Should I Give My Baby Cereal in a Bottle?
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What should I know about putting baby cereal in a bottle?
- Cereal is a nutrient-dense first food for babies when they are ready to start solids
- While some people add cereal to baby’s bottle to help with sleep or reflux, there is currently no evidence to support doing so
You may have heard from friends, relatives, or the internet that putting cereal in your baby’s bottle can help baby sleep through the night, help fill them up, or help reduce spit up or colic. And certainly, something that seems like an ‘easy fix’ may be very tempting to try.
While cereal is nutrient-dense and makes a good first food for baby, studies do not support putting cereal in baby’s bottle for sleep or reflux.2, 7
Read on to learn when cereal is a great addition to baby’s diet and when it may be better avoided.
When and how cereal can be added to baby’s diet
Before about 6 months, human milk and infant formula provide all the nutrition your baby needs.12 Once they reach 6 months, your little one’s calorie and nutrient needs begin to exceed what breastmilk and formula provide.11
At this point, a fortified baby cereal makes a great complementary first food, providing carbohydrates, iron, zinc, and other important nutrients.13
The best way to introduce cereal to your baby is by spoon-feeding.
Babies are usually excellent at self-regulating how much they eat and drink. Spoon-feeding helps put baby in control of how much they eat, as long as you pay attention to their hunger and fullness cues and stop feeding when they indicate they are done.14
Why is putting cereal in a bottle not recommended?
People may add cereal to their baby’s bottle to help them sleep longer or to help with reflux. However, research does not show that this feeding practice will help with either of these, in fact, it may come with some risks.
Below are some of the reasons pediatric experts do not recommend adding cereal to a baby’s bottle.
Cereal provided in a bottle may increase the risk of:
Overfeeding and excessive weight gain.7, 8
Babies have difficulty judging how many calories they are taking in and how full they are when cereal is added to a bottle. This may lead to them taking in more calories than needed.
Choking
Not only are babies not prepared for this thicker liquid, some parents cut the nipple wider on the bottle for the cereal to go through; both of these scenarios increase the risk of your baby choking.7, 8
Aspiration
Your baby is at higher risk of aspirating the thickened milk. This is when liquids or solids get trapped in baby’s lungs.
Questions on how to introduce solids to your baby? Reach out to our team of registered dietitian nutritionists and lactation consultants for free! They’re here to help on our free to live chat from Monday – Friday 8am - 6pm (ET). Chat Now !
When might cereal in a bottle be recommended for baby?
Some studies show that cereal in a bottle can help with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD),7 although other research doesn’t show any benefit.
Because some evidence supports mixing cereal into a bottle for GERD, some pediatricians may decide the benefits outweigh the risks and recommend this practice if your baby has been diagnosed.
If this is the case, the pediatrician will provide specific instructions on how to safely mix cereal into infant formula or breastmilk.
Remember that baby spit-up or “reflux” differs from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a diagnosed illness with specific symptoms and treatments.8, 9
It’s important to discuss this fully with your baby’s pediatrician.
The bottom line
Unless your baby’s pediatrician has directed you to do so, it is best to avoid cereal in baby’s bottle.
If your baby has GERD, discuss options with their doctor.
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For more on this topic, check out the following articles:
- Macknin, M. L. (1989). Infant sleep and bedtime cereal. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 143(9), 1066.
- Duncan, D.R., Larson, K. & Rosen, R.L. Clinical Aspects of Thickeners for Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux and Oropharyngeal Dysphagia. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 21, 30 (2019).
- Khoshoo, V., Ross, G., Brown, S., & Edell, D. (2000). Smaller volume, thickened formulas in the management of gastroesophageal reflux in thriving infants. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 31(5), 554–556. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005176-200011000-00018
- Jana, MD, FAAP, L. A., & Shu, MD, FAAP, J. (2015, May 14). Cereal in a Bottle: Solid Food shortcuts to avoid. HealthyChildren.org.
- Appleton J, Russell CG, Laws R, Fowler C, Campbell K, Denney‐Wilson E. Infant formula feeding practices associated with rapid weight gain: A systematic review. Maternal & Child Nutrition. 2018;14(3). doi:10.1111/mcn.12602 https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12602
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Feeding from a bottle. Published July 12, 2021. Accessed August 10, 2021
- Bailey, D. J., Andres, J. M., Danek, G. D., & Pineiro-Carrero, V. M. (1987). Lack of efficacy of thickened feeding as treatment for gastroesophageal reflux. The Journal of Pediatrics, 110(2), 187–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(87)80151-8 https://doi.org/10.1097/00005176-200011000-00018
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Gastroesophageal reflux & gastroesophageal reflux disease: Parent faqs. HealthyChildren.org. June 2019. Accessed 10 August 2021.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Oatmeal: The safer alternative for infants & children who need thicker food. HealthyChildren.org. October 2016. Accessed 10 August 2021.
- Moroishi, Y., Signes-Pastor, A. J., Li, Z., Cottingham, K. L., Jackson, B. P., Punshon, T., Madan, J., Nadeau, K., Gui, J., & Karagas, M. R. (2022). Infant infections, respiratory symptoms, and allergy in relation to timing of rice cereal introduction in a United States cohort. Scientific reports, 12(1), 4450.
- World Health Organization. Infant and Young Child Feeding. WHO.int. June 2021. Accessed 19 June 2023.
- UNICEF. Feeding Your Baby: When to Start with Solid Foods. UNICEF.org. Accessed 19 June 2023.
- Nicklas, T. A., O'Neil, C. E., & Fulgoni, V. L., 3rd (2020). Nutrient intake, introduction of baby cereals and other complementary foods in the diets of infants and toddlers from birth to 23 months of age. AIMS public health, 7(1), 123–147.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Is Your Baby Hungry or Full: Responsive Feeding Explained. April 2023. Accessed 19 June 2023.
