Weaning basics for healthcare professionals

Most babies are ready to start solids at around 6 months, while continuing with breast milk or infant formula.

When talking to parents, it can help to keep the focus on developmental readiness rather than age alone. Signs a baby is ready to start are:

Parents often ask whether extra milk feeds, night waking or showing interest in food mean it is time to start. These are common behaviours, but they are not enough on their own without the three signs above.

Framing readiness in this way can help parents feel clearer and more confident about when to begin.

However, it is still also important to inform parents that starting before 17 weeks is not advised, and that getting going around 6 months rather than delaying longer than this helps to prevent potential nutritional deficiencies.

It is often helpful to remind parents that weaning is not about rushing to replace milk feeds or expecting babies to eat large amounts from the start. Early weaning is a learning process.

Babies are getting used to new tastes, new textures and the experience of having food in their mouth. Some take to this quickly, while others need more time. Both can be normal.

The start of weaning can often feel slow. Small amounts may be taken, and intake is often unpredictable. Face pulling, spitting food out, dropping food, rubbing it on the face and hair and looking unsure of what to do are all part of normal learning.
Parents can also find it reassuring to know that starting solids does not mean having a full routine straight away. Starting solids can feel overwhelming, so starting with small amounts once a day and building over several weeks is adequate.

Setting this expectation early can help parents approach weaning with less pressure and more confidence.

One area of weaning that is hotly debated, is whether babies should be fed using a spoon or whether they should solely self-feed. Traditional vs baby led weaning.

It can be helpful to move away from the idea that families have to choose one method and stick rigidly to it and not worry too much about baby-led weaning vs spoon feeding. Spoon feeding and baby led weaning are generally presented as very different approaches, but for most babies the important issue is not the label we give the method. It is about having the opportunity to experience a wide range of textures and flavours and learn the social aspects of a family mealtime.

Spoon-feeding begins with foods offered by a caregiver from a spoon. For some families this can feel like an easier starting point, especially if they are anxious about finger foods and choking. One common downfall of this method is sticking with smooth purées for too long. As skills develop, babies need opportunities to manage thicker, lumpier textures to increase their oral motor skills.

Baby led weaning involves offering appropriately prepared finger foods from the start, allowing for complete self-feeding and independence with eating. Some babies take to this quickly, while others may not have the skills for self-feeding straight away. Parents may need reassurance that eating small amounts, dropping food, spitting food out and gagging are all very common.

For many families, a mixed approach is the most realistic. A baby may self-feed some foods while also being offered others from a spoon. In practice, this can work well, as it allows flexibility while still supporting self-feeding, variety and texture progression. It also supports the intake of a variety of foods meaning a good range of nutrients are eaten.

At around 6 months, this may include soft finger foods, mashed foods or thicker purées. From 6 to 9 months, babies should usually be moving on to lumpier textures and a wider range of finger foods. By around 10 to 12 months the aim is for babies to be managing chopped and adapted family foods. Framing the conversation like this can help parents to feel less concerned about the type of weaning they’ve chosen and to focus more on their baby’s progress.

Weaning is not about replacing milk feeds, it is about complementing the milk with food. So, for the first few months, breast milk or infant formula continue to be the main source of nutrition, while solids are introduced alongside it.

There is no set pattern for how quickly milk feeds reduce, and it will look different from day to day and from baby to baby.

Understanding self-regulation is a key part of helping parents to work through reducing milk feeds during weaning. Babies will generally balance their intake over time.

Appetites can vary with growth spurts, periods of illness and teething. Some days they may take more milk and less food, and on other days they may take more food. Looking at volumes across several days is generally more useful than focusing on one meal or feed. But most importantly, allowing a baby to eat to their appetite and not encouraging them to finish meals or milk feeds is going to help them to listen to their body and reduce milk feeds naturally and gradually.

During weaning, the aim is not for every meal to be nutritionally perfect, but for babies to gradually build experience of a range of foods and textures over time.

Iron

From around 6 months, iron becomes a key priority; stores from pregnancy are usually depleted and milk (breast or infant formula) will no longer meet requirements. Iron rich foods should be included at every meal. Ideally meals should be built around meat, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, hummus, tofu or fortified foods such as cereals to ensure adequate intake.

Adding vitamin C rich foods such as fruit or vegetables will help with iron absorption, especially if using plant based sources.

