My son is 16 weeks old, I went back to after 12 weeks off and have been luchy enough to be able to pump and keep my mom with a full supply every day. Is is ok to add some cereal to pumped milk at night to help both of us get a good night sleep? He eats very well from both breast about 8:30 and then we put him in the co-sleeper next to our bed. He gets up between 3-4 to eat again. I guess this could be normal but my daughter was different, she slept from 9-6 no problem but she was on a specific formula for babies that spit up.
Our pediatrician was very much opposed to putting cereal in a bottle. As she explained it...it makes a lazy eater and the baby won't learn to "chew" and also that the cereal will go down so fast that the baby won't actually feel like he's full. She recommended mixing the cereal with the breast milk in a bowl and spoon feeding, then giving a bottle. So, mixing yes, just not in a bottle. good luck!
I agree 16 weeks is a bit young for cereal. Feeding a baby more before bed does not always keep the full so they sleep longer, this is more of a myth. My son woke once a night until he was 3, even after he wasn't feeding at night anymore. So your son waking once for a feeding is normal, and very good. Most newborns wake 2-3 times. So you may be on your way to getting him to sleep through the night.
Of course you can ask your pediatrician, but cereal doesn't need to be introduced until 5 or 6 mos when they are ready for solids. There is also a choking risk involved with using cereal in a bottle. Once you are ready you can buy a special bottle made for cereal and baby food.
I started my daughter on cereal at about four months and didn't have any problems. But she was up constantly eating. Where son is only waking once at night I wouldn't do anything. He will start sleeping though the night shortly, only to start getting up all over again. I know that most moms would do anything to get a full nights sleep. But my mom told me once that once you become a mom you'll never sleep again, and she is so right. But once you do introduce semi solid foods it's great and encouraged to mix your breast milk with the cereal. It even tells you how to on the box.
If your pediatrician has ok starting him on cereal, it's fine to mix a little cereal in his evening bottle to help him sleep longer. I agree with the other poster about not doing this during the day because it can make lazy eaters, but I don't think it's a big deal to only do this for his night time bottle. If you notice this type of change in his eating habits after you start this, I would just offer the cereal to him with a spoon at night. Good luck.
It sounds like your son is doing perfectly. He will likely need to breast feed in the middle of the night for another month or so. Remember, cereal may make him feel full, but will not give him the nutritional value of milk. Way to go! Good luck.
Ask you doctor first. We are waiting until 6 months before solids. My son takes the breast at 7:30 and then around 3-4. We are fighting off mono so I am very tired but know the longer you wait to give your baby solids the less allergies. I am with you on lack of sleep. Good luck.
