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You have now come full circle. You hold in your hands an infant, totally dependent on you for nourishment and it is in your hands the task of feeding the baby. For starters it will make you truly appreciate the trouble your own mother went through to feed you. But you needn't fret too much. Here is an age guide to feeding the baby.

Breast feeding a baby is the best thing you can do up to the age of four months. Should you have been medically advised to feed formula, then your doctor will guide you on the levels of mixture. Infants are generally breast fed every two hours for the first four weeks or so. By which time you will fall into a pattern and know how much your child needs. With formula, you know you are feeding the baby the right amount when you have a little left in the bottle.

Between the ages of four to six months is when you should start feeding the baby semi-solid food. This has to be done gradually. Start with a tablespoon of overcooked rice mixed with formula or breast milk. Feeding baby this watery consistency will do for starters. After a gap of a week increase the quantity a bit. Do this gradually till your baby shifts completely to semi-solid food, which is around two months. Once done, you can start including purees of vegetables. Introduce one new puree a week so that you can check for potential allergies.

Towards the middle of the eight month is when you should start feeding baby solid foods. Build up to this by working on the consistency of the food you feed the baby. Start with foods that are easily digestible and don't involve too much of chewing - rice, gravies of pulses, boiled vegetables such as carrots and pumpkin are ideal. Introduce well boiled greens as well.

By the 10th month feeding the baby will take on new dimensions. Babies can be introduced to finger foods such as cheese slices, soft pieces of banana, toasted bagels, Rice Crispies and more. A common thread that runs through the age guide to feeding the baby is to ensure that they are still given their formula or breast milk. This calcium intake should not be compromised in any way. By the time your baby is nearing its first birthday, the consistency of the food you are feeding the baby, will depend on how many teeth have developed. You will by now be familiar with your baby's likes and dislikes and will know when he is most receptive to new foods.