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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

can you please tell me why its a bad idea to add baby rice to a bottle

46 replies

oranges · 27/10/2006 22:05

I know its not recommended and i have not done it, but ds's 2-day-a-week nanny keeps insisting he will starve unless I add baby rice to his bottle. I keep refusing, but just want to throw some facts at her to make her shut up.

OP posts:
buktus · 27/10/2006 22:06

choke choke choke i would have thought

NotQuiteCockney · 27/10/2006 22:06

Choking risk and obesity risk, iirc.

intergalacticwerewolf · 27/10/2006 22:07

Yep, tis a choking risk, as well as the risk of developing allergies etc if solids are intoduced too early

Original poster
oranges · 27/10/2006 22:08

but can you be more specific? Please?? I've tried those two reasons and they are not working! as in - but the cereal dissolves so how will they choke? and - your baby is too small - he needs to put on weight

OP posts:
Kidstrack · 27/10/2006 22:08

the nanny should be sacked for saying crap like that, because baby rice is a solid and the kidneys can't break it down it should never be placed in a bottle, babies bodies are not designed to cope with solids at that age and therefor it could put a strain on them if this was a constant thing, stupid woman(nanny that is)

SittingBull · 27/10/2006 22:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

sideways · 27/10/2006 22:09

She's working for you, so she should do as you ask her to!

SittingBull · 27/10/2006 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
oranges · 27/10/2006 22:10

ds is six months by the way, so is having solinds, but from a spoon, not a bottle

OP posts:
nearlythree · 27/10/2006 22:10

I was recommended to do this by everyone from a practise nurse to my stepmil. Choking is a major risk, as is obesity. Is there any reason why she is suggesting this? I'm assuming that you ffeed, could he be looking for more milk and therefore need extra or a hungry baby formula?

Chandra · 27/10/2006 22:11

I really don't know, something in the always cited guidelines that you never get to see until you are in problems.

Having said that, many mothers in many countries around the world still do it and I don't see the children having particular problems, I know that my mother did it and I don't think that was the origin of any of my current problems but... I would follow the guidelines just to err on the side of caution.

buktus · 27/10/2006 22:11

seen as you are the employee she should do what shes told imo

nearlythree · 27/10/2006 22:11

If ds is on solids then I'd have thought he's getting enough. If your hv is happy then I wouldn't worry but would seriously consider teh suitability of your nanny.

Original poster
oranges · 27/10/2006 22:12

ibreastfed actually and just moved to formula, but he's not starving - normally smiley and does wake up at night, but not too often

OP posts:
Kidstrack · 27/10/2006 22:13

sorry i'm even more confused now by your nanny, especially as your son is already weaned and taking solids from a spoon, so why the hell is she saying to put baby rice in a bottle for heavens sake, he is already receiving everything he needs, is she thick!!!!!

Original poster
oranges · 27/10/2006 22:13

i know, but' s great in everything else - ds lights up when he sees her. just the food issue is contentious

OP posts:
Original poster
oranges · 27/10/2006 22:13

i know, but' s great in everything else - ds lights up when he sees her. just the food issue is contentious

OP posts:
nearlythree · 27/10/2006 22:16

Is she likely to go behind your back and do it anyway?

Original poster
oranges · 27/10/2006 22:17

kidstrack - she means in addition to solids, as he only eats a few spoonfuls a day at the moment. i'm confused too - keep getting coflicting advice, which is why i asked for definitive facts here.

OP posts:
lucy5 · 27/10/2006 22:20

Where is she from? It might be a cultural thing, here in Spain it is quite acceptable.

Original poster
oranges · 27/10/2006 22:21

Ghana - it is cultural, but doesn't mean I agree. and she's been in the uk for 20 years and had three kids here so she should know better!

OP posts:
buktus · 27/10/2006 22:22

what a strange nanny

Kidstrack · 27/10/2006 22:23

oranges your ds is taking what he needs,(as his mum you would know if he was starving) if he only takes a few spoonfuls then thats obviously enough for him at the moment, don't let her think she is right by saying putting baby rice in his bottle, just tell her the hv said No, and that he's happy and content with what he's having

moondog · 27/10/2006 22:25

There's fuck all nourishment in baby rice for a start,on top of all the other reasons.
It quite literally fills them up like wallpaper paste,hence assumption that they are fed.

As mad as thefact that gripe water used to be alcoholic.

The woman is either over 70 or insane.

LIZS · 27/10/2006 22:26

Surely a bottle of milk is part nutrition , part hydration and therefore additional rice could interfere with this by filling them up but withotu the same fluid intake. Babies should not decrease their milk intake until at least 6 months. If he has solids anyway this isn't a particularly efficient way of getting extra calories in. It also requires a variable flow or cut off teat (which I think is where the choking hazard comes in) and if too thick or lumps are present could provoke the gagging reflex. Is she European by any chance as adding cereal(often containing gluten, and in chocolate, malted or vanilla flavours) to bottles is still common there as an introduction to weaning, often given in the evening to faciltiate sleep, instead of our baby rice mush as they tend to wean straight onto veg etc.