Your beautiful baby is about 4 months old now, and you are beginning to think about the transition to solid foods. But you are not quite sure when and what you should feed your little darling. Worse, you have visions of mashed peas being hurled through the air, covering your hair, and hitting the floor and the walls.

Breast milk or fortified formula are the only foods your baby needs for the first 4-6 months. Breast milk or formula should remain the core of the baby's diet for the first year of life.

Your baby's development partly determines when they are ready to begin eating solid foods. Most babies are ready to begin solid foods at about 6 month of age. Starting solids sooner than 4 months could put the baby at risk.

Solid foods may be slowly introduced if your baby:

• Is able to sit up with little support, and head/neck movement is more coordinated
• Is interested in the foods you are eating
• Does not push food out of their mouth with the tongue
• Is able to pull forward when food is wanted and push away when full

Eating From a Spoon

Your baby should learn to eat semisolid and solid foods from a spoon and with fingers. Never give your baby semisolid or solid foods from a bottle or infant-feeder because the baby could choke or take in too much food at once. Eating from a spoon and with fingers is the first step toward independence and will help your baby develop chewing and swallowing skills.

Here are some tips that can help you and your baby make an easier transition:

• Do not expect the experience to be neat. —It is quite likely that more food may end up on the bib than in your baby's mouth, at least at first. Relax and try to make this an enjoyable experience for both of you. Talk calmly and softy to your baby while feeding.
• Use a very small spoon, one that is meant for babies. —A small spoon with a long handle is preferable. You can find them at most grocery and department stores.
• Start with only a small amount of food and work up to more. —Begin with no more than 1-2 teaspoons of food at a time and gradually work your way up to 1-2 tablespoons, 2-3 times per day.
• Make sure your baby is sitting up straight and leaning somewhat forward. —This position allows your baby to swallow more easily and minimizes the risk of choking.
• Let your baby set the pace of eating. —Do not feed too slow or too fast. Introduce only one new food at a time, at the beginning of the meal. Introduce new foods when your baby is most hungry. Otherwise, they may not be interested.
• Try, try again. —If your baby refuses a new food, do not force the issue. Be patient. Offer it again in a day or 2. If you are still met with resistance, try again in 2-3 weeks.
• When do I stop feeding them —During a meal do not try and give more food after your baby seem satisfied. Allow them to feed themselves with their fingers or a spoon as soon as they are able to. These can both prevent overfeeding

What to Feed Your Baby

Offer single component foods, such as cereals, vegetables, fruits, and meat rather than combination foods. Also, wait a few days before introducing new foods. This will allow you to see any signs of a food allergy and to know which food caused them.

Talk to your child's doctor about when to offer highly allergenic foods, such as tree nuts and eggs. Offering them early may reduce the risk of a food allergy.

Other Tips

• After your baby is eating a well-balanced variety of solid foods (generally after the first year of life) you can consider using cow's milk. The pediatrician can help you with nutritional advice.
• Offer juice in a cup rather than in a bottle. It helps reduce the risk of tooth decay.
• If warming food in a microwave, use a microwave-safe dish and heat to lukewarm.
• Always read and follow instructions on containers of baby food.
• Do not feed your baby directly from the jar or you could risk contaminating the leftover food. Spoon small amounts of food into a feeding dish and feed your baby from it. If your baby wants more food, take more from the jar with a clean spoon.
• Date, label, and refrigerate leftovers immediately after each feeding. Use all leftovers within 3 days.
• Leftovers should not be reheated more than once.
• Do not use raw honey or corn syrup. In babies, they can cause a serious food-borne illness called botulism.
• Never leave your baby alone during mealtime.
• If you feel that your baby is not eating enough, call their pediatrician.