Myths about introducing solid foods

For the first year of life, breastmilk (or formula) is where babies are supposed to get most of their nutrition.  Solid foods are meant to be complimentary (not replacements) and only offered after a milk feed.  Before they reach 12 months, solids are really about practice eating, less about nutrition.  Here is a helpful table from Kelly Mom:

	Solids	Liquids
0 - 4 months	Breastmilk only	Breastmilk only
4 - 6 months	Breastmilk only See also: What if my 4-5 month old seems developmentally ready for solids?	Continue nursing on cue. When your 4 - 6 month old baby is learning to use a cup, giving him a few sips of expressed breastmilk or water (no more than 2 ounces per 24 hours) a couple of times a day is fine and fun.
6 - 7 months	Offer solids once a day, at most. Many start out offering solids every few days or even less often.	Continue nursing on cue. Solid foods should not replace nursing sessions unless you're actively weaning. Limit water to SIPS from a cup with meals. Juice is not necessary for baby's nutrition. If you offer juice, limit to sips from a cup with meals and introduce it gradually just like any other new food. It's best to dilute juice with water and limit total juice intake to no more than 3-4 ounces a day.
7 - 9 months	Watch baby's cues - this is particularly easy if baby nurses beforehand and most/all of the solids are offered to baby to self-feed. Increase solids gradually if baby is interested, with a maximum of 2 meals per day.
9 - 12 months	Watch baby's cues - this is particularly easy if baby nurses beforehand and most/all of the solids are offered to baby to self-feed. Increase solids gradually if baby is interested. Aim for baby getting no more than 25% of her calories from solids by the age of 12 months (some babies eat less than this at 12 months and that's also normal).

 A HUGE misconception is that offering solid foods (or even formula) will help baby to sleep better or longer at night (I know that I originally thought this!).  This idea is 100% an old wives' tale that has been disproved by medical studies.  Feeding your baby solids or formula in an attempt to make baby sleep longer is not a good idea.  See this link for more info. 

Furthermore, baby rice cereal is not going to fill your baby up.  Sorry, but it's just not.  So, if you think that giving your 2 month old cereal will reduce his need for milk and sleep longer, you are sorely mistaken!  Sleeping through the night is more about temperament than it is about hunger!