Is my baby ready for solids?

When to start

The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend starting foods other than breast milk or formula at about 6 months. The NHS and the WHO say the same. Starting before 4 months is not recommended.

“About 6 months” is a range, not a birthday. Every baby gets there at their own pace, which is why the readiness signs matter.

The signs your baby is ready

Look for these signs together, not just one of them:

• Sits up alone or with support, like in a high chair
• Holds their head steady and controls their neck
• Brings things to their mouth, and tries to grab small objects like toys or food
• Swallows food instead of pushing it back out onto their chin

You may also notice your baby opening their mouth when food comes near.

Signs that are often mistaken for readiness

The NHS points out that these are normal baby behaviors, and not by themselves a sign that your baby is hungry or ready for solids:

• Chewing their fists
• Waking up in the night more than usual
• Wanting extra milk feeds

Starting solids won’t make your baby more likely to sleep through the night.

Why not before 4 months?

Before 4 months, babies aren’t developmentally ready to move food to the back of their mouth and swallow it safely. Breast milk or formula provides the energy and nutrients they need at that age. The one common exception is vitamin D: breastfed babies, and babies having less than about 500 ml (17 oz) of formula a day, usually need a daily vitamin D supplement, so ask your pediatrician or health visitor. If you’re thinking about starting early, talk to your pediatrician first.

Why not wait much longer than 6 months?

Around 6 months, babies start to need more iron and other nutrients than breast milk alone provides, so first foods should include iron-rich options like meat, beans or lentils, and iron-fortified cereal. Introducing common allergens like egg and peanut early (around 6 months, but not before 4) may also lower the chance of a food allergy.

Babies born early, or with health conditions

If your baby was born prematurely, ask your pediatrician or health visitor when to start. Talk to your doctor first, too, if your baby has trouble feeding or swallowing, or has a developmental delay. Severe eczema or an egg allergy doesn’t mean waiting for solids, but ask your doctor how and when to introduce peanut: see introducing allergens.

What the first days look like

At first, how much your baby eats matters much less than getting used to new tastes and textures. Breast milk or formula is still their main source of nutrition.

• Start with a small amount, a teaspoon or two, at a time when your baby isn’t tired. Offer it shortly before a usual milk feed, so they’re interested but not too hungry.
• Don’t put baby cereal in a bottle: the AAP says your baby could choke. Only do it if your doctor recommends it for reflux.
• Go at your baby’s pace. Stop when they close their mouth or turn away.
• It can take 10 tries or more before a baby accepts a new food. That’s normal.
• Some coughing and gagging is normal too. It’s how babies learn. Know the difference between gagging and choking before the first meal.

Ready? See what to feed at 6 months.