When Should My Baby Start Eating Solids?
Babies have delicate digestive systems and tiny tummies, which is why they need to eat small amounts many times throughout the day. Typically, pediatricians recommend that babies start tasting solids at around the age of 6 months or when they can sit up by themselves.

When you are observing your baby’s unique cues, you will see signs that she is ready to start her culinary journey. She may start grabbing at your food or show great interest in what you are putting in your mouth. Remember that your baby’s first feedings are simply test-drives.

Do not force a child to eat, and offer only one or two small spoonfuls at first.


What Are the Recommended First Foods?
In the past, the majority of pediatricians recommended rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula as a first food. Today, many pediatricians advise parents to start with fresh pureed single-ingredient fruits and veggies—such as apples, pears, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, peas, avocados, or bananas. Rice cereal is bland and doesn’t have much nutritional value, so why not start with something tasty? Whole grain cereals can be introduced around 7 months and should be mixed with a puree. You’ll find several cereal recipes in Chapter 9.


How Much Should My Baby Eat at One Time?
Let your baby guide you. The quantity of food your baby eats will vary from day to day, sometimes by great amounts. Don’t be surprised if one day she acts likes she’s starving and the next day she eats like a bird. Simply offer your baby one spoonful at a time and go from there.


What’s Up with Nitrates?
Nitrates are a chemical preservative that studies suggest are converted into cancer-causing agents and that may be linked to leukemia in children and to type 2 diabetes. Nitrates are most commonly found in the groundwater of fields that have been sprayed with pesticides—yet another reason to eat organic food. Root vegetables (such as carrots) and leafy vegetables (like spinach and kale) have been found to have especially high concentrations of nitrates.11 Nitrates are also found in cured meats such as hot dogs, cold cuts, ham, bacon, and burgers.

What’s Up with Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are known for their anti-aging effects on the brain, but they also protect the brain from damage by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that occur naturally in your body. Free radicals want to be stabilized, so they steal electrons from healthy cells, thus making those cells less healthy. Antioxidants basically serve as a defense for your body and combat damage caused by free radicals. Simply put, they help keep you strong, vital, and healthy.


What’s Up with Honey?
Although it has several medicinal properties, honey is not safe for infants under age 1; ingesting it can lead to life-threatening infant botulism. Botulinum spores are found widely in soil, dust, and honey. When an infant swallows the spores, they can germinate in the baby’s immature gastrointestinal tract and begin producing botulinum toxin. This has occurred even when the honey was used only to sweeten a pacifier.12 Once a child reaches 12 months of age, honey is safe to ingest.