DS loved first feed of rice cereal, but now won't open up!!

[j-ly]

DS is 5.5 months old, and was showing a keen interest in our food--so four days ago he gobbled up his first feed of rice cereal. And every day since then he has become progressively less interested in it, and won't open his mouth for it.  I'm feeding him about an hour before his morning nap and night sleep (and about an 45 minutes after BF), and wondering if he's getting too tired to enjoy it??  So some questions:

1) Is this a normal reaction?
2) should I give it a rest for a couple of weeks and see if he's interested then?
3) should I be focusing on a feed midday to see if it's a timing thing?
4) he's now ready to start some other foods, now there is no sign of allergy, but should I "master" the rice cereal intake, before moving on to other things (like carrots or sweet potato...etc.)

Thanks!

[anna*]

You could give it a couple of weeks before continuing, and there's no reason why you need to stick with rice. I think carrot or sweet potato would be a good alternative to try, very smooth and runny, diluted with some breastmilk. I'd do feeds at lunchtime for now, then add breakfast, and teatime last of all because as you say if he's tired at the end of the day it can be more difficult.