What are the different levels of baby food available and what age eats which level?

There are 4 stages of baby food. The first stage is food you usually give your baby at about 4-6 months old. These include single ingredient foods, like rice cereal, and pureed fruits and vegetables. There is no texture to it. (If your baby does not seem full after nursing or drinking formula and they are not 6 months old yet, talk with your pediatrician about starting your baby on solid foods early.) The containers are small as well, so the portion is not a large portion.

The second stage should be given when your baby is 7-8 months old. These are foods that include single ingredient and combination foods that are strained, instead or being pureed. Examples include Beech-Nut Naturals Stage 2 Apples & Bananas, Gerber 2nd Foods Garden Vegetables, Heinz Strained Vegetables, and Earth's Best Corn and Butternut Squash.

The third stage can be given when your baby is 9-12 months old. These foods have more texture and small chunks to encourage chewing. Examples of '3rd' foods include Beech-Nut Naturals Stage 3 Chicken Lasagna, Gerber 3rd Foods Broccoli & Carrots with Cheese, Heinz Vegetables Beef & Spaghetti (Junior Foods), and Earth's Best Chunky Orchard Fruit (Chunky Blend). These jars of baby food are easy to spot because they are usually bigger than stage 1 and 2 baby foods, since your baby likely has a bigger appetite by the time he is ready for these foods.

Lastly, your baby will progress to '4th' foods or table food when they turn one. At this point, you may be feeding your baby the food that the rest of the family is eating, or you might continue to buy commercially prepared toddler foods. These include Beech-Nut Naturals Table Time Peach Dices In White Grape Juice From Concentrate and Heinz Step 4 Toddler Cuisine Chicken & Stars with Vegetables & Gravy.

I have listed below the different stages of food and sites where you can purchase these foods.