t’s every first-time mother’s worry as her infant approaches 4 to 6 months of age: when to start solid foods?

Experts recommend going slow and steady as you help your baby make the transition from breast milk or formula to pureed foods to solids. A baby’s introduction to solids should begin after 4 months of age and be gradual, says Dr. Patty Hicks, a pediatrician on the medical staff at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. One or two tablespoons of rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula, given twice a day by spoon, is the easiest way to begin.

Many parents are so excited about starting solids, they quickly introduce many foods at once. Starting many different solids over a short period of time can make it difficult to determine which foods may disagree with your baby. If you begin a new food and stick with it for at least three to four days before switching to another, you will be able to identify those foods that your child may not tolerate.

The order of introducing foods is not so important, but most people begin with fruits and vegetables, leaving meats and other high protein foods until later.

What if your baby is unwilling to take solids at 4 months? Not to worry, Dr. Hicks says. “Some children are late starters. Around 6 months, your child grows interested in your eating habits and wants to imitate you. If things don’t go well, wait a week, then try again,” she says.

Feeding your baby should be fun for both of you. By 9 months, your baby should be familiar with many common foods in a pureed form and should be eating three meals a day. By 12 to 13 months, your baby is ready to be weaned from the bottle or breast, and by 15 months your baby is ready to eat table food. Weaning from the breast is a personal decision and some mothers continue breast-feeding past 13 months. With patient weaning, your baby will soon have a healthy, chewable diet.