BTDT Moms: Question re: feeding cereal

when you started your kids on rice cereal you have to water it down with milk or formula so it's very liquidy. How long did you keep offering the watered down version? or maybe I should ask how long before your kids took it and swallowed it. So far she just dribbles it back out again and blocks the spoon inside her mouth with her tongue. Just curious how long a process it will be.

Re: BTDT Moms: Question re: feeding cereal

Ok, you have to get her to put her tongue down. Push it with the spoon, then wipe the cereal off onto her gums or top lip. Then she'll have to sweep it off with her tongue. This is something babies need to learn. Ava picked it up by her third or fourth time eating cereal. We kept it watered down for about a week. You won't know how long you need to keep it watery because it really depends on the baby. If she gets the hang of eating it quickly, then you don't need to water it down for too long, but if she takes a while, then I'd wait to thicken it up. What kind of spoon are you using? My mom gave me a therapy spoon, it's called the Maroon Spoon, and it's much flatter and wider than those little Gerber spoons with the rubber tip. My mom uses them when she does feeding therapy, and I think it really helped Ava. She's ordering a new box of them becuase she ran out, but when she gets them, if you'd like me to send one to you, I can. HTH.

Re: BTDT Moms: Question re: feeding cereal

babies have a natural reflex with their tongue that thrusts everything out of their mouth and it doesn't go away until 4-6 months (which is why cereal is started then). We just started Lauren on cereal this past week when she turned 5 months. It took her a full week to really eat the food... Now she opens up wide, its so funny. She loves it. But it did take a week or so. Hang in there.

Re: BTDT Moms: Question re: feeding cereal

ok thanks guys. We'll keep it up and stay patient.

Re: BTDT Moms: Question re: feeding cereal

I started Andrew at 3 months on cereal and food and it only took him a couple of days to get it down. Now he is a pro

Just put the spoon in there and eventually she will get the hang of it

Message edited 10/10/2006 4:03:32 PM.

Re: BTDT Moms: Question re: feeding cereal

For the first day I made it very liquidy to the point DH asked me if this was considered "solid" food. The next day I added less BM, and then less the next day, etc... 3 weeks into solid food and Jordy is doing great.