Breast milk and/or infant formula provide all of your baby's nutritional needs for at least the first six months of life. We believe that you should wait until at least four months of age before beginning solid food feedings. Many babies will be happy to wait until six months.

This recommendation may differ from the advice you receive from grandparents and others. A generation ago, our pediatricians were telling our parents to begin feeding us solid foods in the first several weeks of life. This was before infant formulas were perfected, and before many physicians believed in the nutritional benefits of breast milk. In addition, we now know that beginning solid foods before the infant's intestinal tract is fully mature can lead to an increased risk of food allergies.

Because of the increased risk of the development of food allergies and food intolerances in young infants, we encourage you to introduce foods slowly. We suggest that you use single ingredient foods only, and that you introduce only one kind of food at a time. Wait five or six days between the introduction of each new food, so that it will be easy to identify the cause of any reactions that do occur. Once your baby has tolerated a new food, you can continue offering it while you slowly add other foods.

Do not add solid foods to your baby's bottle. Spoon feeding is an important part of the development of mouth and tongue coordination. Start by mixing solid foods with generous amounts of breast milk, formula, or water. The thinner food will be easier for the baby to handle. A good mixture is one teaspoon of cereal in four or five teaspoons of liquid. As the baby masters the solid food feedings, gradually decrease the amount of liquid and increase the amount of cereal.

Don't force solid food on your baby. Babies will often spit food when first offered with a spoon, or push it away with a thrust of the tongue. If this happens, try again the following day. If this behavior continues after a few attempts, the baby is not yet ready for solid foods. Wait a while before trying again.

Start with one solid meal daily. The time of day does not matter, and will depend on your schedule and on your baby's needs. Most people start with a dinner time feeding, especially if they work and are rushed in the morning. After the baby has become comfortable with the spoon feedings and enjoys them, it is fine to add a second meal during the day. Most babies will show a need for a third meal at about six months of age.

We generally recommend rice cereal as a first solid food. Infant cereals are fortified with iron, a very important part of their diet at this age. Rice is generally better tolerated than other cereals. It does tend to be constipating, so if your baby already has a tendency towards constipation, you might want to begin with oatmeal instead. Once your baby has tolerated rice cereal, slowly add other types of infant cereals one at a time. After introducing several different types of cereal, begin introducing fruits one at a time, followed by yellow and then green vegetables. Fruit juices can also be introduced at any time during this period. They are an important source of vitamin C. Meats should be delayed until at least six months of age, as they are more difficult to digest.

Most babies are ready for the increased textures of stage 2 foods at about six months of age. When your baby is able to sit unsupported for an extended period of time, he or she may also be ready to begin finger feedings. This is also an important developmental process, as the baby is learning how to use various muscle groups together in a coordinated manner. Small pieces of toast, cracker, or cheerios are best to begin this process. As the baby masters the process, you can offer small pieces of fruit, vegetables, and cheese. We recommend waiting until nine months of age before introducing eggs, because allergies to eggs are common before this age.

It is always important to avoid foods that the baby might choke on. Stay away from nuts, popcorn, raisins, berries, and grapes. Hot dogs should not be given unless they are split lengthwise. Honey should not be fed to children in the first year of life because it can result in the development of botulism.

Cow's milk should not be given to children until they reach one year of age. This is because of the association between stopping iron-fortified infant formula or breast milk before this age and the development of iron deficiency and anemia. It is all right to offer other dairy products such as yogurt and cheese to younger infants. When cow's milk is begun at a year of age, it should always be whole milk, not 2% or 1% milk. Children under two years of age need the extra fat in whole milk while their body is still growing rapidly.