Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

What was your child's reaction to rice cereal for the first time?

We tried for the first time last week and DD (5 mos.) totally hated it. Tried again today and she basically gagged. I tried giving it on my finger and at first she was opening her mouth wide, but after the 2nd time, she wanted nothing to do with it (basically after she realized that it was more than just my finger!) I don't want to push it, of course, but I'm a little nervous that I'm going to have some major eating issues on my hands. DD will not take a bottle (we've been trying for MONTNS now) and is fed by a dropper when I'm at work (5 days/week -- I nurse her when we're together).

Am I crazy for thinking that DD is going to have some kind of food issues? Did anyone else's DC balk at rice cereal like this? I just wish mealtime was "simple" for us!!

Re: Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

Try Oatmeal or Barley.

You dont HAVE to do Rice first.

My son doesnt like rice much at all.

And he didnt like cereal plain much at all either.

I only do cereal ( oatmeal) every other day now and I always have to mix something he loves iwth it....Apples or Sweet potatoes.

We tried rice and oatmeal and then went straight to mixing the first veggies in and he ate it better that way.

Re: Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

I wouldn't jump to conclusions about food issues after two goes at solids. It takes something like 10 tries at with a new food to get a kid to like it. Its really common to have to try try again. So give it some more time. Also, infants have to learn to move food from the front of their mouths to the back, so she just needs more time to learn!

Good Luck!

Message edited 12/9/2007 5:38:26 PM.

Re: Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

Posted by dm24angel

Try Oatmeal or Barley.

You dont HAVE to do Rice first.

My son doesnt like rice much at all.

And he didnt like cereal plain much at all either.

I only do cereal ( oatmeal) every other day now and I always have to mix something he loves iwth it....Apples or Sweet potatoes.

We tried rice and oatmeal and then went straight to mixing the first veggies in and he ate it better that way.

Re: Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

We had to skip right over plain cereal of any kind. He was just not digging it.

We mixed with fruits and veggies and he's loved it since then.

Keep at it - it takes them a little while sometimes. I would say it was over a week before it became less of a struggle.

Re: Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

It took DDs almost a full week to actually swallow some and get the hang of it. She will eventually!

Re: Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

my DD prefers oatmeal to rice. you might try oatmeal.

Re: Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

My DD hated rice but loves her oatmeal. She also used to gag on lots of foods but now LOVES them all!

Re: Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

We tried oatmeal first and he loved it....I didnt try anything else for a while. Now he will also eat rice (i don give it that often) but he hates barley.

Re: Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

Thanks, everyone! Is it okay that I am waiting a full week to try again? (since I work, it's practically impossible to do it during the week) Also, under what "conditions" do you recommend I try?

Re: Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

i always mixed it w a fruit for Alexa and she loved it that way

Re: Rice cereal for the first time - not a good experience

dd was never interested in rice... after the "Manditory" week we moved onto oatmeal and havent had any other cereal since!