Perhaps you’ve heard this from a well-meaning grandparent, in-law, or maybe even your pediatrician.
Well, guess what? This is a wives’ tale. There is no medical evidence to support this idea. A controlled study done at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation gave 106 babies a bottle of formula containing rice cereal at five weeks old and four months old. The result – no significant or consistent trend was found in increasing the baby’s sleep. Plus, adding cereal to the bottle puts your baby at risk of choking.
Sleep is a function of the brain, not the stomach. It’s important first to understand how sleep develops in young babies and then take steps to lay a foundation for healthy sleep habits. Rather than trying quick fixes to get your baby sleeping, create a conducive environment for sleep, don’t skip daytime feeds, and make sure to hit sleep windows, so the baby doesn’t get overtired.
