Tips for Starting Solid Food
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least one year. Breastmilk gives your baby great nourishment, disease protection, comfort, and security. Breastmilk or formula will be your baby's main form of nutrition for the first year.
You'll know your baby is ready for solid food when he or she can sit up with minimal support, control head movement, and swallow food from a spoon. This may happen between four and six months old. Offer your baby a wide variety of healthy foods. Strained pureed meats or iron-fortified cereals are good options. Make the mixture thin at first by mixing the meat or single-grain cereals, such as rice, oatmeal, or barley, with breastmilk or formula.
Offer your baby a small amount of solid food--one to four tablespoons once a day. Gradually increase to two to three times a day. Babies will let you know when they’ve had enough to eat. They may close their mouths tightly, turn their heads away, spit out food, or shake their heads.
Give your baby one new food at a time and wait three to five days before starting another food. If your baby vomits or has a rash or diarrhea, this may be from the new food. Stop giving him or her that food and call your baby’s doctor or nurse. If there isn’t a reaction, continue that food and introducing other new foods.
Start by giving your baby food that you and your family regularly eat. Next, try foods, such as avocado, banana, cooked sweet potato, squash, or peas. Be sure to peel and mash foods until smooth. Don’t offer hard foods. Serve at room temperature or slightly warmed, but not too hot! If you’re concerned about allergies ask your baby’s doctor or nurse. Wait until your baby is at least 12 months old before offering honey or foods made with honey because of the risk of botulism.
Read the Nutrition for Infants, 6 to 12 Months (PDF) brochure for more helpful information.