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Parents are always very curious about whether the HAVE to start with rice cereal for their babies’ first bites, or if there are any other equally healthy options? Well, in short, no…and…yes! To help you on your way to choosing your baby’s first bites, I decided to come up with a top ten first foods list.

Keep in mind breast milk or formula is still the staple for your baby’s diet in the first year. As for solid foods, there is no scientific proof of which is best to offer first to babies. Cultures across the world prepare various traditional recipes for their babies’ first feeding. In general, first foods are easy to digest, unlikely to cause allergic reactions, and are good sources of iron.

At around six months of age, babies’ iron stores from birth are mostly depleted and they need additional sources of iron from the diet. Animal meats offer the most bioavailable sources of iron, and the American Academy of Pediatrics now advises that cooked, strained, pureed meats are appropriate as first foods along with vegetables or fruits.  I suggest starting off with a food from the plant kingdom that is easy to digest and contains some iron, and then introducing meats by seven months of age. The most digestive-friendly grains for babies are gluten free (this is the protein in wheat). First veggies should be yellow or orange varieties, and then progress to the greens.

Just because all of your friends’ babies starting slurping on rice cereal without issues doesn’t guarantee you will have the same experience. No need to worry, there are certainly healthy options if rice cereal is not in the cards. Always introduce new foods in single ingredient purees every four to six days to watch for an allergic reaction. If you are making your own baby food, remove all skins, seeds and strings from the food, and puree away!

Baby Bistro’s Top Ten Starter Solids

1. Iron fortied rice cereal
2. Millet
3. Oats
4. Sweet Potatoes
5. Carrots
6. Pumpkin or winter squash (acorn, butternut)
7. Avocado
8. Cantaloupe
9. Peaches
10. Apricots