From the moment our children are born, one of the most basic responsibilities parents face is feeding them. The role of food-provider changes considerably as children grow, but as a good diet is central to overall health and wellness, it's never far from any parents' mind. Some of the concerns don't change. Is my child eating enough? Too much? Is her diet well-balanced? These questions plague a parent literally from birth onward.

Opinions about feeding children are as varied and diverse as children themselves. But whatever your philosophy, family mealtimes are an opportunity - not only for sustenance, but also for conversations, activities and adventures. In our little corner of the world, we try to help by providing gear, toys, books and information that help make mealtimes a little easier, more straightforward, and more fun.

By Liz Marino, MS

So you've started to notice your little one eying your lunch and you wonder - is it time to start solids? When she looks like she is going to grab your slice of apple and chow down, she is giving one of her first cues. Other, more significant milestones include being able to sit upright with full head and neck control and mouthing and manipulating small toys (especially hand to mouth motions). Most parents, in consultation with their pediatrician, decide to start solids around 4 to 6 months of age. Before 4 months, a baby's intestines are too immature to process the food, possibly leading to the development of more food allergies in the long run. Waiting until the end of the first year (9-12 months) may lead to difficulties in an older baby accepting new tastes and textures.

Once you and your baby have decided the time is right, and you've gotten the go-ahead from your pediatrician, follow these tips on starting solid foods:

• Start small: Start with one food- usually a bland rice or barley baby cereal mixed with expressed breastmilk, formula or spring water. It should be rather smooth (almost runny) and you only need to make about a tablespoon.

• Use your finger: Your child is familiar with your finger - and has probably suckled it many times before. Simply dip your clean finger into the cereal and give her a little taste.

• Try one food at a time: The general rule of thumb is to add only one new food per week. This way, if there is an allergic reaction, you will know what caused it. On the first day of a new food, it's a good idea to try it in the morning, as adverse reactions (whether allergic or simply digestive) are far easier to handle during daylight hours.

• Keep at it: In the beginning, your baby may very well push solid food out with her tongue, but this is a reflex. The tongue thrust reflex is what helps her to nurse and is an initial reaction to something being put in her mouth. Keep at it, as she will slowly learn to keep the new tasty morsels in her mouth.

• Relax: Just like in any other situation, your baby will pick up on your cues. Make mealtime a relaxed, enjoyable time and don't fret if she is not interested in her pureed bananas. Walk away and try another time, maybe when she is better rested, or simply more hungry.

• Try, try again: As adults, if we try something and we don't like it, we usually avoid eating it again. But that's not the case for babies. Everything is new, and many flavors take some getting used to. Just because your baby doesn't seem to like something on Monday doesn't mean he won't gobble it up on Tuesday. Be persistent, and even if there are clear and consistent signs of dislike, don't blacklist the food permanently. Come back to it again every few weeks and see what happens.

Join Liz, our Parent Support Specialist, for her New Parents' Groups at all three stores and her monthly Gearing Up for Baby workshops. See our store event calendar for details. To ask her a question, e-mail liz@mbeans.com.

Not everyone agrees with the idea of hiding healthy ingredients to encourage kids to get their veggies, but the new cookbook, Deceptively Delicious, by Jessica Seinfeld has certainly gotten a lot of attention. We weren’t sure what to think, but when we got our sample, we loved the recipes so much that it didn’t really matter what the logic was behind them.

For a sneak peek at many of the recipes, visit Oprah.com. This book and many other kid-friendly cookbooks are available in our stores.

We're very excited about this new line of baby gear from Inglesina. M'Home (pronounced "mom") offers a chic, modern interpretation of the classic high chair with their new Zuma. We love both the looks and the functionality of the Zuma, and we think it will be a hit. But we want to know what you think. On Saturday April 5th, come to our Wellesley location from 2-6pm to get an exclusive preview of the Zuma and some other pieces from the M'Home collection. Representatives from Inglesina will be on hand to demonstrate the high chair and hear your thoughts.

In addition, from 4-6pm, we will also have a workshop on How to Make Your Own Baby Food, led by Emily Tevald, a local Brookline mom, loyal Magic Beans customer, and accomplished baby food chef. We did this workshop in Brookline at the beginning of March, and it received rave reviews from all who attended. We're pleased to offer an encore in Wellesley.

For a complete listing of in-store events, visit mbeans.com/cal.html - here are some highlights.

April 3rd – Stroller Speed Dating comes to Hingham. All who attend will be entered in a raffle to win a free Stokke Xplory stroller! RSVP to kate@mbeans.com.

April 5th - Meet M'HOME and DYO Baby Food in Wellesley (see above)

April 22nd - Earth Day - celebrations in all three stores, sponsored by Plan Toys