One of the first milestones in the life of a baby is introducing her to solid foods. Mayo Clinic recommends offering an iron-fortified baby cereal between the age of 4 and 6 months, by which time she is likely to have developed the coordination to swallow soft solid foods. Although the Mayo Clinic advises serving cereal to baby with a spoon to reduce the risk of choking, it also is common to add the cereal to the baby’s bottle.
Step 1
Pour 4 to 5 tablespoons of expressed breast milk or formula into a bottle. Do not use cow’s milk or any other kind of milk at this age without the permission of your pediatrician.
Step 2
Add 1 tablespoon of baby cereal to the bottle. The cereal should be single-grain, made of rice, oat or barley, and formulated specifically for babies.
Step 3
Replace the nipple and cap on the bottle, and shake well. After shaking, much of the cereal should dissolve, and the milk should appear slightly thickened.
Tips and Warnings
- If you want to give baby more than 4-5 tablespoons of milk, use 1 tablespoon of cereal for every 4 to 5 tablespoons of milk. If the cereal clogs the nipple of the bottle, try switching to a nipple with larger holes. Some brands make nipples with smaller holes for newborns and larger holes for older babies.
- Putting cereal in a baby’s bottle is a somewhat controversial issue in the pediatric world. Web-renowned pediatrician Dr. Greene says adding cereal to a bottle slightly increases the risk of a baby choking or inhaling cereal into its lungs. Greene also says adding cereal to the bottle may teach babies to overeat. If you want to add cereal to your baby’s bottle, it is best to consult your child’s pediatrician first.
Things You'll Need
- 1 tablespoon of baby cereal
- 4-5 tablespoons of breast milk or formula
- 1 baby bottle
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