@ PB – This is normal advice, but your guest instinct is right — this won’t work, usually. We actually have a separate article on this topic; you can find it here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/breastfeeding-supplement-switching-formula-help-baby-sleep/

@ Genevieve – Great point! Thanks for sharing a bit about your experience 🙂

@ Irene – I think the key thing as that you spoke to a lactation consultant first – that is a GREAT first step, and one that parents really should take if they’re offering solids before 5 months or so. Best to talk to a healthcare provider, and to make sure that the addition of solids doesn’t impact breastfeeding or formula feeding.

Thanks so much for offering your take, and your perspective on this – very helpful! 🙂

In my experience it did help a bit… My LO was waking up every 1/2 hr to feed at night between three and four months… I thought it might just be a fase, but after over a month i was just too exausted to continue like that…
So I spoke to my lactation consultant and she agreed to give it a try.
So i started giving him very watery (milky) rice and things did improve a bit…. He went from 1/2 hr to about 2hrs… Which was still exhausting, but definitely better.

@ Domestic Diva & Hansini Fonseka — thanks to you as well for sharing your stories, especially since you both seem to be the exception to the “rule” that solids doesn’t fix poor sleeping! In your cases, it sounds like you had babies who were truly waking out of hunger and a need to eat. For most of the babies we work with, the problem isn’t quite so straightforward, but I’m glad it was in both your cases!

And Domestic Diva, you offer a good reminder: when discussing feeding of any kind (whether breast, formula, or solids), it’s important to remember that if you have any concerns about your child’s nourishment (either because he seems to be losing weight, or because she’s not pooping well, etc.), talk to a healthcare provider.

My son around 3 1/2 months hit a huge growth spurt & started losing weight and being very fussy & crying. We couldn’t figure out what it was. Then he started wanting to nurse ever 1- 1 1/2 hours which was draining me & I felt like I couldn’t keep up with this massive need for production. He wouldn’t sleep for naps or night time–he would only cry hysterically. So, we talked with our doctor.

Now, our doctor has kids that were all breastfed. He was concerned about the weight loss…though not major weight loss, this is not a good trend for a new baby.

My son also has never been a chubby baby (chubby babies aren’t bad but my son never was). He has been pretty lean from day one. After much deliberation we found out he has a high metabolism like I did as a baby/kid & our doctor suggested to start cereal. The very night we gave him cereal before bed & a small amount at every other feeding….he slept through every nap & through the night again (he had been sleeping through the night since 2 months & we didn’t know what was wrong until then).

Still today, this now 1 year old eats tons of food & is still lean and getting tall. Most nights he still need cereal before bed to sleep through the whole night or he wakes up asking for food (he signs & knows some words now).

This probably won’t be most mom’s case but if your kid is leaner than most & very demanding of your breasts….I would look into that as a solution.

I won’t try giving cereal right away with the next baby on the way unless he/she shows the same tendencies. Every kid you have is different so you need to pay attention to what they need. Just because my firstborn son needed cereal at 3.5 months doesn’t mean my next one or the one after that will need it too.

I just want people to think about all the possibilities. I wouldn’t have even thought about him being hungry until we saw a two week consistent weight loss. Just know what is normal & isn’t. Most cases kids at age 3-4 months have some changes in their brain/sleep habits & in other areas sometimes too.

We followed the advice that our son didn’t need cereal & it didn’t solve the problem but I’ve seen what this article is saying be true for other babies. Again, know your own child & pay attention to details so you can make the best possible decision.

Even now, I can tell when my son is crying for me for a really good reason & if its just whining–you get to know what makes them “tick” and their actions, personality & reactions to things. Just trust your instinct and mingle in some sound advice when you aren’t sure what to do.