Introducing Solid Foods
As breastfeeding continues after the sixth month, it is the time to introduce complementary foods. It is important to point out that dietary schedules for the progressive introduction of solids during the complementary feeding period in most countries originate from cultural practices and available foods.
| Age (Month) | Cereals | Proteins | Fruits | Veggies | Dairy* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 6 | Iron fortified rice cereal | Pureed meats | When your baby is tolerating cereal and meat, add softly cooked apples, pears, mashed bananas | When your baby is tolerating cereal and meat, add softly cooked sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, pumpkin and green leafy vegetables | Follow-on formula |
| 6-8 | Rice, oat, barley | Chicken, turkey, tofu |
Add: peaches, plums, papaya, pumpkin
| Add: carrots, peas, pumpkin | Yogurt (not fresh milk) |
| 8-10 | Add: wheat and wheat germ, multi-grain crackers (no salt or low salt) pasta, bread | Add: egg yolk, beans, legumes (split peas, lentils), lean beef | Add: melon, cherries, blueberries, and kiwi | Add: broccoli, white potatoes, cauliflower | |
| 10-12 | Noodles, pastas, bagels, wheat cereals | Add: fish (white), whole egg (at 12 months) | Add: berries, grapes, citrus | Add: corn, spinach | Add: follow-on milk (at 12 months) other cheese: gouda, provolone, muenster |
*Do not introduce fresh milk until your baby has reached 12 months of age
