When Can a Baby Eat Stage 1 Gerber Food?

Introducing Stage 1

• Your baby can be introduced to pureed fruits and vegetables, found in Stage 1 Gerber Foods, once she is used to eating single grain rice or oatmeal cereal, usually between 6 to 8 months. If she is teething and able to make chewing motions, then she is ready to handle the next step in solid foods. You can keep feeding her cereal, but begin adding 1 tsp. of fruit and 1 tsp. of vegetable to her diet on a daily basis. Gradually increase these amounts to ¼ to ½ cup servings 2 to 3 times a day. Only give her one new food at a time, waiting three days before trying a different one. If your baby develops a rash, vomits or suffers from diarrhea during this time, she might have a food allergy to the new fruit or vegetable. Check with your pediatrician before attempting to reintroduce this food to your child's diet.

Choosing Fruits or Vegetables First

• Your pediatrician might have advised you to start with vegetables before introducing fruit, but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the order isn't important. Giving your child sweet-tasting fruit first won't cause him to reject vegetables. Starting with vegetables won't guarantee that he'll eat everything you offer him. If your baby refuses a certain fruit or vegetable once, don't give up. You might have to let him taste that food up to 10 times before he'll actually eat it. You can also try mixing a small amount of it with a food that he likes.

Feeding Safely

• Make sure all containers you buy are safely sealed. Always feed your baby from a dish instead of directly from the container. Giving her food right out of the jar transfers bacteria from her mouth to the food and could make her sick if enough bacteria grows inside the jar. Use clean spoons to scoop additional servings from the same container. Keep refrigerated leftovers for one or two days only. Warm up leftover food in the microwave for a few seconds, then stir to distribute the heat evenly. Make sure the food isn't too hot for your baby by tasting it yourself. Don't leave baby food out for more than two hours.