Your baby's physician may suggest a delay starting solids if your baby had low birthweight or was premature, or if your baby has a serious medical condition such as neuromuscular delays, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy or a condition that has required multiple hospitalizations.

Stages For Introducing Different Foods

Your baby's physician is the best source of information about when to start solids and what foods to introduce to your baby. The reason for this care is to lessen the possibility of causing your baby's body to have an allergic reaction to foods. Allergy symptoms include: a nose that runs clear mucous or other cold-like symptoms; wheezing (chest rattling) and asthma-like symptoms; frequent ear infections; red, itchy eyes; vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea; skin rashes, hives (swollen welps), or a sore bottom.

While some babies do better with trying out new eating skills during a quiet, rested time of day, others become more eager when their high chairs are pulled up to the dinner table so they feel like a part of the family. Initially, you might want to try covering your front with a towel and feeding your baby while he sits in your lap so you have better control of him and the feeding process. It makes sense to nurse your baby first, then top his early meals off with spoonfed food. A really hungry baby isn't going to be very cooperative. Plus, breastmilk or formula should continue to be the mainstay of your baby's diet during that first critical year of growth and brain formation. Set your sights low: just a quarter of a teaspoon full of the new offering several times a day, then gradually increasing amounts each day.

Your baby will probably start iron-fortified baby cereals mixed with breastmilk or formula at around five to six months of age. First solids should be perfectly smooth with no lumps for baby to choke on. If you use babyfood jars, remove the portion for your baby from the jar and serve it in a separate container. Never use a used jar that has had the chance to get contaminated with baby's saliva.

Later, when your baby gains more mouth mastery, you can simply mash foods such as potatoes, bananas or carrots. After that you will find that using a food processor, blender or babyfood grinder and adding liquid will make unseasoned family foods smooth and palatable for baby too. Between eight months to one year your baby's body will be able to handle finely chopped meat and other high-protein foods such as legumes and cheeses as well as grain products, such as crackers and breads.