SageMother

Cereal is usually the first solid, but it doesn't start out as a spoonful of what you usually think of.

Begin with just a tiny bit in the usual formula or expressed mother's milk and slowly add a little more every few days or weeks, depending on how quickly the baby takes to it. When it can be tolerated in a fiarly creamy consistency, introduce the dreaded spoon.

Many babies find this an evil device. It isn't soft and warm, they aren't held while it is used, and they have to change the way they use their tongue to move spoon fed materials to the back of the throat for swallowing. Alot of food ends up on the chin but in time most of use get the hang of it.