Omega 3

Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and trout can help provide essential omega 3 fats and should be offered once a week. For families who do not eat fish, plant sources such as ground flaxseed, chia seeds and rapeseed oil may also contribute, although a little more planning may be needed as these need to be offered daily.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is another important consideration, as it is difficult to get enough from food alone. Supplementation should therefore be considered in line with current Government guidance.

Vitamin D - NHS

Vitamin D for babies 0 to 12 months

Nutrient rich foods

As intake is often small in the early stages, offering nutrient dense foods without expecting large volumes is the best option. Everyday foods such as eggs, yoghurt, beans, lentils, tofu, meat, fish, oats, potatoes and fortified cereals are all suitable and easy to make into suitable textures. Using foods that are already eaten in the home will help make weaning feel more accessible, affordable and will be culturally relevant.

Progressing through textures is an important part of weaning, but is often one of the areas parents feel most anxious about. Explaining that eating is a learnt skill, much like riding a bike, can be helpful. Babies are not just learning whether they like a food, but how to move it safely around their mouth.

When babies start solids, they are developing a number of skills at the same time, including:

This helps explain why weaning can feel slower than some parents expect.

Smooth purées have a place in the early days and weeks, but they do not offer much in the way of learning once a baby has mastered taking food from a spoon and swallowing.

As babies (and parents!) become more confident, they need opportunities to try thicker, lumpier and more varied textures.

Texture progression is not about rushing or making sudden changes. Even tiny changes in texture can make a difference, such as mashing foods instead of blending.

Research suggests that babies who are introduced to lumpy foods before nine months of age are more likely to progress onto family foods and may have fewer feeding difficulties later on. This does not mean forcing progression, but it does highlight the importance of gentle, gradual exposure.

Texture progression by age and stage

There is no single timeline that every baby will follow exactly, but a general pattern can be helpful:

Common feeding difficulties include:

Parents often need reassurance that gagging, pulling faces, spitting food out and variable intake can all be part of normal learning. These responses do not automatically mean that something is wrong. However, persistent difficulty progressing with texture, distress around eating, or signs of swallowing difficulty may require further assessment so should be signposted appropriately.

Weaning is not just about what or how much a baby eats. It is also a sensory, social and developmental activity. Getting the environment and the behavioural aspects of feeding right from the start will really help to shape a baby’s future relationship with food.

Key points to discuss with families include:

Fear of choking is one of the most common worries raised during weaning and sometimes anxious parents can hold babies back from progressing. Gagging is a normal part of learning to eat, but choking is a medical emergency. Helping families understand the difference can reduce anxiety and support a more enjoyable and confident weaning journey.

What is gagging?

Gagging is a reflex that helps prevent babies from choking. It helps to bring food forwards in the mouth so it can be spat out or chewed more before swallowing. Although it can look alarming, gagging is not usually dangerous and indicates that a baby is responding appropriately.

At the start of weaning, the gag reflex sits much further forward on the tongue than it does in adults, so it is triggered much more easily. As babies get older, usually around 9 months, this reflex moves further back.

What does gagging look like?

A gagging baby is usually noisy and still able to breathe.

What is choking?

Choking happens when food or another object partly or fully blocks the airway and prevents normal breathing. Unlike gagging, choking requires immediate action.

Signs of choking include:

A choking baby is often quiet rather than noisy. Parents should be advised to complete a first aid course. Choking is not a regular occurrence, but families should know what to do should an incident happen during a mealtime.

Helpful points

Parents often lose confidence after seeing gagging and may feel tempted to go back to smoother foods. Reassurance is often needed that gagging can be part of normal learning, but repeated choking episodes, or concern about swallowing safely should be discussed with the GP as referral may be required.

Most babies move through weaning fairly smoothly, albeit with some normal issues such as food refusal, variable daily intake and periods of slow progress. The challenge can be knowing when feeding difficulties move beyond what we would usually expect.

It is important not to over-pathologise normal feeding behaviour as this can have long lasting impact on parents and lead to negative feeding practices. Babies do not all eat the same amounts, appetite varies from day to day, and parents often worry there is a problem when intake is simply lower than expected. A baby who is growing well, seems satisfied, and is gradually making progress with food is not cause for concern, even if meals seem on the small side to parents.

However, signs to look out for, that might require further input include:

If the above issues arise, babies should be signposted to an appropriate healthcare professional for review.

