Most pediatricians recommend exclusively breastfeeding or formula feeding a baby until about four months of age. But once your child becomes 4- to 6- months old, you may begin introducing baby food, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The decision to start on solids must be made by consulting your doctor who can best assess your child's nutritional needs.
In general, the healthiest and best first foods for your baby are single-grain baby cereals, followed by pureed fruits and vegetables. After these foods are tolerated, your doctor may tell you to introduce meat. Your baby should continue to be breast- or bottle-feed during the time that you are introducing these first foods.
Baby cereals
Single-grain cereals, including rice, oatmeal, and barley, are the healthiest and best first foods to give to your baby. These cereals are mixed with either breast milk or formula. For your child's first feeding, use one tablespoon of the single-grain cereal mixed with enough breast milk or formula so that the mixture remains thin and runny. Single-grain cereals are easily digested and have a smooth, fine texture that is ideal for your baby. Most single-grain cereals are iron-fortified and contain nutrients such as zinc and vitamin B6, which your baby needs at this stage.
Baby fruits and vegetables
Once your baby has tried his first grains and cereals, begin incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables into his diet. You can either puree your own fruits and vegetables by using a food processor, or buy jarred baby food that is ready-to-eat and is labeled as a stage 1 food. The healthiest first fruits and vegetables for your baby include apples, pears, bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, green beans and more. Let your child experience the fruits and vegetables in their natural form, and resist from adding any salt or sugar to their food. Introduce a new fruit or vegetable, one at a time. Stay on the new food for about three days before introducing another new fruit or vegetable. This way, you will be able to tell if your child has any allergic or adverse reaction, such as a rash or diarrhea, from a certain food.
Baby meat
Your pediatrician may recommend that you introduce meat to your baby after going through various fruits and vegetables. Although your baby receives protein from breast milk or infant formula, he can still benefit from eating meat. You can either purchase baby meat in the baby food section of your grocery store, or you can puree your own at home using a food processor. Baby meat is a healthy food to add to your baby's diet since the protein, zinc, and other nutrients it contains are easily absorbed.
