Baby Food

Dear Dr. Markel,
My baby is 6 months old and showing signs that she is ready for solid food. I have heard that starting your baby on grains - like rice cereal - can increase their chances of getting food allergies and diabetes later in life. Is this true? What food do you suggest we start our baby on? Someone else suggested egg yolks and avocados, however, I've also heard no avocados until month 7 or 8? Yikes, there is so much conflicting evidence out there!

Dear Dr. Markel,
I'm currently breastfeeding my 3rd baby who is now 8 months old. I've recently been hearing a great deal about infant exposure to toxins from mother's breast milk to certain chemicals, such as PBDEs. The potential to pass on a higher “body burden” of toxins that could lead to unforeseeable problems later in life, including passing along a higher risk of birth defects, miscarriage or other illnesses to their children really alarms me and is causing me to re-think breastfeeding my youngest through the 2nd year as I did with my other babies. Where/how can I get tested to find out if I have a have a high level of toxins in my body and my breast milk? The recent article in Elle Magazine, April 2007, "The kids are Not All Right" suggested there are labs, but that it may be incredibly expensive. Do you have any comments or ideas?