More and more families are choosing vegetarian or vegan diets, whether for cultural, ethical, environmental or health reasons. Healthcare professionals need to be ready to answer questions or to understand potential implications of cutting out foods from a nutrition perspective. The key message is that babies can be weaned on a vegetarian or vegan diet, but it does require a little more planning to ensure nutritional needs are met. Vegan weaning guidance advises that if a baby or child is being brought up on a vegan diet, they need a wide variety of foods to provide enough energy and nutrients for growth.

A vegetarian diet is usually easier to manage, especially if dairy and eggs are being given. A vegan diet needs closer attention because some nutrients are harder to obtain from plant foods alone. The ones most likely to need consideration are iron, zinc, iodine, calcium, vitamin B12, vitamin D and omega-3 fats.

Iron is a priority during weaning whatever dietary choices parents make. For vegetarian and vegan babies, good sources include lentils, beans, chickpeas, tofu and fortified cereals. Because iron from plant foods is less well absorbed than iron from animal foods, it can help to offer vitamin C-rich foods alongside meals.

Vitamin B12 comes from animal products and therefore needs particular attention in vegan diets. Fortified foods can be used, but many families will need to give a supplement. The BDA advises either regular fortified foods or supplementation toensure adequate intake, and NHS guidance also highlights B12 as a nutrient that may be difficult to obtain on a vegan diet.

Iodine and calcium need to be considered as main sources in the UK are dairy and fish. Fortified plant-based alternatives can be used, but families need to choose products carefully, as they do not all have nutrients added and some are low in energy and protein in comparison to cows’ milk. Soya, oat and pea milks with added calcium and iodine are generally good choices but should only be used in food, not as a main drink under 12 months.

Omega-3 fats need to be thought about as oily fish is the main source in many UK diets. Vegetarian and especially vegan families will need to give regular alternative sources such as ground flaxseed, chia seeds and rapeseed oil. These should be given in small amounts to young babies.

Vitamin D supplementation should be considered in line with current guidance, regardless of dietary pattern.

The most helpful approach is to keep advice simple and accessible. Meals do not need to be complicated, but they should be varied. Foods such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, tofu, nut butters, whole grains, fortified cereals and fortified plant-based alternatives should all be included.

Where there is any doubt about nutritional adequacy, or where intake is limited, referral to a paediatric dietitian is sensible. This is particularly important for babies following a vegan diet as removing whole food groups gives less room for error.

Vegetables are often one of the hardest food groups for parents to persevere with, particularly when babies pull faces or spit them out which is much less gratifying than giving something sweet. Starting with a focus on green vegetables for a week or so may help with vegetable acceptance during toddlerhood and beyond, so is worth considering.

Babies are born with a preference for sweet flavours, so vegetables, especially greener or more bitter ones may need repetition before they are enjoyed. Repeated exposure is the key. A baby does not need to like a food the first time it is offered, it may take several attempts before something is enjoyed.

This is where parents often need reassurance. Pulling a face, dropping a food or pushing it out does not automatically mean dislike. In many cases, it is simply part of working out a new flavour or texture. Offering the same vegetable again in a calm, low-pressure way can be more helpful than assuming it has been rejected.

Some useful messages to give to families:

The aim is not to get babies to eat large amounts of vegetables straight away, but to help them become familiar with these flavours over time. Early, repeated and varied exposure may help babies to eat vegetables later on in childhood.

Thankfully, there are only a small number of foods that need to be avoided completely during weaning, which can be reassuring for parents. Because babies have an immature immune system, food hygiene and safe preparation also matter during this stage.

Foods to avoid include:

There are also some foods and drinks that are best limited rather than avoided completely:

Food safety is something for families to understand. As babies have an immature immune system, they are more vulnerable to food poisoning, so advice on safe storage, thorough cooking and hand hygiene should be given. Keeping food preparation simple and safe is just as important as thinking about what foods to offer.

Most babies can eat adapted versions of family foods, but these may need to be modified to reduce salt, sugar and choking risk.

Until 12 months, the only drinks babies need are breast milk, infant formula or water. During weaning, drinks are more about helping babies learn how to drink from a cup and get used to water than they are about hydration, as most babies still get the fluid they need from milk.

Parents can be encouraged to offer water with meals from an open cup or free-flow cup. Keeping drinks simple can be really helpful, as once juices or other sweet drinks are introduced it can be much harder to move back to plain water.

Introducing common allergens should be a routine part of weaning. For detailed guidance on how and when to introduce allergenic foods, please see the full allergen introduction article on our HCP website.