Advice needed when starting cereal

[LaurenJadeMom]

Hi - my LO is 5 months, 1 week and we are getting ready to start her on cereal within the next week or so.  In the past 3 weeks she has moved from being bf to ff and is currently using lactose free formula.  She became very gassy on regular formula and constipated on soy, but seems to be doing pretty well on the lactose free. 

Because of her propensity for constipation, her ped suggested we may want to start her on barley instead of rice cereal.  I am wondering what would be the best thing to mix the cereal with.  Her ped suggested we could mix it with half water and half white grape juice.  Does anyone have any comments on that?  What about mixing it with formula?  Best to start by giving it once a day in the evenings only? 

thanks for all input!
Dee

[Colin Macs Mom]

Hi Dee -

I agree that starting with barley is probably best, although oatmeal would be fine too. Rice cereal can be very constipating so you might want to just forget that stuff even exists. My DS always preferred the barley anyway, he LOVED it. I personally would mix it with formula. I would hold off on the white grape juice until LO is a bit older. Not that there's anything wrong with it exactly, but it does have sugar and therefore calories not of a good kind. JMHO.

As for timing though, DEFINITELY do not give it in the evenings. You'll be better off to do it either in the morning or afternoon. That way, if she does get some gas or constipation she can work it out before night sleep, hopefully avoiding sleep disruption.

[calebs mommy]

My son started on oatmeal and has done great with it.  I mix water in with the cereal just to help with constipation.  I personally wouldn't use juice.  Like Colin Mac's mom said, it has the extra sugars.  Plus, your lo might get use to having the juice taste in cereal and not want to eat it without that sweetness.  I think formula or water are the best choices.  As you add fruits and veggies to your lo's diet, you can add some pureed fruit in the cereal (plus water/formula), which most babies enjoy.

[LaurenJadeMom]

Thanks so much for the advice.  I will definitely NOT be using juice now and will try in the morning first.  Hope she likes it!!

[LaurenJadeMom]

To follow up on my earlier posts, we started my DD on barley cereal mixed with formula yesterday morning, so she has had it yesterday and today.  We started with barley instead of rice because she tends to get constipated.  I made it fairly runny as directed by the instructions.  She seemed to like it just fine, although she doesn't have much patience for more than about 8-10 little spoonfuls  .

Well she is definitely constipated and straining to go today.  She has pooped, but not without a lot of struggle and she still doesn't seem comfortable.  Plus she's had 2 45-minute naps this morning and for the past 2 weeks almost all of her first a.m. naps have been at least 75-90 minutes.  This makes me think her tummy is messing with her sleep.

I plan to mix in a little bit of prune juice with the barley cereal each morning to see if that helps.  Is that a good idea?  Does anyone know whether oatmeal is less constipating than barley?  Hard to believe that such a tiny amount of barley could do that to her, but I feel pretty sure this is what must be causing it.

Thanks!
Dee       

[calebs mommy]

To help with constipation, you can add an extra ounce of water to your lo's bottle.  I think it takes a little while for babies tummies to get use to solids because this is the first time they have had to digest anything other than milk.  Plus, since you just recently started formula that can cause some constipation.  Hopefully, by adding some extra water, your lo won't have such a hard time.  I don't know if oatmeal is less constipating than barley.  My son has had less of an issue with constipation since we have added in fruits and veggies. I know pears, peaches, plums, and prunes are good for constipation, once your lo is ready to start fruits and veggies.  Squash also seems to really help get my son's system moving.  As for the little amount she is eating.... just hang in there and keep trying and she will increase the amount as she is ready.  It is a process.  Good luck to you!