Cereal In Formula To Help Baby Sleep

Adding cereal to a bottle to help a baby sleep is a myth.

Cereal in formula to help baby sleep.

But studies have shown that this doesn t work. Many even added the cereal to their baby s bedtime bottle. Adding rice cereal to baby s evening bottle is a common practice by many parents who want to fill their baby s belly in the hopes it will help them sleep more. The presumption is that the extra calories from the cereal will help the baby feel full for a longer period of time and thus not wake up so soon to be fed.

Newborn babies eat frequently and sleep in short stretches because their nervous and digestive systems are developing. Some babies will sleep worse due to reactions to the formula or solids tummy ache etc. There are a few problems with this recommendation though. A bigger meal or even the addition of formula or rice cereal will make her sleep longer.

This turns out to be a widespread myth. Get free updates on baby s first year. Mom s are urged to add a little rice baby cereal and formula to baby s bottle as a way to keep him full and sleep through the night. Even gerber the popular baby food manufacturer recommends against putting rice cereal in your baby s bottle.

Three studies have indicated that adding solids or formula to the diet does not cause babies to sleep longer. Studies show that there is no change in the amount of time that a baby will sleep if cereal is put into the bottle. Are not uncommon particularly if baby is younger than around 6 months. So the reasoning goes.