The Truth About Feeding Your Baby

Reality: Not necessarily. While rice cereal has traditionally been recommended as an ideal first food because it's low-allergy and a good source of iron, it's fine to offer other foods first. "You don't have to do cereal, then vegetables, fruit, and meat last," says Nancy Krebs, M.D., pro-fessor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver.

In fact, the latest research shows you may want to consider meat for your baby's first bites. It's a particularly rich source of iron and zinc, both of which breast milk doesn't provide enough of, and your baby's stores of them become depleted by 6 months of age.