Most people start with a dinner time feeding, especially if they work and are rushed in the morning. After the baby has become comfortable with the spoon feedings and enjoys them, it is fine to add a second meal during the day. Most babies will show a need for a third meal at about six months of age. We generally recommend rice cereal as a first solid food. Infant cereals are fortified with iron, a very important part of their diet at this age.
Rice is generally better tolerated than other cereals.
It does tend to be constipating, so if your baby already has a tendency towards constipation, you might want to begin with oatmeal instead. Once your baby has tolerated rice cereal, slowly add other types of infant cereals one at a time. After introducing several different types of cereal, begin introducing fruits one at a time, followed by yellow and then green vegetables. Fruit juices can also be introduced at any time during this period. They are an important source of vitamin C. Meats should be delayed until at least six months of age, as they are more difficult to digest.