I got some great information from my breastfeeding support group on solids that I wanted to pass along.You should start your baby on solids at 6 months old. Some babies are ready sooner but don't start any earlier than 4 months. How will I know if my baby is ready for solids earlier? If your child pushes food out of their mouth with their tongue when offered food then they are not ready for solids. You can place an empty spoon in your child's mouth. If they push the spoon away then they aren't ready yet. You can wait a week and then try again.
It's important to remember that solids don't take the place of breast milk until the end of the first year. Usually babies start with cereals because they are iron fortified. Start with a small amount once daily and then increase the amount and frequency slowly. The solids should be given in between feedings. Never replace a feeding with solids. When baby is taking solids they should be given some water to help with digestion. You could also use diluted juice, 1 to 2 oz a day.
Start with one solid at a time. Wait for three days to see if your child has an allergic reaction to the solid they were given. If they didn't have an allergic reaction then you can introduce a new solid. Don't start these high allergy foods until after the first year: strawberries, citrus, egg whites, corn, soy, cow's milk, wheat, chocolate, tomatoes, shell fish, and nuts. You can give small amounts of cheese and yogurt after baby reaches 8 months. It is best to wait until your child is 3 years of to give peanuts and peanut butter.
I found this great video that gives a simple demonstration on how to make your own baby food.
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