Rice: A Gagging Family Tradition

A few weeks back we decided to start CB on solids - specifically, rice cereal. We set him in his high chair and he was happy as can be.

We followed the directions on the rice cereal box and mixed 1 Tbsp of cereal with 4 Tbsps of formula. It looked a bit thin and runny, but we wanted to make sure we were following the protocol for baby's first taste of solids. We realized very quickly that following the norm isn't always the best. 

I'm not sure if it was the runny formula going down the back of CB's throat, or the nasty taste of rice cereal, but our little man did not like his first taste of solids. In fact, he gagged. A lot. So I tasted it... and I gagged too.  At which point, Hubby added his commentary, "Rice is gross. I've been gagging on it for years... why would CB be any different?"

So our parenting skills kicked in quickly. How do we stop our child from crying over his food? Will he ever stop gagging from eating cereal that it seems every other kid eats?  If he was gagging on the liquid, we figured we'd take a first step of thickening the cereal. Because really... with all the formula the box tells you to add, it really isn't cereal. It was formula with a few small lumps.  So we added more rice cereal to the bowl. And viola.... happy baby.

 

Lesson learned: don't believe everything you read. And when in doubt, follow your instincts. He now loves eating food. Sometimes even more than drinking his milk.

He likes it so much, we're expanding his horizons and have added veggies into the mix (carrots and peas). He's so happy eating something other than rice cereal that his arms get really stiff with excitement, and he hums and kicks wildly in between bites of food. Now that's more like it! Both of his parents enjoy eating so much that we knew this kid would like eating too.