Trouble Getting Used to Table Food

It sounds like your son may be addicted to rice cereal. I suggest weening him from it. He's not satisfied with more nutrional foods because his body craves refined carbohydrate(rice cereal). There's a school of thought that babies should never have rice cereal. It's void of nutrition and creates a high glycemic reaction. In other words, the more you give him the more he wants. He won't be satisfied until he's uncomfortable. It's also why he needs it to fall asleep. Are you aware of the type II(adult onset) diabetes epidemic in children. I reccomend doing some hard research on nutrition as I am not an expert. Frankly, a doctor who reccomends giving an infant rice cereal at bedtime is no authority either!

I wish you and and your family the highest and best!

Both of my kids went through the same problem. I just gave them a little bit of cereal right before bed. It is not going to hurt him and it will make your life a lot easier. Instead of adding it to a bottle just mix it in a regular bowl. I hope it helps.

Definately try the rocking when he wakes and a sippy cup of water, that worked for us. i wouldn't recommend crying it out for him because there seems to be a real need for something here. Only give him the cereal for breakfast and give him something right before bed (I'm sure you have). At one year old, my son ate constantly! In addition to meals he needed a snack all the time! He is still like this to a degree. He never sits still, so he burns everything off quickly. Keep the stage 3 foods and have something healthy available at all times. My son still needs to eat a banana and peaches right before bed! Around one year old, I also needed to add a night light in the bathroom next to his room, don't know if you have one already. I thought he was waking because he was hungry, turns out he just started getting uncomfortable in the dark. Also, some kids just take longer than others to stop waking in the night, be patient. Lots of luck!

I never formula fed, but all of mine were still nursing at night at 12 months. Hunger may be a part of it, but I believe it is also an emotional need to be connected with mommy at night. I just posted this link for another question. Maybe it can help you. I did this with my older 2, but I never let them cry for more than a few seconds. http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/ap/sleep.asp

I know leaving babies to cry works for some people, but it didn't feel right to me and we each have to listen to our own instincts.

Feed him a variety of food 5-6 times a day. He won't eat more then he needs. I would give what he will eat. try cereal, fruit and something like the toddler foods, cheerios, finger foods. Keep snacks with you for when he gets hungrey and it is not a meal time.

Have you tried rocking him when he wakes up in the middle of the night? My daughter was waking up more times than she needed to eat and I started rocking her back to sleep and it worked well. Are you feeding him baby food still? My daughter turned one year old today! (yay!) and she still needs baby food to go along with her table food for most of her meals. She just gets tired of chewing after awhile is my thinking. Weaning him off of the rice cereal in his bottle is a good idea, because soon you will be weaning him off of formula all together and onto whole cow's milk. Do you let your son cry himself to sleep at night when you first put him down? My daughter used to not be a good sleeper until I started doing that around 9 or 10 months. Now at night she goes right down and never cries and rarely wakes up and nev0er needs a bottle. Good luck!