Babies aren't all the same, so it's silly to think that each child will tolerate or want the same foods at the same time.  Unless your baby has special medical needs, however, the following rules apply:

• Breast-feed or formula feed your baby exclusively for the first 2 months. Water is okay occasionally, but usually not necessary since the milk is itself about 90% water.
  
• If the baby is constipated at 2 months or so, it's okay to start some apple juice if your child likes it, but only 1 or 2 ounces and no more often than once or twice a day.  This may have the effect of loosening the stools somewhat.  Avoid citrus juices (orange, grapefruit) until 6 or more months because of the acid intolerance.  Generally however, we give our kids too much juice, so limit any juice to the occasional use.
  
• Solid baby foods aren't usually introduced until 4 to 6 months.  Babies don't have a tongue-swallow reflex until about 3 months of age, so don't start before then.  Also, food allergies are more likely when solids are started too early,
• In starting solid foods pick a time of day when both you and your baby are happy, well rested, and willing to try new things.   Usually start out once or twice a day, then increase to three or four times as you both gain experience.  Don't force your child to eat when he or she is not hungry, you'll invariably loose any such battles over eating.
• Generally it is best not to introduce more than one new food each week.  That way if your baby does have a reaction to a new food, it can be isolated as the cause.
• Start with the cereals first.  Rice cereal is mixed with formula into a mush, then offered on a baby spoon.  Don't be surprised if your baby spits out as much as he takes at first.  One or so teaspoonfuls may be the limit early on, but it will increase with experience.  Progress through barley, oatmeal and wheat cereals to taste.
• Next come the yellow vegetables, offered before fruits so that the baby will get used to eating different solids for their own taste before sugary fruits are started.  Follow with green vegetables, then fruits.  Generally we don't recommend the high calorie fruit desserts unless your baby has a specific problem with poor weight gain. Egg yolks can be started at 6 months, but hold off on egg whites until one year of age. 
• Some table food such as mashed potatoes or mashed peas can be offered directly off of your plate when the baby shows an interest.  You can also use a blender to puree your own leftover fruits and vegetables, and freeze in small portions until used. Foods are completely pureed into a mush at first (Stage 1).  The foods can be less pureed with more chunks as the baby gets older (Stages 2 and 3).
• At 9 months or so, you can start giving Cheerios and other small foods babies can pick up and feed themselves. Serve these soggy in milk at first, but as they develop their picking and chewing skills, give them straight from the box.
  
• Meats aren't introduced until 10-12 months, usually as mixed dinners since most of the pureed meats by themselves taste horrible.  Begin with chicken and turkey, ending up with beef.   
• Try your best to avoid having your child eat junk food, high calorie snacks, and juice drinks.  Feed them when they are hungry, not necessarily when it's convenient.            Bon Appetit!

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