Baby Weaning UK: NHS Guidelines, First Foods, and Signs of Readiness (2026)

Around 6 months, your baby starts eyeing your toast. Here’s everything you need to know about starting solids — based on current NHS guidelines, not TikTok trends.

When to Start

NHS guidelines recommend introducing solid foods at around 6 months (26 weeks). Not before 4 months (17 weeks) under any circumstances. Between 4-6 months only on specific medical advice.

Signs of Readiness

All three of these should be present:

1. Sit up and hold their head steady (with minimal support)
2. Coordinate eyes, hands, and mouth — can look at food, grab it, and bring it to their mouth
3. Swallow food rather than push it back out with their tongue (the tongue-thrust reflex should have faded)

Waking at night, chewing fists, and wanting extra milk are NOT signs of readiness — these are normal developmental behaviours.

First Foods

Good first foods include: soft cooked vegetables (broccoli, sweet potato, carrot), soft fruit (banana, avocado, mango), baby rice or porridge mixed with breast milk or formula. Offer one new food at a time and wait 2-3 days before introducing another, so you can spot any reactions.

Allergen Introduction

Current NHS guidance (confirmed 2026): introduce common allergens one at a time from around 6 months. These include: peanuts (as smooth peanut butter), eggs (well-cooked), cow’s milk (in cooking), wheat, soy, fish, and sesame. Early introduction is now recommended to reduce the risk of allergy, not increase it.

Baby-Led vs Traditional Weaning

Baby-led weaning (BLW): Baby feeds themselves finger foods from the start. No purées, no spoon-feeding. Encourages independence and self-regulation.

Traditional weaning: Start with smooth purées, gradually increasing texture over weeks and months.

Combination: Most families end up doing a mix. There’s no evidence that one approach is superior. Do what works for your family.

Foods to Avoid

• Honey (until 12 months — risk of botulism)
• Whole nuts (choking hazard until age 5 — use smooth nut butters instead)
• Added salt and sugar
• Shark, swordfish, marlin (high mercury)
• Raw or lightly cooked eggs unless British Lion stamped
• Low-fat or diet products

Track your baby’s development alongside weaning with our Baby Milestone Tracker — it covers month-by-month development including feeding stages.

Questions Parents Ask

When should I worry about my baby’s development?

Every baby develops at their own pace, and the milestones you see online are averages, not deadlines. However, speak to your health visitor or GP if your baby isn’t making eye contact by 3 months, isn’t responding to sounds, has lost skills they previously had, or if your instinct tells you something isn’t right. Parental instinct is powerful — if you’re concerned, always get it checked. There is no such thing as being “too worried” when it comes to your child’s health.

Is it normal to find the baby stage overwhelming?

Completely. The baby stage is relentless — broken sleep, constant feeding, nappy changes, and very little feedback from a tiny human who can’t smile at you yet. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or not enjoying motherhood, you’re not failing. You’re experiencing something genuinely hard. Talk to your health visitor, call the PANDAS Foundation helpline on 0808 196 1776, or see your GP. Support is available and you deserve it.

For more support during the baby stage, explore our Baby Hub which covers everything from sleep guides to development milestones. If you’re finding the transition to motherhood particularly difficult, our guide on postnatal anxiety covers the symptoms nobody warns you about and where to get help.

Remember: there is no perfect way to do this. Fed, safe, loved — that’s the bar. Everything else is optional.