Throwing up After Eating Rice Cereal

Well, since babies are not supposed to eat any food until they are at least 6 months old I would say he's not ready. That is what his body is telling you, please listen to your child. He is too young to eat food.

The food you are feeding him is taking up space that your child needs for his formula. He needs the nutrition of the formula. Rice cereal has no nutrients in it other than some fiber to make him feel fuller. He will be lacking nutrition because you are feeding him food.

When he's old enough he should start with rice cereal mixed with a bit of formula and it should be a very very runny consistency. The whole purpose of feeding a baby food is to teach them to chew and swallow. They can learn that in a couple of months so they don't really even need food of any kind until they are even closer to one year of age.

Of course you can choose to do what you want but the state health department and the federal government won't even allow babies to start cereal or any other foods or drinks until they are at least 6 months. That's for WIC anyway. Our pediatrician thought that was nuts and that I had to be wrong. He said that babies should not start any foods until at least 9 months of age.

I didn't feed my children solids until almost 6 mos old at the recommendation of my pediatrician. He's maybe just not ready for it? I'm sure when he is ready to nurse he will let you know.

It is recommend to not start any solids until the age of 6 months and only feed breast milk or formula until 6 months. The digestive tract isn't developed enough to handle anything besides breast milk or formula until that age. Also rice cereal isn't always the best thing to start with. Rice cereal can upset little tummies as it's not easy to digest. Starting with a simple veggie or fruit is better for a baby's stomach. Sweet potato is a good one.
I would stop and try again in a couple month to give his system longer to develop.
I would nurse him if he asks. The better to flush out what is upsetting his stomach and help sooth him.

My daughter used to throw up rice cereal too. It took me awhile to figure it out too. I would feed her, she would get sick a little later. I think between 4 and 6 months I didnt give her much, but each time she ate it she would get sick later. I asked her ped and he said sometimes they have temporary food allergies. I held off on the rice cereal and gave her other stuff around 6 months old and she did fine with that and she eats rice and everything fine now without getting sick.

If he's vomiting up cereal until there's bile, then he's not ready yet for cereal. Stop giving it to him for a while. He's ONLY four months old, and since you're breastfeeding there's luckily no reason on earth for him to get solids this early. His body is telling you that it's too immature to handle the cereal or any solids right now. Nutritionally the breastmilk is enough. The stomach expelling food like that when it's a specific food is a sign of either allergy, as someone mentioned, or an immature digestive system.

Wait at least a month but personally I'd wait closer to two more months for the cereal before you try again.

As for when to feed him next... I would probably give it a try when he fusses a bit. Just pay attention to his signals. It's okay, you didn't know this would happen with the cereal. Now you know, right?

All babies are different when it comes to eating. I would hold off on the solids for at least another month and see how he does then. Use breast milk or formula to mix it not water. Give small bites and don't give too much. He probably had too much in his tummy and/or had to burp.

If he vomits again after breastfeeding then call the doctor.

He's too young. Wait a few more months. That is universally recommended now. It used to be more lax and suggested earlier, but many many problems have been discovered from feeding solids to early. Unless your doctor recommended this for a medical reason, it's best to wait.

The reason they start with rice cereal is because it's the easiest of the cereals to ingest. Before doctors gave the 6 month rule of thumb, 4 months was the rule of thumb. So babies galore started rice cereal at 4 months, including my own. Mine didn't throw up. I didn't use water in it, though - I used formula.

I would not use water - use the breast milk instead. See if that makes a difference. If he throws it up again, wait another month. There is no hurry to feed him.

Dawn

I started my kids on solids anywhere from two to four months, what can I say I gave birth to full grown kids. :p

The only time they threw up was too much air. I had the same issues with the bottle. Not sure you want to risk it but I would suggest burping before you follow up with the breast. At least with my kids it seemed like everything you layered above the air got pushed out.

Was it a burp throw up with reflux of throat that couldn't stop? I'm thinking either allergic to rice. Feeding to much he should start with one table spoon of rice and add another tablespoon as he can handle it. I think ur feeding too much he's small at 4mnths his bellies not there yet. I would only feed him one tablespoon at night feeding and that's it just to sleep more . Add tblsp as needed. Good luck!