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A member asked:

Does rice cereal help babies sleep through the night?

2 doctor answers3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Lawrence Rosen
Pediatrics 30 years experience
No: Despite what some grandmothers will say, cereal feeding has not been proven to help babies sleep better. It can lead to constipation or overfeeding, though, and possibly food allergies if given prior to 4 months.
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Dr. Robert Kwok
Pediatrics 35 years experience
Yes: It is believed that adding rice cereal to the bedtime feeding makes a baby feel fuller for a longer time. So, a baby sleeps better at night. It is ok to add some rice cereal this way, if the baby is over 4 months old and still not sleeping for at least 6 hours at night. Parents must first be sure they are not interacting with the baby at night and inadvertently encouraging the baby to wake up!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Jul 10, 2017
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