Baby Throwing Up After Eating Oatmeal Cereal

[Spectra]

Today was the first day I tried my 5.5 month old son on cereal.  I tried the oatmeal because my daughter never liked the rice cereal, loved the oatmeal, so figured I'd skip the rice with my son and go straight to the oatmeal.  Well, two hours later he threw everything back up everywhere.  Anybody know why?  Should I try the rice instead?  My son also has problems with certain formula's, not causing him to throw up but they do cause him to get rashes and a fever.  Is it just a sensitive stomach?  I have no clue.  Thanks.

[Freya'sMum]

Hello!

I'm afraid I don't have the faintest idea why ds might vomit, there are so many variables and possibilities, it would be difficult to speculate however, to reassure you about oatmeal, many folk don't start by offering rice cereal, or any cereal as a first food, so as a general rule, oatmeal should be ok

Would you be able to tell us a bit more about the circumstances around that first feed you offered? When in the day, how soon before/after a milkfeed? Why you felt it was the right time to begin introducing solid foods? Was ds poorly as well as sick, did he have a temperature or was he grizzly for example, or did he just spew? That sort of thing, might give us something more to work on...

Ax

[Spectra]

Well, I gave it to him in the morning, he had woken up at 5am to feed milk, so at 8am he wasn't famished and tried him on the cereal, then at 9am I gave him is normal milk.  I decided to introduce cereal now because he was doing "alright" with the 4 hour schedule, more like 3.5 hours, but over the last couple of weeks he's been eating his 6oz every 2-3 hours during the day.  Just acting so famished.  And he went from only waking once during the night to 2 to 3 times.  So I thought I'd try him on cereal to see if this would help get his milk back on a 4 hour schedule.

He didn't have a fever nor was acting out of sorts when he was doing all the throwing up.  He was being fine then I felt his stomach convulsing and then it went everywhere, 4 times in about a 1 hour period.  After that he was just exhausted and passed out to sleep for 2.5 hours.  He's never done this before.  Was wondering if rice or barely is easier on the tummy?  No idea myself.

[Zoey]

He gets a fever from formula?  I've never heard that before

Like Alison says it would be hard to know why someone had a vomiting episode.  Since he is 5.5m, I'd take it as a sign that it may be too early.  I'd stop and wait a few weeks and try again - either the oatmeal, or one of the others.  It also could have been an isolated incident - personally I wouldn't try again soon to see.

What does the doctor say about some formula causing fevers?  In light of that, and it being a 'different' reaction to food - I'd be inclined to mention this reaction to the cereal to his doctor just to be sure they know too.  Perhaps just a phone call to a nurse so she can document it?

Good luck, it's hard to see them vomit   I hope it all works out.  Give a try in a few weeks and perhaps all will be well. 

[Zoey]

Oh PS - we did oatmeal as a first food and all was good   Did you mixed the oatmeal with his usual formula?

[Spectra]

Yeah, I mixed it with his usual formula.  What I've read about the fever from formula is that it could be a milk/soy protein allergy, but I told my doctor his symptoms and she just doesn't say anything about it.  Doesn't listen to me I guess.  It sucks.  Anyway I tried rice cereal today, he hates the taste of it, makes this horrible face and spits every bite out.  No throwing up, but I don't think he really swallowed anything either.  hehe.  I am just going to wait a couple of more weeks before I try anything again.  He has his 6 month doctor's appt on the 26th and I will bring this up then.  I think the only other single grain cereal to try is barley??  Not sure.  My daughter hated the taste of rice cereal too.

[Zoey]

You don't have to do cereal at all really

I think waiting is a good plan. 

If your doc isn't listening, perhaps it's time to fire him and get another? 

Hope all goes well! Hugs

[Spectra]

Hehe, I'm trying to get another doctor, unfortunately here in canada it is almost impossible to find a doctor who is accepting new clients.  But I've been looking.

[Zoey]

I will send you, new doctor vibes then!!! 

[Spectra]

Hehe thanks! 

[Lippy Chick]

Have you thought about baby-led weaning instead of giving puree?  If you might stop for a while, it might be good to introduce finger foods instead and let him take the lead.  You can read about it on the threads and there's also, how to get started in the FAQs section.  I can't get over how much Alice eats now and the variety too.

Pauline

[Spectra]

I started reading them, still don't quite get what LED means?

[Freya'sMum]

I started reading them, still don't quite get what LED means?

Well, BLW is an approach to introducing solid foods that allows babies to take the lead in eating by self-feeding, it compliments BW very well, suggesting the same approach to introducing solids as with all developments (walking, talking etc) in that parents offer opportunities for them to learn, provide the necessary tools and environments, but allow them to do so at their own pace!

Ax

[Lippy Chick]

Very good explanation Alison.  We started with Alice just before she turned 6 months, but she wasn't ready for it until about a month later.  I kept offering it to her and she ate when she was ready.  It can be frustrating, but you do get there in the end.  Parents of children just a bit younger than Alice are still on purees and are amazed at what she eats and how she eats.  It is a lot less work for you too.

Pauline

[Spectra]

Okay, now I'm really curious.  Which thread explains in detail exactly what this is and how to go about doing it?  I'm very interested.