When

What

How to Prepare

4-6 months

 Single-grain cereals

 (Fortified cereals give your baby iron, an important nutrient he needs now. A  baby is born with a natural reserve of iron that begins to deplete around 6  months of age.)

 Mix with baby formula or breast milk, or water on  occasion.

6-8 months

 Pureed or strained fruits (bananas, pears, apples, apricots, prunes)

 Yogurt (whole milk or soy based)

 Wash all fresh fruits, then bake, boil, or steam  until soft. You can puree in either a blender or a  food processor, or use a small hand food mill; add  a little liquid like breast milk, baby formula, or  water at first. Make it watery at first, then use  less liquid as your baby gets used to solid foods.

 Any of these foods can be mixed with rice cereal  if added texture is needed

 Pureed or strained vegetables (avocados, carrots, peas, potatoes, squash)

 These are referred to as stage 1 or 2 foods in the baby section of the  grocery store.

 Wash all fresh vegetables; then bake, boil, or  steam until soft. You can puree in either a blender  or a food processor, or use a small hand food  mill; add a little liquid like breast milk, baby  formula, or water at first. You can use less water  for a thicker puree as your baby gets used to the  new foods.

 Protein: pea-sized pieces of cooked chicken, turkey, or other meats, or  boneless fish; beans such as lentils, black, red, or pinto beans.

 (Doctors used to recommend waiting a bit to introduce meats, but now they  note these are a good source of iron, particularly for breastfed babies, who  may not be getting enough.

 Cut meat or fish into very small pieces; cook and  mash or cut up beans.

8-10 months

 Mashed fruits and vegetables

 Stage 3 foods in the baby section

 Egg yolks, not whites

 No need to puree; just cook foods such as  carrots and sweet potatoes until soft, or mash up  soft foods like bananas and avocados.

 Finger foods like small o-shaped cereals, teethingcrackers, or small pieces  of soft fruit, cooked pasta, or vegetables

 Cut up to make sure the pieces are small enough  for your baby to swallow without choking.

 Dairy: small amounts of cottage cheese, or any pasteurized cheese

 Cut cheese into small pieces.

 Eggs (the entire egg is not usually given until 1 year of age; however, that  recommendation seems to be changing. Speak to your child's doctor)

 Scramble, or hard-boil and cut into small pieces.

10-12 months

 Baby can try eating most of the foods you eat now, if they are cut up or  mashed properly so that he can safely chew and swallow. Unless you have  a strong family history of allergies, the American Academy of Pediatrics  now  says there is no need to avoid peanut products, eggs, wheat, or fish  until  after one year, although many pediatricians are still cautious about  eggs,  peanuts and shellfish due to the strong allergic reactions sometimes  associated with them. Avoid whole cow’s milk and honey until at least one  year. Honey can cause a dangerous illness called infantbotulism.

 As your baby gets more teeth and learns to chew  more effectively, he will begin to be able to eat  larger pieces of food. Continue to monitor his  chewing carefully, and when in doubt, cut pieces  smaller than you think necessary. Be especially  careful with round, firm foods like grapes and hot  dogs, which pose a particular choking hazard to  babies. Chop these into very small pieces.