Kidora Parent Hub

Weaning Your Baby

Weaning, also called introducing solid foods or complementary feeding, is the stage when a baby begins eating food alongside breast milk or first infant formula.

In the UK, NHS guidance recommends starting at around six months, when the baby shows the developmental signs that they are ready.

This guide explains how to begin safely, what foods and textures to offer, how to introduce allergens and what equipment is genuinely useful.

How to Use This Guide

This page summarises linked NHS weaning guidance. It does not diagnose an allergy, swallowing problem or feeding difficulty and does not replace advice from a health visitor, GP, dietitian, allergy team or another clinician.

Follow any individual plan provided for your baby, particularly where the baby was premature, has a diagnosed allergy, eczema, feeding difficulty or another medical need.

Trusted UK Weaning Links

• NHS weaning guidance
• NHS choking and gagging guidance
• NHS guidance on introducing foods that may trigger an allergic reaction
• NHS child-choking first-aid guidance
• UK Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls

When to Start Weaning

The NHS describes introducing solid foods, also called weaning or complementary feeding, as starting when a baby is around six months old and showing the relevant readiness signs.

Age alone is not the only consideration. Use the current NHS weaning guidance and speak to a health visitor or clinical team if the baby was premature or has an individual feeding or health plan.

Look for the Three Main Readiness Signs

A baby may be ready when they can:

• Stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady
• Coordinate their eyes, hands and mouth to look at food, pick it up and bring it to their mouth
• Swallow food rather than pushing it back out

These signs usually appear together at around six months.

Signs That Do Not Necessarily Mean Readiness

The following are not reliable signs on their own:

• Chewing fists
• Wanting extra milk
• Waking more often at night
• Watching other people eat
• Being a larger baby

Speak to a health visitor or GP before starting earlier than around six months.

Milk Is Still Important

Breast milk or first infant formula remains the baby’s main source of nutrition when weaning begins.

Continue offering milk feeds while gradually increasing the amount and variety of solid food.

Milk should remain the baby’s main drink during the first year.

Start with Small Amounts

At first, a baby may only need a small amount of food once a day.

Choose a time when:

• The baby is awake and calm
• The baby is not extremely hungry
• There is enough time
• An adult can supervise closely

It is normal for much of the food to be touched, dropped or spat out at first.

First Foods

Suitable first foods may include soft cooked vegetables, fruit, starchy foods and protein-rich foods.

Examples include:

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Courgette
• Carrot
• Parsnip
• Avocado
• Banana
• Pear
• Potato
• Porridge
• Lentils
• Beans
• Egg
• Fish with all bones removed

Offer a Range of Tastes

Include less sweet vegetables as well as sweeter fruit and vegetables.

This can help the baby become familiar with a wider range of flavours.

Repeated exposure may be needed before a baby accepts a new food.

Introduce Different Textures

Babies need opportunities to learn how to manage different textures.

Depending on readiness, food may be offered as:

• Mashed food
• Lumpy food
• Soft finger food
• Thicker purées

Move beyond very smooth purées as the baby becomes ready, rather than keeping every meal completely smooth for too long.

Finger Foods

Finger foods can help babies practise:

• Reaching
• Grasping
• Hand-to-mouth coordination
• Chewing
• Self-feeding

Food should be soft enough to squash easily between the fingers.

Offer pieces that are easy for the baby to hold, often around the size and shape of an adult finger.

Baby-Led Weaning and Spoon Feeding

Some parents choose baby-led weaning, some prefer spoon feeding and many use a combination.

There is no need to follow one method exclusively.

The important points are:

• Appropriate textures
• A varied diet
• Safe food preparation
• Close supervision
• Responsive feeding

Responsive Weaning

Allow the baby to decide how much to eat.

Signs that the baby has had enough may include:

• Turning the head away
• Closing the mouth
• Pushing food away
• Losing interest

Do not pressure the baby to clear the bowl or finish a portion.

Introduce Food Groups Gradually

As weaning progresses, offer foods from different groups, including:

• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Starchy foods
• Protein foods
• Pasteurised full-fat dairy foods

Protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs, beans, lentils and tofu provide important nutrients including iron and zinc.

Iron-Rich Foods

Useful iron-containing foods include:

• Meat
• Fish
• Eggs
• Beans
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Fortified cereals

Offer a varied diet rather than relying on one food.

Dairy Foods

From around six months, suitable pasteurised full-fat dairy foods may include:

• Plain full-fat yoghurt
• Cheese
• Whole milk used in cooking or mixed with food

Whole cows’ milk should not replace breast milk or first infant formula as the main drink before 12 months.

