How to Introduce Solid Foods into Your Infant's Diet

When your infant is about four to six months old, and with your pediatrician's approval, you can begin introducing solid food into your baby's diet. If you or members in your family have a history of allergies though, wait until your infant is at least six months old to avoid allergic reactions such as rashes or diarrhea.

Instructions

How to Introduce Solid Foods Into Your Infant's Diet

• 1

  Begin introducing solid foods into your infant's diet by offering your child a few tablespoons of infant cereal at mealtime. Rice cereal is a mild cereal that is a good beginner food e as it's easy to swallow and digest.

• 2

  Add fruits, on a gradual basis, such as mashed bananas, strained fruits, cooked mashed peaches and applesauce. Introduce new foods one at a time, every few days, so that you can monitor allergic reactions.

• 3

  Add strained vegetables after your infant has been taking solid foods, such as fruits and cereals, for about a month. Cooked potatoes, squash, carrots and peas in small amounts, mashed or pureed, are good choices.

• 4

  Feed your infant strained meats after they become accustomed to eating strained vegetables for a few weeks. Consult your pediatrician on how to balance your child's diet if you want him to follow a vegetarian diet.

• 5

  Add homemade foods only after you introduce your baby to most baby foods. Don't make more than enough for a meal or two unless you plan to freeze servings individually.