Most parents are anxious to give their baby a taste of new foods. If you have ever seen a baby react to the sweet taste of a banana or the tartness of a raspberry, you understand the excitement most parents feel when introducing solids to their child's diet. A child who is breastfed has the opportunity to sample different flavors through mom's breast milk, but it isn't quite the same as taking a bite of mashed sweet potato!

But introducing solids to a baby needs careful consideration in addition to a fun attitude. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding for at least one full year of life to help a baby develop and grow properly, and not to introduce juice, water and solid foods before the sixth month. Breast milk provides antibodies against illness and allergies, so the less breast milk a baby receives, the less protection he has. Although the sixth month is generally the month many pediatricians tell parents to start giving solids, many nutritionists and breastfeeding experts recommend waiting until your baby shows signs of interest.

It is also important to remember that breast milk will still make up the majority of Baby's diet for the first year, and introducing solids may decrease feedings at the breast. This is something that should be watched, but naturally weaning from some feedings each month is normal. Just remember that complete nutrition comes from the breast milk baby receives during the introduction stage of solid foods. So what are some sign of readiness? Each baby is different, but here are some clues to look for:

• An increased interest in what Mom, Dad or sibling is eating. Baby often shows interest in other people's food by intensely watching someone eat, making cooing noises or fidgeting when he sees food, and trying to grab food from your plate or hand. Lots of babies are more interested in the utensils you are using rather than the actual food, so let Baby play with infant spoons or a plastic bowl while you eat. This will also help baby get used to handling these items.
• Baby can sit without support. Let Baby try sitting in a highchair with some toys to see how well he balances himself with a tray in front of him. Be sure to strap him in securely every time he is in the highchair.
• His need to nurse increases. Babies go through growth spurts before the sixth month, so be careful not to confuse a temporary growth spurt with an increased appetite that comes on gradually. Once you have seen your baby develop a more frequent nursing pattern at about 6 months of age, you can assume he would like more food added to his diet.

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