Increasing Formula Problems?

On the advice of my mother, dad and aunt, I added rice cereal to my daughter's diet at around 2 months. Maybe a teaspoon to 8 oz - no more. (She's 26 so I don't remember the exact amount.) It really helped her.

Well, the advice you've gotten is not at all consistent with the advise I received, but maybe your twins have specific medical needs.

I was advised to let my son decide how much formula he would drink. If he wanted 4 ounces, fine. If he wanted 8 ounces, fine. When he was done, he was done. I didn't push him to drink more.

Also, I was advised not to give him any food (including rice cereal) before 6 months. Now, as I said, it's possible your twins have specific needs that your doctor is trying to address. But aside from that, I think I would let baby decide (feed on demand).

ETA - Your doctor is worried about them rolling over? Were they born early? My memory on this topic is not great. I cannot remember when either of my boys rolled belly to back, but I distinctly remember my oldest not being able to go back to belly until 7 months. I also remember not being worried about this at all. Excited when he tried and when he finally did it!!! But never worried.

Try not to worry about rolling over. I'm going to guess you are talking about belly to back. At 4 months they still have time. If they still haven't rolled over at 6 months, then talk to your doctor about it.

What Gidget said. My kids never took more than 4 oz in a bottle, ever. And my ped said to wait until 6 months to introduce solids.

Do your babies have something else going on, like inability to gain weight?

You don't have to give the cereal yet. I'd wait another month if I were you. Honestly, mosts peds don't recommend cereal until 6 months. Are your babies on the smaller side? Are they gaining weight more slowly than the doctor prefers? If you don't know, you should ask.

Do you give them a 4 ounce bottle every 3 hours? Every 3 hours is the norm.

The spitting up an hour later doesn't necessarily mean that you're feeding them too much. It might mean you aren't burping them enough.

Babies progress at their own rate of speed. Next week they could both be rolling over and taking 6 oz of formula. Just feed your babies on demand and not a schedule. If they have wet and poopy diapers then you are doing something right.

I might hold off on the cereal a bit. You could try it and if does not do anything stop it.

Were you babies born early or closer to their due date that would also be a concern as to weight and growth.

the other S.

Both my girls went straight to table food at 1 yo. I tried cereal and baby food and they just didn't like it. 4 months old seems so young to be given them food although my pediatrician said the same thing. They really don't need it though since all nutritional needs are met by breast milk or formula.

Sorry, I think this doc is not giving you good advice. Little ones tummies aren't really ready for rice cereal even at 4 months. I think it's odd they are eating an exact amount on a set schedule. Babies eat when they're hungry. More often and less should take care of the spitting up. They spit up because their tummies can't hold it in. Nothing else unless they have a medical issue that requires medication.

More frequent feedings and less formula. When they're 5-6 months or so you can start the rice cereals. IF they're ready it will show.

don't push them to overeat. if they are fine and not acting hungry after eating the 4 oz then leave it at that. hold off on the rice till they are around 6 months old. and don't worry about not rolling over. my son (now 5 yrs old) didn't roll over till closer to 7 months but was walking at 9.5 months. so i would say go with your gut on this one. offer the extra formula but don't make them eat it. if they do fine, burp them well and keep them upright for a while. if the spitting up continues then ask the pedi about it. and seek out a new pedi if you don't agree with the current one you have.

I thought there was a formula you could loosely apply based on weight and how many ounces you gave them. I think it also depends on how often they feed.

As for cereal - we were told you could introduce any time starting after 4 months. My niece who just had a baby waited until 6 months, so not sure if age to introduce has changed. I know some babies are not ready at 4 months or not interested so you take a break.

Sometimes it's hard to know what's causing spitting up if you make too many changes at once. For example, if they are full on cereal then you feed them more formula than they are used to, it's hard to know what the problem is.

I'd go back to what you are doing and make small changes - one at a time - and see if that helps. Good luck :)

We're your twins premature?

I think you'd be best served by asking your pediatrician to clarify these instructions and the reasons behind them, rather than getting random opinions from the Internet. Your pedi knows your children's health history, and has all the info to make sound recommendations.

Some women, while having the best of intentions, have extremely strong personal feelings about infant feeding, and might lead you astray.

Best of luck.