Many even added the cereal to their baby s bedtime bottle.
Cereal in formula to help baby sleep.
Adding cereal to a bottle to help a baby sleep is a myth.
So the reasoning goes.
But studies have shown that this doesn t work.
For generations new moms often encouraged by their mothers and grandmothers have fed a bit of rice cereal to their wakeful babies in an attempt to fill their bellies and coax them to sleep longer.
Some babies will sleep worse due to reactions to the formula or solids tummy ache etc.
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.
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.
There are a few problems with this recommendation though.
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A bigger meal or even the addition of formula or rice cereal will make her sleep longer.
But the aap along with other feeding.
There is no evidence that it will help.
This turns out to be a widespread myth.
Are not uncommon particularly if baby is younger than around 6 months.
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.
Newborn babies eat frequently and sleep in short stretches because their nervous and digestive systems are developing.