by Vanessa Bartlemus

Created on: January 12, 2010

Around six months old, your baby becomes ready to start on solid food. Before venturing into this exciting world of new tastes and textures, there are some things you should take into consideration.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting solid food at 6 months. Before then, a baby’s digestive tract is not yet mature enough for foods other than breast milk or formula. Solids given before a baby is developmentally ready can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, gas, and constipation. Delaying solids until six months has also been shown to decrease the risk of food allergies. If your baby is being breastfed, exclusively breastfeeding during the first 6 months gives him the most immunological protection when he needs it most.

Watch for signs of readiness in your child. She should sit up well without support. She should also have lost the tongue-thrust reflex. You can test this by putting a small mashed up bit of a very ripe soft fruit or vegetable (such as a banana) in your baby’s mouth. If it comes out of her mouth, she’s not ready yet. She may express an interest in eating your food, however, watch for this sign in conjunction with the other signs, as most babies are interested in everything you do. Your baby may smack her lips when she sees you eating, or watch your mouth intently as you chew.

The best food to start your baby off on is rice cereal. It is easily digested, and does not have a very strong flavor. Also, since you can mix it with breastmilk or formula, it will have a familiar taste to your baby and he will more readily accept it.

Start slowly. Wait for a day where both you and your baby are calm and unhurried. Make sure baby is not too hungry or too full. Mix a tablespoon of rice cereal with 3-4 tablespoons of breastmilk or formula. Sit baby down in her high chair and give her a small bit of cereal on a soft-tipped baby spoon. She will probably make a funny face, and mash the cereal around in her mouth a while. Continue feeding her and watch for cues that she is ready. If she constantly spits out the food or seems to be disinterested, that’s fine. Wait a few days and try again.

Once your baby has mastered rice cereal, you can move on to fruits and vegetables. Some experts advise that you should start your baby on vegetables first, so that he will get used to the taste before he ventures into the more readily-accepted world of fruits. Other experts say it doesn’t matter. Do what you feel is best; the important thing is to expose your baby to a wide variety of foods early on. Never add any salt or sugar to your baby’s food. Your baby does not need added salt until later, and it is better if your baby learns to appreciate the natural sweetness of fruits without added sugar.

Always wait about four days between introducing new foods. That way, if your baby has an allergic reaction, you can know which food it was that triggered the reaction. With any new food you are trying, don’t be discouraged if your baby doesn’t like it at first. Keep trying, and your baby may grow to like it. You can try mixing some of the new food with another food your baby has already tried and likes.

Start with just one meal of solids a day, and increase slowly until baby is eating 2 or 3 meals a day along with a small snack. But don’t forget, for the first year of life, breastmilk or formula should remain baby’s main source of nutrition. So breastfeed baby or give him his bottle before his meal of solids. These are just rough guidelines; as always, tailor these suggestions to your baby's specific needs, and ask your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about starting solid foods with your infant.

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