Nutrional needs of infant 1st year, when to introduce solid?

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I'm doing an assignment base on the nutritional needs of the infant in the first year of life, with an emphasis on when the introduce solids, amount of solid feeding per day (how many tsp or tbsp), what type of foods to start...

I went to a clinic where they teach childbirth related stuff, and I was able to get a lot of information, pamphlets, handouts on the nutritional needs, but all of them are about the importance of breastmilk and breastfeeding.

So I did not get any handouts/information on when to introduce solids in the first year of life.

My questions are:

1)When should solids be introduced at what month in the first year, and at what form (mashed, liquefied?)

2)What type of foods should be introduced first? For example at 6 months, what type of solid food, at 7 months what type, at 8 months etc...

3)What is the amount of solid food feeding to give to an infant per feeding and per day base on teaspoons and tablespoon?

4)Ideally, on average, when should breastmilk feeding be stopped? After 6 months? After 1 year?

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I'm doing an assignment base on the nutritional needs of the infant in the first year of life, with an emphasis on when the introduce solids, amount of solid feeding per day (how many tsp or tbsp), what type of foods to start...

I went to a clinic where they teach childbirth related stuff, and I was able to get a lot of information, pamphlets, handouts on the nutritional needs, but all of them are about the importance of breastmilk and breastfeeding.

So I did not get any handouts/information on when to introduce solids in the first year of life.

My questions are:

1)When should solids be introduced at what month in the first year, and at what form (mashed, liquefied?)

Not until 6 months now, though many parents start at 4. Supposedly there is a greater risk of a kid developing a food allergy if you start too early. Also, digestion is still a little too immature to handle more complex foods. It's often recommended to add a little baby cereal to milk first, and then to try pureed fruit or jarred baby foods. The idea is to introduce only one new food for a week or two to make sure the baby can tolerate the new food. I skipped the cereal & just began jarred apples with my kid.

2)What type of foods should be introduced first? For example at 6 months, what type of solid food, at 7 months what type, at 8 months etc...

Kids get teeth at genetically programmed different times -- some start breaking teeth at 3 months, others not until 7 or later -- and even so, they don't have them all until after a year old. Obviously they can't handle real solid food until they have more teeth. Read Dr.Spock for more info.

3)What is the amount of solid food feeding to give to an infant per feeding and per day base on teaspoons and tablespoon?

I believe you start out with 1-2 teaspoons per day, and then move up in quantity if the baby seems to want more. Milk is still the primary form of sustenance for the first year (ie. breastmilk or formula; NOT cow's milk -- can cause diarrhea, dehydration, upset of electrolyte balance, and ultimately death).

4)Ideally, on average, when should breastmilk feeding be stopped? After 6 months? After 1 year?

The American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization both state that breastmilk should be the exclusive form of nutrition for babies to 6 months old, and afterwards a combo of solids/milk should be continued for at least up to 1 year. It's recommended to breastfeed as long as possible. Some women do this for up to 3 years even, or more (cultural thing often).

Read Dr.Spock for all the latest info. Also, look up the AAP online. There's lots of info all over the net. Oh, look up the Le Leche League, too.

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