Rice Cereal Intolerance???

C.-
My daughter did exactly the same thing, but at six months. She had reflux too. The doc told us to just wait another month and introduce it again. It seemed to work fine.

I have read and seen different things about giving babies the rice cereal. It's not needed. Just start with the veggies and see what happens with that... your baby should be able to digest the vegis better than the cereal. Good Luck!

Seems like she does have an intolerance. Rice cereal is not necessary. Just skip it. It's also possible that she's just not ready for solids. The AAP's recommendation is to start at 6 months. Are you giving her solids because she's ready or because she hit 4 months? Look for the signs of readiness: Can sit up, has a pincer grasp, loss of tongue thrust. Try solids then, something easy, like sweet potato or banana.

Rice cereal is more a practice food than anything else. About the only nutrional value it provides is iron. Even then, that's not necessary. Breastmilk/formula contains enough.

I have read in several places that rice is all that easy for babies to digest. It's somehow held it's place as the best 'first food' though. There are plenty of other things you can offer that are much better as a first food. The first thing we gave our son was avocado, we just mashed up a little bit at a time. The texture was perfect, you can mash it up to be as smooth or a lumpy as you want and the flavor of avocado is very neutral. It's also a very healthy food, with lots of good fats. Beyond that why not just mashed banana or applesauce? They are both great single ingredient foods that are easy to digest.

C.,

Oh my! It sounds to me like she might have an allergy to the cereal. My son was allergic to peas and had the same reaction. I would definately not give it to her again and talk to her doctor. Good luck to you!!!!

Blessings,

C.

I would go straight to veggies. Both of my children did and there was no harm done.

My son hated Ceral... Any kind, he would spit it out and then would never touch it again. She might not like the feel of it or it could be to thick for her stomach. Good luck, I spent more on different kinds trying to find one he liked and then I just gave up on it!!!

My son had a similar problem...we discovered it was the soy in the rice cereal. Beechnut cereal doesn't contain soy. Also, try oatmeal, my son digested that much better.

we had the same issue with my daughter when we tried the rice cereal at 4 months. but i never connected it until later. she had vomited so bad, we took her to the e.r., where they told us it was the stomach flu. so they told us to continue to feed her the rice cereal because it would help soak up all the "wet" stuff inside her belly. and of course to keep her well hydrated. well when we came home and started the rice cereal again, it got even worse. so we actually didn't do the rice cereal again. the poor baby was so traumatized over the whole ordeal...

take her off the rice and wait a few days...then try giving her the oatmeal ceral. My son did not have an allergy to the rice...but he refused to eat it. However he loves the oatmeal ceral and your little one may not have any trouble with it :)

youve tried the rice enough go on to oatmeal or something else no need to torture yourself or the child because of one food intolerance..good luck:)

Maybe she is just too little for cereal! Her digestive system doesn't seem to be tolerating it yet, so I'd wait at least until she's 6 months old. We started Olivia at 6 months with just a few tablespoons of rice cereal once a day, babies need more formula than solids for quite awhile, per my pediatrician...hope this helps!

Just a thought: Have you considered waiting a little longer to introduce solids? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting solids no sooner than 6 months. There's no rush. Sorry, I have no info about allergies, just wanted to share that bit.

HI C.,
My son had some problems with rice cereal also and my 5 month old daughter seems to be having some now too. Neither of them vomit from it but they both broke out around their mouth when I would feed it to them and right when I started it they both became very congested, which is also a sign of an allergic reaction. So when my son had this problem I put him on oatmeal instead of rice, which helped his congestion a lot, although it did tend to make him a little more gasy but that is better than him being so congested. I haven't switched my daughter yet b/c I want to wait till we go to the doctor today and see what they say, but I will most likely switch her too. It does sound like an allergic reaction to me but I'm not a doctor and all I can do is let you know my situation with it and hope it helps!

I hope things get better, and take care!

A.

C.,

I think rice cereal is the problem. I really believe she may be allergic. Not all babies can eat everything. Have you tried giving her oatmeal instead? It's thicker than rice, so i would thin it down a little more than usual. I've given my daughter Oatmeal instead of rice and she seemed to like it a lot more! Hope this helps!

Again?!? Poor baby! I feel so bad for her. Have you called her doc to see what's up. I'd just bust out and tell him, "look dude, the reflux meds were working and when we took her off, she was miserable...so she's back on them." I don't know, maybe he can tell you of something else to give her. Otherwise, I'd try the veggies...maybe fruits if she has a sweet tooth. I feel so bad for her and you guys too. Hopefully, she'll get over this soon. We'll have to meet up again when you guys are feeling up to it. Just give me a call. You know I'm always here. LOL