Cereal in bottle question

DD will be 4 months on the 2nd. I have been putting oatmeal in her bottles (3 heaping tsps to 7 oz) as per the dr's recommendation for reflux. She is also on Axid 2x per day. The oatmeal has made a world of difference. She is keeping 99% of her formula down! Now for the question....dd takes 4 bottles/day. She takes 7 oz her first bottle, 7 oz her last but only 3-5 oz in each of the middle 2 bottles. She will take no more than that so she is only averaging 20-25 oz a day. She was 11 lbs 4 oz @ her 3 month appt and seems like she gained, but I don't understand the eating strike in the middle of the day. I've tried giving her a 5th bottle but she will not take it. If I reduce the oatmeal, she throws up. Any btdt who have experienced this?

Re: Cereal in bottle question

First off, let me tell you our stats: 4 mos on 12/26, at 3 mo appt 24 in, 15 lbs 2.5 oz.

Are you using RTF or powder?

We use powder and make the next days worth of formula the night before in the Dr. Brown's formula pitcher. 13 scoops, 26 oz water, 13 tsp rice cereal = 30 oz formula. I was using 28 oz with 14 scoops, but DS was leaving some over here and there - esp mid-day. So we decreased it and now we're all good. (5) 6 oz bottles total, everything distributed equally.

Re: Cereal in bottle question

I use RTF....she is on Alimentum. I add cereal after warming the bottle. I tried decreasing the cereal but it affected her reflux. I would rather her eat less and keep it all in vs eating more and throwing it up kwim?

Re: Cereal in bottle question

OK so what if you added all the cereal needed to the bottle of RTF and gave (5) 5 oz bottles daily?

And as far as the decrease in oz of formula - keep in mind the oatmeal adds calories! So I'm thinking this will keep her gaining.

DS has been drinking 30 oz daily since he was like 10 lbs, now he's over 16... His calorie need has to have increased, but his appetite has not. He must be doing fine though, since he was 90% in weight at his last visit!

Re: Cereal in bottle question

And if she was 11.25 lbs at her last visit then 25 oz daily is fine! There's a formula to the amount of formula to give, to a point. Weight x 2.5 / # of bottles daily.

11.25 x 2.5 / 5 = 5.6

So 5.5 oz x 5 bottles daily. BUT this formula is only a guideline and only good for so long because a 20 lb baby doesn't need (5) 10 oz bottles!

Re: Cereal in bottle question

thanks so much! I'm starting to think her eating has changed because she seems to be fighting a cold. Her nose is a tiny bit runny.