The recommended age for solid foods is 6 months of age. If your baby was premature, count from her adjusted age (i.e. if she was born at 7 months, she’ll be ready for solids when she’s 8 months old).

When your baby is ready for solids, always start with the simplest form of solid food – rice cereal. Organic is best so choose wisely. I prefer Gerber’s organic rice cereal and Nature’s Best. When feeding store-bought cereals always mix with breast milk or formula, not water. This provides better nutrition.

Feed her rice cereal, as well as her breast milk or formula, for at least 4 days before moving forward. I actually prefer to allow my baby to try out one new food for at least 7 days before moving to the next. You’ll be able to pinpoint certain allergies when following the 4-Day Rule.

After rice comes multi-grain. Again, apply the 4-Day Rule prior to moving to Oatmeal. Oatmeal is the most complex of the cereals so always leave this to the last. Please keep in mind that oatmeal cereal is different than normal adult cereal, which shouldn’t be fed to babies.

After you babe has successfully passed the cereals with flying colors (no allergies), then feel free to move on to veggies. Vegetables are easily digested by little tummies and provide the stomach a great workout before meats and dairy. Even with veggies, you still have to apply the 4-Day Rule. Click here to see a chart of recommended food introduction times.

Dairy products should be avoided for at least the first year of life. That’s right, no cheeses, yogurt, or anything else containing cow’s milk should be given. The reason being is that dairy is quite complex and very different than breast-milk or formula so many babies develop an allergy.