Introducing Solids

CEREAL

• Between 4-6 months infants should be started on cereal.
• Begin with rice cereal-3 teaspoons in 1 ounce of formula or breast milk.  Give twice per day at meal times (for example: breakfast and dinner time).
• As your baby gets better at this, thicken the cereal feedings so that the cereal stands up to a spoon.
• Try to feed first off the spoon, and feed until satisfied.  Offer formula or breast milk after spoon feedings.

VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

• Between 5 and 6 months, add vegetables one time per day (for example: with cereal at dinner).
• Start with yellow vegetables: carrots, squash, or sweet potatoes.
• Introduce one new vegetable every 3-5 days.
• If your baby reacts poorly to one particular vegetable (rash, diarrhea, fussiness), don't use it for 1-2 months.  Reintroduce in the future.
• Next introduce green vegetables: beans and peas.
• When your child is good at several vegetables, add fruits at breakfast, along with cereal.  Again, one new food every 3-5 days.
• Typical fruits are applesauce, bananas, peaches, pears and plums.
• Don't worry about getting anymore fancy than this.  Babies do not require exotic or unusual fruits and vegetables or the mixtures you might find on the store shelves.
• When your baby is good at several fruits and vegetables, add a lunch meal.

A typical 7-9 month old baby's meal plan will be:  breakfast-fruit and cereal; lunch-fruit and vegetables; dinner-fruit, vegetables and cereal.

Again, let your child decide how much to take.  When your child has had enough, he/she will spit out the spoon, turn away, or slow down significantly. Then offer formula