Just like many other skills babies learn, providing your child with good eating habits can set the stage for a healthy lifestyle and a lifelong enjoyment of food. Here are general guidelines that can help you start your baby on the right track.

Breast milk or infant formula supplies all of your baby’s nutritional needs for at least the first four to six months of life. Starting solids too early can cause your baby to develop food allergies. Second, feeding solids too early may unintentionally lead to overfeeding; younger babies can’t signal when they are full. Third, your baby’s inability to swallow solids correctly before four to six months of age can potentially lead to choking. And, contrary to the popular myth, starting solids early will not help your child to sleep through the night.

When offering a new type of food, always feed it for several days in a row before starting another new food. This makes it easier to detect food allergies, which can present with diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, hives or a rash. Do not offer mixed ingredient foods until you are sure the baby isn’t allergic to any of the individual ingredients.

Four to Five Months: Breast milk or formula is the only food your baby needs, but you can start to familiarize your baby with the feel of a spoon and introduce solid foods. Iron-fortified cereal is a popular first food, and should be given mixed with breast milk, formula or water. Note: Do not feed it in a bottle.

Six to Seven Months: While continuing to give breast milk or formula, as well as cereal, you can now start to give well-cooked, strained or mashed fruits or vegetables, or commercially prepared baby foods. You can use peeled, cooked, or canned fruits (but only those packed in light syrup or water) that have been blended or strained.

Eight to Nine Months: You can now start to give more protein containing foods. These include well-cooked, strained or ground plain meats (chicken, beef, turkey, veal, lamb, boneless fish, or liver), mild cheese or egg yolks.
You also can start to offer soft table foods and finger foods. Give soft, bite-size pieces of food, such as soft fruit and vegetable pieces, pastas, graham or saltine crackers, and dry cheerios. Do not give these foods if the child is going to be unattended in case of choking.

10 to 12 Months: Your baby’s diet will begin to resemble that of the rest of the family’s, with three meals and two snacks each day. It is important to offer a variety of foods to encourage good eating habits later.

12 Months and Beyond: You may now give your baby homogenized whole cow’s milk. Your child should now want to feed himself with his fingers and a spoon or fork, and should be able to drink out of a cup. Remember: Your baby’s appetite may decrease and become pickier over the next few years as his or her growth rate slows.

Generally speaking, large amounts of sweet desserts, soft drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, sugarcoated cereals, chips or candy, should be avoided, as they have little nutritional value. Also, do not encourage your child to eat after he is full, as this can lead to a habit of overeating.

Following these guidelines will help you give your baby the good nutrition he or she needs to grow up to his or her full potential and a healthy life. But, these guidelines are just generalities, and you should always talk to your pediatrician about what is right for your child.