Introduce solid food to your baby.
Between the age of four to six months, your baby might be showing signs of being ready to start exploring eating solid food in conjunction with her formula or breast milk. Some of the signs a baby might be ready to try food, according the parenting website Baby Center, include seeing if the baby holds her head up, shows interest in food and is teething. When introducing solid food, make sure your baby gets bite-sized pieces so the food doesn't present a choking hazard.
Baby Cereal
Baby cereal is often the first type of food introduced when the baby is four to six months old. In addition to breast milk or formula, Baby Center suggests feeding the baby an iron-fortified rice cereal in a mixture of 1 tsp. of dry rice cereal to 5 tsp. of breast milk or formula. As your baby gets used to eating the cereal, add less breast milk or formula for a thicker cereal. Introduce additional baby cereals, such as oats or barley, if she tolerates it.
Baby Food
Introduce pureed or strained fruits and vegetables, often sold in jars, to your baby when she is about six to eight months old. The National Institutes of Health suggests starting off with plain fruits and vegetables, introducing one type of food every two to three days to watch for possible allergic reactions. Some of the most common types of strained baby foods to start with include peas, carrots, bananas, applesauce and sweet potatoes.
Finger Foods
Think about trying finger foods with your baby around eight to 10 months of age while continuing to supplement with pureed or strained fruits and vegetables. Some good first finger foods, according to the website Baby Center, include lightly toasted bagels, small pieces of banana, o-shaped cereal or teething crackers. Egg, pureed meats, poultry and other protein-based foods can be introduced to your baby in small amounts during this time period. Apple or pear juice may be tried during this time as well.
Solid Foods
Once your baby hits the 10 to 12 month milestone, your baby may be ready for cut-up solid food. Baby Center suggests trying small, cut-up pieces of fruit or vegetables, such as banana chunks, peeled pear or cooked peas or carrots. Casseroles, cooked pasta and soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt or cottage cheese are other foods your baby can eat. Make sure to stay away from whole kennel corn, grapes, berries and raw vegetables that can be a choking hazard.
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