You can introduce solids into your baby’s diet any time between the age of 4 and 6 months. Not all babies will be ready for solids at the same time, so it is important to pay attention to the clues given by your baby to let you know that he or she is ready. Breast milk or formula provides all the nutrition and calories that your baby needs, so there is no need to rush solids into your baby’s diet. Start with rice cereal, which is less likely to trigger an allergic reaction than other foods. After breast or bottle feeding your baby, offer one or two teaspoons of cereal mixed with formula or breast milk. The cereal should be semi-liquid, and is more likely to be accepted if it is the same temperature as the milk he or she is used to getting.
Slowly increase the amount and variety of foods in your baby’s diet as he or she becomes familiar with the different textures and tastes. By 7 or 8 months of age, most babies should be eating three meals a day of solid foods. If your baby shows no interest in solids by this age, or seems to have a difficult time eating or swallowing, consult your pediatrician.
