Your baby's eating habits will not necessarily mature faster from an earlier beginning. When you feel it is time to introduce solids, usually between the 4th and 6th month, your baby is growing quickly and may be happy to receive the extra nourishment. But many babies still do not, at this stage, require more than milk alone. Babies reach a stage when they require the extra nourishment in their own time and they are usually quick to let mothers know about it.
Obvious signs are fretfulness after a feeding or gnawing of fists.
If there is an unwilliness to eat, remember that the action of swallowing has up to this time only been associated with sucking. Your baby may cough, sputter and spit the food straight back out. Patience and gentle persistence will help your baby to gradually understand the idea of swallowing food. A rice cereal is the best choice for a first food, as it is easiest to digest and least likely to cause an allergic reaction. Choose a commercially prepared dry cereal to be diluted with breast milk, water or formula.