Introduction to solid foods: Weaning your baby

Whether you're just starting or planning ahead, it’s a big milestone and with so much advice out there, it can feel a little overwhelming. Our experts are here to support you and your little one.   

Introducing your baby to solid foods

At the beginning, how much your baby eats is less important than getting them used to the idea of eating. They'll still be getting most of their energy and nutrients from breast milk or infant formula.  

From around six months, you can begin offering small amounts of solid food alongside their usual milk feeds. Giving a variety of foods early on helps build healthy habits for life. 

How can I tell if my baby is ready for solid foods? 

Most babies are ready to start trying food at around six months. Look for these three key signs which should happen together: 

• Sitting up and holding their head steady. 

• Hand-to-mouth coordination – they look at something, pick up it up and try to eat it. 

• Swallowing food, rather than pushing it out with their tongue. 

Some common behaviours like chewing fists, waking more often at night, or wanting extra milk feeds don’t necessarily mean your baby is ready for solids. 

If your baby was born prematurely, speak to your health visitor or doctor about when to start introducing solid foods, they’ll help you decide what’s best for your baby. 

Take it one meal at a time, and don’t worry if things get messy. Every bite is a step forward.

Weaning tips to keep in mind 

• Take it one food, one meal, at a time - there’s no rush. 

• Some foods are more likely to cause allergic reactions. Introduce these foods one at a time and in very small amounts, so you can spot any signs of a reaction. Find out more about what types of foods may cause a reaction, as well as how to spot the signs of a food allergy on the NHS website. 

• Mess is normal! Let your baby explore and enjoy the experience. 

• Gradually increase the variety and texture of foods as your baby grows. 

• Eventually, your baby will be able to enjoy the same healthy meals as the rest of the family, just in smaller portions. 

Want more support with weaning? 

• The NHS has advice, helpful videos, tips from other parents, and lots of simple, healthy recipes and meal ideas.

• We’ve got advice on feeding your baby safely to help avoid choking. 

• Our healthy eating for families’ webpages have ideas for meals you can enjoy together as your little one grows up.

Help buying food and milk if you are pregnant or have young children 

Raising a young child can be expensive, and if you're pregnant or have little ones at home, making sure they get the right nutrition is vital but not always easy if money is tight. There are schemes across the UK that can help you afford healthy food, milk, and vitamins for your family. 

If you’re in England, Northern Ireland or Wales, and are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk through the NHS’s Healthy Start Scheme. Find out more about the Healthy Start scheme.

If you’re in Scotland, you may be able to claim Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods which are payments that help towards the costs of being pregnant or looking after a child. Best Start Foods is a payment to help you buy healthy foods during pregnancy and when your child is under three. Find out more about Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods.

 All of the information on this page was created with practising health professionals. This page was reviewed in December 2025. We will next review the page in 2028.