This is a question we often get as advice on the topic can be in abundance and vary from each source.

As a general rule, a baby is ready to begin solids around six months.  However, just because a baby is old enough to start solids does not mean it is the right time for her.  If your baby keeps turning her head away or pushing the spoon away, then she is clearly not ready. Trying to coax a baby to eat when she is not yet interested is a sure way to create a picky eater.

Here are some signs that Baby is ready to start solids:

• eagerly watching you eat
• reaching for your food
• able to sit up in a high chair
• disappearance of the tongue-thrust reflex (the tongue doesn’t automatically stick out whenever something gets into the mouth)

Common starter foods at six months (strained, pureed, fingertipful, small spoonful) include:

• banana
• apple-sauce
• pear
• sweet potato
• avocado
• rice cereal

Remember, foods at this age are mainly for social and motor development. They aren’t yet needed for nutrition. Breast milk and formula provide complete nutrition for the entire first year of life. So don’t worry how much or how often your  baby eats at this age, because it doesn’t matter in the long run. Just follow your baby’s cues and have fun.

Shaping young tastes

When starting Baby on solid foods, make your own. Besides giving your baby extra nutrition, solid foods shape your baby’s tastes. If you make your own baby food (e.g., mashed avocado, cooked squash, mashed bananas), you shape your baby’s tastes toward appreciating real food, and you do this at a time when Baby’s developing taste buds are most shapeable. In our medical practice, we have noticed that babies who are fed natural food early on are more likely to stick with these natural tastes on into adulthood.

On the other hand, babies who start off with bland jarred or canned food believe that this is what real food is supposed to taste like. Their tastes are shaped in a less healthy direction. Babies who start out on natural food are more likely to shun the taste of junk food later on.

Watch for constipation

Babies often become constipated when foods are started. Bananas anq rice cereal can be especially constipating. If tills happens, stop the foods and give baby some pureed prunes or peaches until he is more regular. Continue giving these
while you slowly reintroduce the other foods again. Diluted prune juice is also very effective. If your baby was already having a difficult time passing stools before you even began foods, start with prunes and peaches before beginning any others.

Breastfeeding
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for a minimum of one year, and this should be the main source of your baby’s diet until age one. Do not let your baby’s interest in foods cause the breastfeeding to slow down too much. As for the timing of breastfeeds and food, it doesn’t really matter. Simply offer your baby food whenever you are eating and breastfeed whenever your baby asks.

Formula
As babies begin foods, their formula intake may decrease. A baby needs formula to be the main part of her nutrition lmtil age one, so don’t let her formula intake slow down too much as the food increases. A baby needs between twenty-four and thirty-two ounces of formula a day, even when food comes into play.

Water
This is a good age to get your baby used to sippy cups of water.  Juice should be avoided; it’s better to forgo the extra sugar.  Let your baby drink as much water as she wants.  Then she won’t come to expect juice as her beverage.