by Amber Stewart

Created on: August 11, 2008   Last Updated: April 05, 2010

Until your child is four months old, he/she should only be on formula or breastmilk. This provides all of the nutrients the child needs. If you begin solids food too early it can cause digestive problems for your baby. Each baby is different and they will let you know when they are ready to begin adding solid foods to their diet. Usually it is around four months when children are ready to begin with solid foods. They will be eating around 9 oz of formula or breastmilk and still be getting hungrier earlier. Some grab at the bottle and if given a spoon, try to put it into their mouth.

The first food you should add to your baby's diet is cereal. There are two choices for cereal: oatmeal or rice. Either one is fine to start with. Use formula to prepare the cereal according to the directions on the box. Always use a spoon. Using a spoon helps with eye hand coordination, hand mouth coordination, and helps build the muscles in the jaws needed for speech. Putting cereal in a bottle will cause the child to gain unneeded weight. It can also be a choking hazard since you have to cut the tip of the nipple to allow the cereal to fit through which may allow your child to get too much at one time.

At around 5-6 months you can begin adding baby food but be sure to continue with formula or breastmilk. The brand is your choice but you should start with either fruits or vegetables. Be sure to introduce one new flavor at a time and waiting a few days in between each new flavor. This makes it easier if your child develops an allergy to know which food it is that caused it. Also, finish all of one group before starting another one. Introducing too many flavors at one time might overwhelm the child. After you have went through both fruits and vegetables, you can begin the dinner flavors and then the desert flavors.

Around 6 months your child should be ready for cheerios. These are perfect for helping your child learn to feed himself. Always do this under close supervision. Continue the baby foods and formula or breastmilk.

As your child reaches 9-10 months, they will be ready to start table foods. The main thing here is to make sure everything is soft and cut into small enough pieces they can't choke on it. No grapes or nuts. Once again, due this only under close supervision.

Don't be discouraged if your child seems to not like a new food. Be patient and try again in a few days. Don't force your child to eat this food but don't give up. Sometimes it just takes a few times for the child to gain a taste for certain foods. There are some flavors they will not like at all and that is normal. You should also remember to feed them like you feed yourself; start with dinner flavors and follow with desert.

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