While parents may assist the swallowing reflex by placing foods toward the back of the baby's mouth, they should be cautioned not to place food so far back as to cause choking or gagging. Cereal or mashed food should not be fed to infants through the bottle because it prevents the opportunity to learn to take food from a spoon, and may cause choking. After cereal has been mastered, vegetables and fruits can be gradually added. They offer a range of vitamins and minerals which are required at this point in the baby's life. Some fruits and vegetables can be eaten in the raw stage.
Early favorites are banana, papaya and avocado because of their mushable texture.
Parents may be alarmed by the brown fibers they leave behind in the diaper so some reassurance would be helpful. The last food group to be added is the meat group. Canned fish mashed without the bones is a good source of protein. Other protein foods might include yogurt, cheese, peas, mashed well-cooked beans and lentils which provide protein sources similar to meat products. In the meantime, pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, breads and other starchy foods can be added to form a more complete meal.