Most babies are ready for three meals a day plus snacks and breast milk or formula some time after 9 months of age. Gradually decrease the number of feedings from the breast or bottle as baby eats more solids food. Let baby's hunger be your guide.

For finger foods try:

• crackers
• pieces of tortilla
• small cubes or strips of mild cheese
• cooked noodles or rice
• pieces of soft-cooked vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, peas, or zucchini
• pieces of soft peeled fruit such as apples, bananas, peaches, pears, melon with no seeds

Give just a few bites at a time -- no more than you are willing to pick up off the floor. Watch and supervise your baby closely as she eats. Be sure she doesn't stuff her mouth full and forget to swallow. Sometimes you have to slow her down, remind her to chew and occasionally help her spit food out of her mouth and swallow.

Your baby can now have 100% juice. However, young children should not have more than 1/4 cup of juice a day. Give 100% juice and not sugar sweetened fruit drinks, sodas or sugar water. Avoid putting juice in a bottle or sippy cup and letting the child drink on it all day.

Some foods can easily slip into a child's throat and cause choking. Don't give foods that are small and hard, round or slippery. These include popcorn, peanuts, seeds, raisins, whole grapes, peanut butter, hard candies, raw vegetables and circles of hot dogs or meat sticks. Cut hot-dogs the long way for children under 4 years old. Never let a child walk or run with food in her mouth. Don't let your baby lie on her back with food in her mouth.

Food habits are usually formed during childhood. If a variety of healthy foods are offered, children learn to eat a variety of foods throughout life.

Ways to help your baby develop good eating habits:

• Provide a pleasant mealtime.
• Feed her with the rest of the family.
• Don't make her eat more than she wants; appetites vary from day to day.
• Give foods from daily food guide.
• Offer vegetables instead of desserts.
• Use colorful foods to make eating fun and slowly introduce coarser textures.