What food should I feed first?
Start with a single-grain baby cereal, because it is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction in young babies. The best (least allergenic) of these is rice cereal. For information on preparation, please refer to the directions on the product package.

Gradually increase the amount of cereal you feed until you're feeding twice a day—in the morning at breakfast and again at dinner. When your baby is eating from a spoon fairly well, you can reduce the amount of breast milk, water, or formula normally added to the cereal.

Introduce one grain type of cereal at a time and feed for at least 3 days before trying a new one. Gluten-containing cereals, such as oat, barley, and wheat, may cause gastrointestinal problems in some infants. Avoid feeding these foods until your baby is at least 6 months of age.

What foods come next?
Once baby is used to cereal, you can start to feed vegetables, then fruits. Begin by introducing 1 to 2 teaspoons at each meal, after baby has had some cereal.

As with cereals, most experts recommend that you introduce a single new food at a time and feed it for several days before trying another new food. This will make it easier to identify the culprit if there is a food sensitivity or allergy. If your baby has diarrhea, gets a rash, or vomits, do not feed the suspect food again until you have consulted your health care professional.

Start with strained, sieved, or pureed vegetables, choosing mild-flavored ones such as carrots, green beans, peas, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Remove the fibrous parts before cooking, and avoid overcooking. When your baby is used to vegetables, introduce strained or pureed fruits such as apples, pears, and bananas.

After baby is accustomed to fruits and vegetables, protein foods can be introduced. Start with soft beancurd and cooked beans (skin removed; strained, pureed, or mashed). Some authorities suggest that you wait until your child is 6 months of age before you introduce minced meat and poultry to the diet.