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When to start introducing solid foods
Introducing solid foods, often called 'weaning', should start when your baby is around 6 months old. The latest research from the World Health Organisation shows that babies’ digestive systems are not developed enough to cope with solid foods before they're around 6 months old.

Feeding your baby solid food before this time could lead to diarrhoea and vomiting, which may need hospital treatment. Waiting until your baby is ready also saves you a lot of time as they'll be able to feed themselves very quickly (and with less mess as they will swallow properly).

If you're breastfeeding, feeding only breast milk up to around 6 months will give your baby extra protection against infection. Breastfeeding beyond 6 months, alongside solid foods, will continue to protect them for as long as you carry on. If you’re bottle feeding, infant formula should be given until around 6 months and continued afterwards along with other foods.

Signs that your baby is ready Every baby is an individual, but there are three clear signs which, together, show that it’s time to start them on solids alongside breast milk.

• They can co-ordinate their eyes, hand and mouth and look at the food. They can pick up food and put it in their mouth all by themselves.
• They can swallow food. Babies who are not ready will push their food back out, and end up with more food on their face than in their mouths.
• They can stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady.

It’s rare for these signs to appear together before 6 months. Some behaviours are mistakenly taken as signs that a baby is ready for solids. They include:

• chewing fists
• waking in the night when they have previously slept through
• wanting extra milk feeds

These are normal baby behaviours and not necessarily a sign of hunger. Starting solid foods won't make them any more likely to sleep through. Extra feeds are usually enough until they're ready for other food.

Getting started

• Let your baby enjoy touching and holding the food.
• Always stay with your baby when they’re eating in case they start to choke.
• Allow your baby to feed themselves, using fingers, as soon as they show an interest.
• Don’t force your baby – wait until next time if they're not interested this time.
• If you’re using a spoon, wait for your baby to open their mouth before you offer the food. Your baby may like to hold a spoon too.
• Start by offering just a few teaspoons of food, once a day.
• If the food is hot, allow it to cool and test it before giving it to your baby.
• Don’t add salt, sugar or stock cubes to your baby’s food or cooking water.