Cereal- bottle or spoon?

OK I have a few questions. When you started giving DC cereal did you only spoon feed or did you also put cereal in their bottle? I started feeding DS cereal this week and he doesn't get much down yet, doesn't get that he's supposed to swallow yet lol. So after he doesn't take anymore I dump the rest in his bottle & let him drink it. Should I not do this? Will he just eventually understand how to swallow the cereal? Also does your DC prefer one kind of cereal over another? SO many of my friends tell me their children like oatmeal much more than rice.

Re: Cereal- bottle or spoon?

That is precisely why I started Kristina out on cereal as a 'meal' earlier. I wanted her to learn how to take it before she hit the 4 month mark.

I would just start the process by giving him a teaspoon or two. That's what I did with K, and what she didn't finish - I didn't feel like I was wasting.

But no, I wouldn't put the rest in the bottle. I would just dump it b/c then if he finds the taste in his bottle I almost think that he'll think that he won't have to bother with the cereal just yet, and he'll just get to 'eat' it out of his bottle....

kwim?

also regarding tastes of cereals.... Kristina DEFINITELY likes the oatmeal much more than she liked the rice.

Re: Cereal- bottle or spoon?

I really think everyone seems to do it differently in the beginning.

We didn't start DS on cereal until he was 6 months. At that point, we never put it in his bottle, it was always in a bowl with a spoon. We started on rice cereal upon the guidance of the ped and then after 2 weeks moved onto oatmeal.

But I do know that lots of other moms do it differently... and guess what.. all our babies are doing great!!!!

Re: Cereal- bottle or spoon?

Re: Cereal- bottle or spoon?

we feed oatmeal with the sppon at breakfast and lunch and at night for his last bottle add rice cereal to the bottle....he just started solids at 6 months and will be seven shortly but it has worked great for us thus far.

Re: Cereal- bottle or spoon?

With my first and my second both were fed by the spoon only. It's part of DD's meal. I would give her the bottle first then her cereal. Right now until 6mths. she will be on rice cereal. He will eventually get how to swallow, I would do what Lisa suggeted. a few spoon fulls at a time to get him used to it. and then increase. good luck.

Re: Cereal- bottle or spoon?

Thanks ladies, I think I will stick to spoon only. I agree that I don't want him to get used to just sucking it from the bottle and he needs to get used to the spoon.