When it comes to starting on solid food, every baby is different. What you should know about early noshing:
Watch for the signs. By 4 to 6 months, most babies can digest solid food. You can tell yours is ready when he seems interested in your food and shows good head, neck, and upper-body control.
Go gradually. Start off with a few ounces of formula or a few minutes of breastfeeding. Then move on to one part rice cereal (zinc- and iron-fortified) with four parts breast milk or formula. If your baby pushes it away with his tongue, just stop and try again the next day.
Introduce new foods. After five days, introduce jarred vegetables, fruits, and meat. Each time you offer a new food, wait a few days before trying another to make sure he isn't allergic to it.
Stick with a schedule. Babies love routine, so feed yours at the same times each day. (Start once a day, working up to twice a day in a couple of weeks; by 7 months, he can dine three times daily.)
Don't get discouraged. Your baby should be eating almost all table foods -- cut to pea size -- by a year. If not, don't stress. Before you know it, he'll be yelling, "I want pizza!"
