Photo: @kristinbarboza via Instagram
When my daughter was seven months old, I decided it was time to bring on the meat. I bought a chicken breast, poached it until it was soft, ground it up to make it easy to eat and thoughtfully arranged it on a colourful plate. I hoped she?d like it as much as the fruits, veggies and cereals she?d enthusiastically devoured a month earlier. Instead, she took one bite and threw up.
In hindsight, feeding her bland boiled chicken that, frankly, tasted terrible probably wasn?t the best way to encourage her to like meat. Over time, my daughter came around, and now, at age five, she eats almost anything I put in front of her. But knowing what to feed your baby?and when?can be confusing. Here are some simple dos and don?ts to help your little one get started with solids. DON’T start too early

The recommended age to start solids is six months old, though it can vary a few weeks either way. ?Look for signs of readiness,? says Becky Blair, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for Dietitians of Canada who helped develop the latest Canadian guidelines on feeding babies. ?Does your baby have good neck control" Can he sit up and lean forward to accept a spoon"? Michael Dickinson, a paediatrician in Miramichi, NB, suggests doing a test drive. ?Some kids aren?t ready the first time and will spit it back out. Wait a week and then try again,? he says. Even if your baby is showing interest in food and is sitting up like a pro, don?t st...