When to introduce solids? What to start out with?
Doctors actually spend very little time on infant nutrition in school. The only education they receive once they are out of school is from formula company reps who stop by to give them incentives for marketing their products. The AAP and the WHO both state six months is the EARLIEST time to introduce any form of solids, for very good reason! Babies who have rice cereal in their bottle or other early introduction of solids will have a higher chance of diabetes, obesity, autoimmune problems and diabetes. It is also dangerous, because until a baby is about six months of age, they still have an open gut. This means that all bacteria goes from their stomach directly into the blood stream, which can lead very bad problems for baby.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/3/e827.full?sid=45299156-71bc-46f3-abfe-e0393fcec3d8#T2 (AAP guidelines on infant nutrion)
http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/delay-solids/ (Great explaination on open gut!)
Furthermore, rice cereal has no nurtrional value and the iron in it will interfere with the iron in your breast milk. It will make what you are offering baby more ineffective to absorb. It has preservatives. Also, babies cannot properly digest grains until closer to a year in age. There are healthier first foods, such as bananas, sweet potatoes, avocados, boiled veggies (carrots, green beans, etc), beef that is tender from a cockpot.