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Solid Foods guide

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AGE/STAGE The AAP recommends that an infant not be started on solid foods until after 6 months of age. Many pediatricians still start babies on solids around 4 months of age. This chart accommodates all ages/stages up to 12 months.

CEREALS & GRAINS Rice and Oatmeal cereals are the least of the allergenic grains and thus most babies are started out with those cereals.

FRUITS May be served raw after 8 months old - bananas and avocados do NOT need to be cooked ever

VEGETABLES Always serve cooked until after 12 months old or when baby can chew well enough so that no choking hazard is present. I.E. Shredded raw carrots, small cut up pieces of celery, pepper etc.

PROTEIN/MEAT Always serve cooked with no pink areas - NEVER give a small baby/child raw meat or fish

DAIRY NEVER replace breast milk or formula until after 12 months of age - serious health risks are possible. Never give a child under the age of 2yrs old low fat or skim milk products; whole milk is necessary.

Four to Six (4-6) Months old

Try mixing together the foods that you have already introduced without allergies or reactions - Rice Cereal mixed with Bananas for example

Cereal/Grains

  • Rice
  • Barley
  • Oat
Fruits
  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Pears
Vegetables
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Acorn/Butternut Squash
  • Green Beans

Six to Eight (6-8) Months old

Cereal/Grains

  • Continue with Rice
  • Barley
  • Oat

Fruits

  • Apricots
  • Avocados
  • Nectarines
  • Peaches
  • Plums
  • Prunes
  • Pumpkin

Vegetables

  • Carrots
  • Peas
  • Yellow Squash
  • Zucchini

Protein/Meat*

  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Tofu
*8 Months for Meats/Protein*

Dairy

  • Plain Whole Milk Yogurt (8months old)

    • Mix in a favorite Fruit once you have established that baby can tolerate yogurt. Stonyfield Farms is one brand that makes a GREAT Organic plain version!

Eight to Ten (8-10) Months old

Think about adding more texture and finger foods to baby's cuisine

Cereal/Grains

  • Rice
  • Barley
  • Oat
  • Wheat grains (try mixing the grains all together now)
  • Graham crackers (w/o Honey)
  • Low salt multi-grain crackers
  • Multi-grain or plain Cheerio's
  • Wheat germ
  • Wheat or Multi Grain toast

Fruits

  • Blueberries
  • Cantaloupe
  • Kiwi
  • Mangos
  • Papaya

Vegetables

  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Eggplant
  • White potatoes

Protein/Meat

  • Egg Yolks
  • Beans/Legumes (split peas lentils etc)
  • Lean Beef
  • Pork
  • Ham (natural Ham - watch for preservatives and sodium content!)

Dairy

  • Cream Cheese
  • Cottage Cheese
  • American
  • Colby
  • Light Cheddars

Ten - Twelve (10-12) Months old

Cereal/Grains

  • Pastas
  • Wheat cereals
  • Bagels

Fruits

  • Berries
  • Cherries
  • Citrus
  • Dates
  • Grapes* (cut in quarters)

Vegetables

  • Artichokes
  • Beets
  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Spinach
  • Tomatoes (acidic, not necessarily an allergen!)

Protein/Meat

  • Whole Eggs(12 months)
  • Fish(White Fish such as Cod, Haddock)

Dairy

  • Whole Milk(12 months)
  • Stronger Cheddars
  • Gouda
  • Monterey Jack
  • Muenster
  • Provolone

Courtesy of www.wholesomebabyfoods.com