I gave my 4 month old whole grain rice cereal mixed with my breast milk on Wednesday. She loved it. She was smiling and cooing. The rest of the day was normal. She was not fussy at all. Thursday morning she woke up covered in large red bumps. Her hands and feet were swollen and the insides of her hands were blue. I called the doctor and they said to bring her in right away. By the time I got her to the doctors office she was sucking so hard on her hands and biting them. The doctor said that she was itching so bad. They asked me what did she have that was new. I told them about the rice cereal and the doctor said that she was allergic to rice cereal for now.

“For now” I said. She said yes that it was to early to start her on any type of food. The earlier you start to more likely child are to get food allergies. She said that after sixs months we can try the rice cereal again.

The doctor said to give her benadryl for the next seventy-two hours. I asked why so long and she said that it blocks the antihistamines when you give it, but as it wears off her reaction can come back.

I think I will stick to breast feeding exclusivly for now.