Introduce single-ingredient foods one at a time at weekly intervals. This process helps identify any food sensitivities the child might have. The sequence of new foods is not critical, but rice cereal mixed with formula, breast milk or pasteurized whole milk is a good first choice. Add vegetables, fruits and meats to the infant's diet one at a time. Serving mixed foods is not recommended in the beginning.
Food can be homemade or commercially prepared, depending on the mother's needs.
Choose plain, strained fruit such as applesauce, peaches or mashed ripe bananas. Do not offer fruit desserts that contain unnecessary sugar. They provide unneeded calories and may cause a preference for sweets as the child gets older. Introduce juices when your baby learns to drink from a cup, around six to nine months. Dilute adult juices half and half with water or strain them before giving to a baby.