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Editor’s Note: In partnership with the United Way of Kern County’s Born Learning Series, MÁS magazine is publishing the following information on children’s health and well-being.

The following article is the first part in a series about meals for young children, from infants to toddlers. The second and final part will run in the Aug. 17 issue.



Teaching an infant to eat. Introducing a child to the flavors, textures and tastes of different foods. Helping him get the nutrients he needs to grow and develop.

These are all basic duties of parenting, but ones for which parents often need guidance.

To reduce confusion in your kitchen, hang the following serving suggestions on your refrigerator and refer to them as often as needed.

4 to 6 months
Breast milk or formula remains the main source of nutrition and calories for the first 4-6 months, however, this is the age to start introducing an infant to solid foods.

If you feel your baby is ready to try “real” food – she is interested in watching you eat, she seems unsatisfied by just a bottle – it is time to add smooth, single foods to her diet.

Although you should consult your child’s pediatrician before starting solids, general first steps include:

1) Rice cereal.
Mix plain infant rice cereal with breast milk or formula.
A baby won’t digest much until he gets the hang of swallowing from a spoon, so just serve one meal a day until his ability and intake improve.

2) Pureed fruits and vegetables.
As a baby gets better at eating, introduce new single-ingredient foods. Good starters include pureed apples, sweet potatoes, carrots, pears or bananas. Stay away from foods that are difficult to chew or swallow like nuts, uncooked carrots, popcorn or grapes.

3) One food at a time.
To make sure a baby is not allergic to a specific food and to help him get accustomed to different tastes, introduce a new food by itself and serve it solely for several days.

4) One time a day.
Introduce solids one time a day, and add a second when your baby is eating 2 to 3 tablespoons per feeding.

6 to 8 months
Although breast milk or formula is still the mainstay of your infant’s diet, you can begin exposing him to a greater variety of flavors and thicker textures:

1) Combine foods of different flavors.
Good mixes include rice and pureed fruit; pureed fruits and vegetables,
like apples and sweet potatoes, with pureed chicken or turkey; mashed avocado and bananas.

2) New food suggestions:
Whole grain — wheat breads and cereals, like Cheerios.
Dairy products — yogurt and mild cheese.
New fruits — mango and peaches (small enough to ensure no choking).
Meats —  chicken or lean ground beef (pureed or chopped).

3) Don’t force a baby to eat.
If a baby refuses a new food, continue to offer the food to her at future meals. Give her a chance to get used to the new taste but do not force her to eat it.

4) Multiple meals.
By now, meals should occur at least two if not three times a day.