Should i keep trying the solids?

[RHJ]

My little boy, hayden, is just over 5 months old. He has always wanted frequent feeds and was mostly feeding 4 hourly. In the last week or so he has wanted them every 2.5 -3 hours during the day and night! He is breastfed.
I tried to give him some rice cereal (made with expressed milk) 3 days ago.. and he just gagged on it and spat it back out then refused to open up again.
I tried him the next day with pumpkin in case it was just the taste of the rice cereal. He ate the spoonfull then he refuses to open his mouth.
I don't think my milk supply has dropped at all as i am still able to express about 180mls. There is no issues with his weight... if anything he is probably a little on the heavier side. He has also cut a tooth a month ago, that is now well through...and showed no problems when this came through and i can't see any signs of any more on the way yet.

I really need some advice as to what to do now!

Thanks
jane

[the pero clinic]

Dear Hayden&Ryan,

It is common for bubs to gag when learning to take solids for the first time – it is their way of clearing their throats before they recognize that it can and should be swallowed.

Rice cereal is a good place to start for solids. It can be mixed with EBM to make the taste more familiar, but it is important to get the consistency right. Different brands will vary in the advice given for the mix of cereal to liquid, and some will start to thicken quite quickly, even if left for only a little while.

Start by giving your bub cereal that is quite runny – more liquid than solid. From there you can increase the texture and work towards different food types such as pumpkin and apple.

Persist with solids within reason – some bubs just aren’t ready until they are closer to 6 months.

the pero clinic