Newborns begin life consuming mother's milk or formula and subsequently transitioning to solid food soon thereafter. As you begin to consider how to incorporate and what to incorporate, it helps to begin with adding small portions of dry cereal to the child's bottle. Begin with a night time bottle as the additional cereal will keep the stomach full through the night allowing better sleep for longer hours. Once you have identified that the child can tolerate the cereal without any problems then continue to add to each meal time bottle as needed. A larger portion can be utilized as the child grows.
Cereal
Creating a small bowl of dry oatmeal style cereal provides a smooth transition from milk. The cereal generally will not upset the stomach through the process. Begin introducing small amounts of pureed vegetables or homemade pureed vegetables. It is important to begin with vegetables because if you begin with pureed fruits, the child will appreciate the sweetness and you may struggle with incorporating vegetables and meats.
The next step is to begin offering small snack bites of more solid cereals. Try cheerios, rice bubbles because during this phase the child will be learning to feed themselves. A small bite that is easily manageable for tiny hands is the best choice. As the child becomes more comfortable try offering a slightly larger bite such as a portion of a graham cracker as it will melt away in the mouth as they are learning to chew the food thoroughly. This will decrease the likelihood of an incident of choking. Stay away from dense foods such as heavy breads and meals loaded with spice or covered in thick cheese. These are also a great risk for choking, which is unnecessary.
Meats
A child needs a well-rounded diet that includes the primary food groups such as vegetables, meats, dairy, and whole grains. Introduce a variety of pureed meat to support adequate iron supplements. Utilize the more bland tasting options at first so not to overwhelm newly developing taste buds.
Fruits
Although, beginning with fruit is not the best idea, allowing fruit as a dessert following a meal of pureed meat and vegetable options will serve as a sweet and organic treat that is healthy. Providing a wide variety of food sources will establish a greater appreciation of numerous food options and will benefit the child as they grow up. Both with fruits and vegetable, the best rule of thumb is the darker and richer the color the more nutritional value the food provides.
Whole Grains
Whole grains are a cornerstone of a healthy diet. Steer clear of products made of white flour as they contribute to childhood obesity and do not offer nutritional value. Use whole grain rice and pasta as the child can tolerate it. This can be accomplished by serving pureed baby foods that contain a combination of foods such as chicken and rice, turkey with peas and carrots, or just serve a meat with mashed potatoes with vegetables included. You will get the more bang for your buck with these products.