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Transitioning your baby from breastmilk or formula to solid foods is a big milestone. Your baby gets to try new tastes and textures and feel more independent as they start to feed themselves. Knowing when it’s time to and what’s best for your baby helps you and your little one navigate this new phase of life together.��

When to Start Solids��

“Generally, we recommend starting solid foods between 4 and 6 months of age,” says Elizabeth Odom, M.D., instructor in pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College and assistant attending pediatrician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. “The biggest thing we’re looking for is babies having really good head control and sitting upright with support.”��

Other signs that babies are developmentally ready for solid foods include:��

For the first year of life, babies should get most of their nutrition from formula or breast milk, but introducing solid food gives them a chance to explore new tastes and start enjoying healthy fruits and vegetables.����

What Foods First, When and Why��

The best first foods are baby cereals fortified with iron. Iron-fortified cereals and foods are a good choice because, though we all have iron stores in our bodies, babies’ iron levels start dropping between 4 and 6 months old. Iron-rich foods help replenish their iron stores.��

Baby oatmeal cereal is a great choice. Mix it with breastmilk or formula to a soupy consistency and spoon-feed your baby. Note that rice cereal is no longer recommended because it can contain arsenic, a harmful compound.��

After several successful cereal feedings, you can start trying pureed vegetables and fruits. Some options include sweet potatoes, carrots, avocados and peas.��

“I recommend babies wait three to four days after trying a new food before introducing anything else that’s new,” Dr. Odom says. “We want to watch really closely for an allergic reaction. The biggest signs of an allergic reaction are rashes, hives, vomiting, swelling of the lips or tongue, and difficulty breathing. If you see any of these reactions, I recommend talking to your child’s doctor before you try giving that food again.”����

You can choose store-bought baby food or make your own in a blender. If you decide to , be sure to cook hard vegetables to make them easier to puree or mash foods until they’re smooth.����

Introducing Milk and Juice to Baby��