Introducing Foods That May Trigger an Allergic Reaction

The NHS advises introducing foods that can trigger allergic reactions from around six months, one at a time and in very small amounts, so that a reaction can be identified.

Once a food has been introduced and tolerated, NHS guidance explains that it can remain part of the baby’s usual diet.

Do not use this summary as an individual allergy plan. Read the current NHS food-allergy guidance and seek professional advice where the baby has a diagnosed allergy, significant eczema or another clinical concern.

Keep Offering Tolerated Allergens

Once an allergenic food has been introduced and tolerated, include it regularly as part of the baby’s usual diet.

Do not deliberately delay common allergens without professional advice.

Ask for Advice Before Introducing Allergens When Needed

Speak to a GP, health visitor or allergy specialist first if the baby has:

• A diagnosed food allergy
• Severe eczema
• A previous immediate reaction to food
• A specialist feeding plan

Use the current NHS baby food allergies guidance.

Possible Allergic Reactions Need Appropriate Help

Use the NHS guidance to understand possible signs of an allergic reaction. Do not diagnose a food allergy from one symptom or reintroduce a suspected food against clinical advice.

Call 999 for signs of a severe allergic reaction, including serious breathing difficulty, swelling affecting breathing, collapse or unresponsiveness.

For a non-emergency concern, stop the meal and seek advice from a GP, health visitor, NHS 111 where available or the baby’s allergy team. Keep a record of the food, amount, timing and symptoms for the healthcare professional.

Choking and Gagging Are Different

The NHS explains that gagging is a normal protective reflex during weaning and is usually noisy, while choking can be quiet and is dangerous.

Parents and carers should learn paediatric first aid before or during weaning. Use the current NHS choking and gagging guidance and NHS child-choking first-aid instructions.

Call 999 when a child cannot breathe properly, becomes unresponsive or remains in immediate danger.

Reduce Choking Risk

Always:

• Sit the baby upright
• Stay with the baby
• Prepare food to a safe shape and texture
• Remove bones, stones, pips and hard skin
• Check the baby is alert

Do not feed a baby while they are lying down, travelling in a car seat or moving around with food.

Foods That Need Careful Preparation

Examples include:

• Grapes and cherry tomatoes, which should be cut lengthways into suitable pieces
• Hard raw vegetables, which should be cooked until soft
• Round sausage pieces, which should be cut lengthways and appropriately
• Fruit with stones or pips, which should be removed
• Fish, which must be checked carefully for bones
• Nut butters, which should be spread thinly or mixed into food rather than offered as a thick spoonful

Whole Nuts

Do not give whole nuts to children under five because of the choking risk.

Finely ground nuts or smooth nut butter may be introduced in an age-appropriate form from around six months when suitable.

Foods to Avoid Before 12 Months

Do not give:

• Honey
• Whole cows’ milk as the main drink
• Unpasteurised milk or dairy products
• Foods containing added salt
• High-salt processed foods
• Foods and drinks with unnecessary added sugar

Avoid Added Salt

Babies do not need salt added to food or cooking water.

Take care with:

• Stock cubes
• Gravy
• Processed meat
• Ready meals
• Salty cheese
• Adult sauces

Avoid Added Sugar

Babies do not need sugar added to food.

Frequent sugary food and drinks can contribute to tooth decay and may encourage a preference for very sweet flavours.

Honey

Do not give honey before 12 months because it can contain bacteria that may cause infant botulism.

This includes honey added to cooked foods or drinks.

Eggs

Hen eggs carrying the British Lion mark may be served raw or lightly cooked under current UK guidance.

Eggs without the British Lion mark should be cooked thoroughly.

Follow individual medical advice for babies with weakened immune systems or specialist diets.

Fish

Fish can provide useful nutrients, but check:

• All bones are removed
• The fish is cooked appropriately
• Current NHS guidance on fish types and portions

Drinks During Weaning

Offer sips of water from an open cup or free-flow cup with meals from around six months.

Breast milk or first infant formula should remain the main drink during the first year.

Avoid Sugary Drinks

Babies do not need:

• Fruit juice
• Squash
• Fizzy drinks
• Sweetened milk drinks
• Tea or coffee

Use an Open or Free-Flow Cup

Learning to drink from an open or free-flow cup can support drinking skills.

Avoid relying on non-spill valves for every drink because they require the baby to suck in a similar way to a bottle.

Meals and Snacks

At the beginning, one small meal a day may be enough.

