Starting Solids

I am new here and am confused. I just strated my 4 1/2 month old on rice cereal a few weeks ago. So far she cries a lot when we try to give it to her but usually ends up having a spoonful or two. I've introduced carrots in the cereal and that hasn't made much difference so far.

Should I be giving her her normal 6 oz. bottle before I give her cereal each night or vice versa? I tried starting with cereal and then she freaks out and doesn't even want to drink her bottle. I am concerned that she isn't getting enough formula during the day because of it.

Or, should I give her cereal alone at, say 6pm, and then give her her normal bottle at 7:30 pm right before bed?

Also, should I try to give her cereal at more than 1 meal a day? Should I try morning and evenings? And...how much should I expect her to eat in addition to her normal 6 oz. bottle?

Sorry for so many questions. Thanks! ~Amy

To let you know what I've been doing with my 4 1/2 month girl. She's been having rice or oatmeal cereal for a couple weeks. We give her 2tbsps along with her normal 6oz formula for dinner. Sometimes she doesn't finish the whole bottle. I let her have 1-2oz formula first to take the hunger edge off. Then go to cereal. If she gets cranky, which she usually does, I give her some more formula. So I go back and forth when she's cranky. She'll then have about 4oz formula ~3 hours later for bedtime (instead of her usual 6oz she had before adding cereal).
So far I just give her cereal 1x/day. I'm thinking of adding it for breakfast too, but she's not that great with it yet. She still takes ~3 tries for 1 spoonful. But maybe she needs more practice so 2x/day would be better. I don't know!

Good luck
Jen