Starting Solids: When and How to Begin

Starting solids is an exciting milestone in your baby's development. But questions like "when should I start?" and "what should I give first?" can leave parents unsure. This guide explains the essentials, based on the recommendations of trusted health bodies.

When Should Solids Start?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that babies are fed breast milk alone for the first 6 months, then move on to complementary (solid) foods while breastfeeding continues to 2 years and beyond.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) moved closer to this position in 2022, stating that exclusive breastfeeding for around 6 months and continued breastfeeding to 2 years and beyond can be sustained.

The general rule is this: solids should start at around 6 months and not before 4 months. The exact timing is individual to each baby, so talk to your paediatrician about it.

Signs of Readiness

The signs that your baby is ready for solids generally appear together, and rarely before 6 months:

• Good control of the head and neck, and being able to sit when supported
• Being able to bring food to the mouth
• Swallowing food that reaches the mouth rather than pushing it out

What Should the First Solids Be?

Around 6 months a baby's iron stores start to fall, and the iron in breast milk may no longer be enough on its own. That makes iron-rich first foods important:

• Puréed meat
• Iron-fortified baby cereals
• Iron drops, if recommended by your doctor

Vegetable and fruit purées and foods like yoghurt can be added gradually. Introducing each new food one at a time, a few days apart, makes it easier to spot any reaction.

Allergenic Foods: the Old Advice Has Changed

Delaying allergenic foods such as peanut and egg used to be recommended. Current scientific evidence has reversed that approach: introducing allergenic foods (peanut, egg) early, at around 4-6 months but not before 4 months, MAY REDUCE the risk of allergy (the LEAP study).

Important: high-risk babies with severe eczema or a known egg allergy must be assessed by a doctor before allergens are introduced.

Foods to Avoid

Some foods must be avoided entirely during the first year for your baby's safety:

• No honey before 12 months (risk of infant botulism).
• No cow's milk as a main drink before 12 months (products like yoghurt and cheese can be used in cooking earlier).
• No added salt or sugar; no fruit juice before 12 months.
• Avoid unpasteurised milk, cheese and juices.
• Watch out for choking hazards: whole nuts should not be given before age 5 (peanut butter is suitable from around 6 months); round foods like grapes should be cut into small pieces.

Exclusively breastfed babies don't need extra water until around 6 months, when solids begin.

Traditional Weaning or Baby-Led Weaning?

There are two common methods: spoon-feeding purées (traditional), and baby-led weaning (BLW), where your baby picks up finger-sized pieces of soft food themselves. Both are considered safe; the choice comes down to you and your baby. You'll find both set out step by step in the Baby Wallie guides.

Keep Track of the Process

Recording which foods you introduced and when helps you spot possible allergies and follow your baby's eating habits. With Baby Wallie you can easily track feeds, newly introduced foods and your baby's development. General nutrition questions can go to Wallie AI — but for a suspected allergy, vomiting or a rash, call your doctor rather than the app.

If you're wondering how milk feeds are spaced once solids begin, our baby feeding schedule by month sets out 6 to 12 months in a month-by-month table. For the vaccine doses due in the same period, see our baby vaccine schedule article.

Always consult your paediatrician about your baby's individual needs as you start solids. This content is for general information.