Gradually move towards more meals as the baby develops and appetite increases.

Babies under 12 months generally do not need snacks. Offer additional milk feeds if they are hungry between meals.

Portion Sizes

There is no fixed portion that every baby must eat.

Start small, offer more if wanted and stop when the baby shows fullness cues.

Shop-Bought Jars and Pouches

Commercial baby foods can be convenient occasionally, but should not be the only source of food.

When using them:

• Check the age guidance
• Check ingredients
• Choose lower-sugar options
• Spoon food from a pouch rather than allowing the baby to suck directly from it
• Follow storage instructions

Do Not Rely on Pouches Every Day

Regularly offer home-prepared textures and finger foods so the baby can practise chewing, grasping and eating from a spoon or cup.

Food Hygiene

Before preparing food:

• Wash hands
• Clean surfaces
• Use clean utensils
• Wash fruit and vegetables
• Cook food thoroughly where required
• Cool hot food before serving

Storing Baby Food

Follow current NHS and Food Standards Agency advice for chilling, freezing, reheating and leftovers.

Useful principles include:

• Cool food promptly
• Store it in clean covered containers
• Label frozen portions
• Reheat thoroughly where appropriate
• Stir and test temperature
• Discard food left in the baby’s bowl

Do Not Reheat Food Repeatedly

Only reheat food as recommended and avoid repeated warming and cooling.

Follow the storage instructions for shop-bought foods.

Weaning Equipment

Most families only need a small number of items.

Useful equipment may include:

• A secure highchair
• Soft-tipped spoons
• An open or free-flow cup
• Bibs
• Small bowls or ordinary suitable household bowls
• A wipe-clean mat

A Highchair Should Be Safe and Stable

Check that the highchair:

• Is suitable for the baby’s developmental stage
• Has all required restraints
• Locks securely
• Is stable on the floor
• Has no cracked or missing parts
• Is used according to the manufacturer’s instructions

You Do Not Need Specialist Equipment for Everything

Many ordinary kitchen items can be used safely, such as:

• A fork for mashing
• Small food-storage containers
• A saucepan
• A steamer or ordinary cooking method
• Existing freezer trays where suitable and hygienic

A specialist baby-food maker is optional.

Buying Weaning Equipment Preloved

Suitable preloved equipment may include:

• Highchairs
• Wipe-clean mats
• Unopened cups and utensils
• Storage organisers
• Some reusable bibs

Check every item for cleanliness, cracks, missing parts, recalls and manufacturer instructions.

Replace Worn Food-Contact Items

Do not use:

• Cracked bowls
• Split spoons
• Damaged cups
• Heavily scratched food containers
• Items with mould or persistent odour

Weaning and Kidora

Kidora is a UK-only marketplace where parents can buy and sell new and suitable preloved baby and children’s items.

Families may find highchairs, bowls, cups, storage products and other weaning equipment. Check recalls, instructions, stability, harnesses, electrical condition and hygiene. Replace worn, damaged or personal food-contact components where appropriate.

Sellers pay no selling fees and keep 100% of the item sale price. Suitable equipment can be listed at £0 as FREE rather than being thrown away, helping another family. FREE listings are collection-only and do not include a Buyer Protection fee.

Kidora does not assess feeding readiness, allergy risk, hygiene or product safety. Follow NHS, clinician and manufacturer guidance.

A Weaning Checklist

• Wait until around six months and check readiness signs
• Continue breast milk or first infant formula
• Start with small amounts
• Offer a variety of tastes and textures
• Introduce allergens carefully
• Learn the difference between gagging and choking
• Prepare food in a safe shape and texture
• Avoid honey, added salt and added sugar
• Offer water from an open or free-flow cup
• Use only a small amount of equipment

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start weaning?

Most babies are ready at around six months when they can sit steadily, coordinate food to their mouth and swallow it rather than pushing it out.

Should I stop milk feeds when solids begin?

No. Breast milk or first infant formula remains the main source of nutrition and the main drink during the first year.

Is baby-led weaning better than spoon feeding?

Neither method is required. Parents can use finger foods, spoon feeding or a combination, provided food is varied, suitable and safely prepared.

When can I introduce allergenic foods?

Common allergenic foods can usually be introduced from around six months, one at a time and in small amounts. Ask for medical advice first when the baby has severe eczema, an existing allergy or a previous reaction.

Can I buy weaning equipment preloved?

Yes. Suitable highchairs, washable bibs and some accessories may be bought preloved when they are clean, complete, undamaged and not affected by a recall.