Weaning and introducing solid foods

When to start weaning

In the UK, the advice is to start introducing solid foods at around six months of age, alongside continuing breast or formula milk. Before this, milk gives babies everything they need, and their digestive system and coordination are not yet ready for solids. There are three clear signs that a baby is ready: they can stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady; they can coordinate their eyes, hands and mouth to look at food, pick it up and put it in their mouth; and they can swallow food rather than pushing most of it back out. Dribbling, chewing fists or waking in the night are not reliable signs of readiness on their own. If your baby was premature, ask your health visitor about the right timing for them.

How to begin: first foods

Weaning starts gently, offering small amounts once a day and building up as your baby gets used to it. Milk remains their main source of nutrition for the first year. Good first foods include soft cooked vegetables such as carrot, parsnip or broccoli, soft fruit like banana or cooked apple, and soft, mashed or finger-sized pieces of food your baby can hold. Some families spoon-feed purées, some offer soft finger foods (sometimes called baby-led weaning), and many do a mix — all can work well. Offer a variety of flavours, including plenty of vegetables, including bitter ones, to help your baby accept different tastes. Let your baby explore, touch and get messy, and go at their pace. It is normal for babies to eat very little at first.

Foods to avoid and how to keep it safe

Some foods are not suitable for babies. Do not add salt or sugar to your baby's food, and avoid salty foods like processed meats and some sauces, as babies' kidneys cannot cope with much salt. Do not give honey until after one year, as it can rarely cause a serious illness called infant botulism. Avoid whole nuts and other small, hard foods because of choking, and cut round foods like grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthways into small pieces. Do not give unpasteurised cheeses, raw or lightly cooked eggs unless they carry the safety mark, or too much of certain fish. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sit them upright, and never leave them alone with food, so you can act quickly if they struggle.

Allergies and new foods

When introducing solids, it is recommended to include the common allergy foods one at a time, from around six months, so any reaction can be spotted. These include cooked egg, peanut (as smooth peanut butter or ground, never whole nuts), dairy, wheat (gluten), and fish. Current UK advice is that delaying these foods does not prevent allergies, and introducing them from around six months, then keeping them regularly in the diet, may help. Introduce one new allergy food at a time, in a small amount, ideally not when your baby is unwell, so you can watch for any reaction. Signs of a mild reaction include a rash, redness or swelling around the mouth. If your baby has eczema or a known food allergy in the family, ask your GP or health visitor for advice first.

Building healthy eating habits

Weaning is a chance to set up a lifetime of good eating. Offer a wide variety of foods, textures and flavours so your baby learns to enjoy different meals, and keep offering foods even if they are refused at first — it can take many tries before a baby accepts something new. Move gradually from purées to lumpier and then finger foods, as learning to chew is important. Offer water in a cup with meals from around six months, rather than juice or sugary drinks. Aim for family mealtimes where your baby sees others eating, which encourages them. Try not to worry about mess or how much is eaten, and never force-feed. A relaxed, positive approach, with a good range of healthy foods, helps your child develop a happy, healthy relationship with eating.