It is recommended that breast milk or infant formula with iron be the sole source of nutrition until age six months. However, some people feel that their baby is ready to start solids as early as four months. Discuss your baby's feeding plan with your pediatrician or dietitian before starting solids.

The rule of thumb in deciding if your child is ready for solids is to watch your baby, not the calendar. Your baby will let you know when she is ready for solids with some simple cues. Feeding before these cues are shown can lead to overfeeding and obesity.

Watch Your Baby, Not the Calendar

Your baby will give the following cues to show you she is ready for solids:

• Baby can hold her neck steady

• Baby can sit with support

• Baby can swallow nonliquid foods

• She opens her mouth for food

• She leans forward to indicate hunger

• She leans back to show that she is satisfied

• She can draw in her lip as the spoon is removed from her mouth

• She can move food from the front to the back of the mouth

If your baby is showing the above signs, he or she is ready to begin taking solids.

As your child moves through the next six months of the first year, you will have the joy of teaching your child how to eat independently. Get your bibs and washcloths or drop cloths ready! Watching your child begin to experience food is a fun time.

Advancing Your Baby's Diet

As you child becomes more comfortable with being fed, you can start teaching him to self-feed. Here are some skills to work on the next six months of your child's life:

• Self-feeding with easy, soft finger foods

• Trying to use a sippy cup at six to eight months

• Holding his own bottle or cup

• Exposing him to different textures and flavors

Feeding your child is a wonderful way to bond with him and teach him all about flavor and textures. Never force feed your child. Your job as a parent is to provide healthful options at meal and snack times. Allow your child to determine how much to eat of the foods that you offer.