Is your baby ready for solid foods?

Breast milk or formula is the only food your newborn needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months after birth.

But by ages 4 months to 6 months, most babies are ready to begin eating solid foods as a complement to breast-feeding or formula-feeding. During this time babies typically stop using their tongues to push food out of their mouths and begin to develop the coordination to move solid food from the front of the mouth to the back for swallowing.

In addition to age, look for other signs that your baby is ready for solid foods. For example:

• Can your baby hold his or her head in a steady, upright position?
• Can your baby sit with support?
• Is your baby mouthing his or her hands or toys?
• Is your baby showing a desire for food by leaning forward and opening his or her mouth?

If you answer yes to these questions and your baby's doctor agrees, you can begin supplementing your baby's liquid diet.