It’s not easy having a new baby; the sleepless nights, the dirty diapers and the seemingly endless amount of washing that has to be done. But of course, there are the fun tasks, too, and one of my favorite joys was feeding my baby.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should be fed breastmilk for their first six months, before introducing complementary foods. If it is not possible to feed your baby breast milk, infant formula will provide balanced nutrition. If you’re wondering if you’re baby is ready for complementary foods, look for these signs: Are they able to sit upright and hold up their head without support, do they open their mouth to receive food, close their lips over the spoon, swallow instead of pushing the food back out? If these milestones are reached, your baby is likely ready!

Thin purees are generally the first foods to start with and while many believe it is best to introduce veggies before fruits, this is not supported by research. Introduce a new single ingredient food one at a time and watch for allergic reactions or food intolerances. After 3-5 days without symptoms (hives, swelling, diarrhea, vomiting), it’s okay to introduce a new food. Work your way to a variety of grains, fruits, vegetables, and protein. In fact, meats, such as poultry and beef, should be among the first complementary foods your baby eats, especially for those babies who are breastfed whom need extra iron and zinc that meat provides. As your baby’s development progresses, the textures should progress to finger foods for self-feeding. You may choose to skip the purees completely and go straight to baby-led weaning.

Read more about it and an assortment of tips on Illinois Extension’s Feeding My Baby website: go.illinois.edu/FeedingMyBaby