What Is the Process for Introducing Solid Foods Into an Infant's Diet?

Determining Readiness

• Although the AAP mentions six months as the benchmark for exclusively breastfeeding, the guidelines for the age to begin solid foods include other factors besides just age. Your baby is probably ready to begin eating solids if she exhibits strong head and neck control for holding her head up and if she seems interested in food by watching you eat and opening her mouth in anticipation of receiving a bite, states the AAP on its website HealthyChildren.org. In addition, a baby should have doubled her birth weight and weigh at least 13 pounds, according to the AAP.

First Meal

• Your baby̵7;s first meal should consist of a single-grain infant cereal, fortified with iron, according to the Mayo Clinic. Combine 1 tablespoon of infant cereal with 4 tablespoons of breast milk or formula and mix the ingredients until they become smooth. The mixture will be exceedingly thin, which is ideal for helping your baby accept the new food. Proceed slowly while your little one explores the new tastes and textures of solid food. You will know when your baby doesn̵7;t want more food because she will stop opening her mouth readily for more.

Adding Variety

• After four or five days of the first single-grain cereal, assess your baby̵7;s progress. As long as you haven̵7;t noticed any gastrointestinal upset or skin rashes develop, your baby probably isn̵7;t showing signs of an allergic reaction to the first cereal, states the March of Dimes website. Serve your baby other single-grain cereals, such as oatmeal or barley, introducing one variety at a time and waiting four or five days before adding any other new foods. After cereals, add other varieties of foods, including meat, fruit and vegetables, always adding only one food at a time and waiting four or five days to assess your child for an allergic reaction.

Tips for Success

• Rice infant cereal is a common first solid food because it does not contain gluten, which makes it less likely to be allergenic for a baby. Never force your child to eat. If he turns his head and won̵7;t open his mouth, end the feeding session. It may help to offer your baby solid foods initially when he̵7;s not exceedingly hungry, because he may not have patience to satisfy his hunger with solid foods, advises food and nutrition specialist and professor J. Anderson, with the Colorado State University Extension. Gradually change the ratio of infant cereal and liquid as your little one becomes accustomed to solid foods until the cereal has a thick and creamy consistency.