department of Health & Human Services

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Academy of Family Physicians

American Dietetic Association

Australian National Health and Medical Research Council

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Health Canada"

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids...

Your friend is more than likely mistaking her baby's normal behavior for hunger - as long as she is breastfeeding on demand, and her baby is having plenty of wet and dirty diapers - he is fine.

Answer 12

He's hungry because of the lack of nutrients in the milk.  Look into mannatech.  Especially pay attention to the Ambrotose.  It has the 8 sugars people need.  The baby needs a ton of the one or two sugars his mom is providing so his digestive system can produce the remaining sugars.  100 years ago this would not have been a problem.  Look into it.  It's real.

Answer 13

She doesn't need to add cereal... but if she is nursing on demand at the slightest whimper all day and night and baby is only snacking...then she might try spacing out the feedings a bit more.  Like when baby gets fussy she can try playing with baby, walking outside, etc.. to delay the feeding a bit longer so that baby will eat more like a meal and not a snack.

Answer 14

3 wks is way to young for cereal....breastmilk is the easiest milk to digest so if he's having digestive issues, it would be best to talk to the doctor.

Edit: for those thinking breastmilk can't satisy, that's why we have b*****s (well one reason;) Breastfeeding on demand is just how it is for awhile, if you're going to choose to breastfeed you have to expect to have him there quite often.