First Foods from 6 to 12 Months: A Calm, Simple Plan

When to start

Health authorities agree on around 6 months. The World Health Organization advises introducing solid foods from six months, starting with small amounts and increasing gradually, while breastfeeding continues. The CDC says babies can begin eating solid foods at about 6 months, and that introducing foods before 4 months is not recommended.

Readiness matters more than the date. The NHS lists three signs your baby is ready:

• they can stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady
• they can co-ordinate eyes, hands and mouth to look at food, pick it up and put it in their mouth
• they can swallow food rather than spit it back out

Every baby is different, so check with your paediatrician before you begin.

Around 6 months: tastes, not meals

The first weeks are about discovering food, not filling up. The NHS notes that babies do not need three meals a day when they first start.

• Start tiny. The AAP suggests half a spoonful or less, and introducing one single-ingredient new food every 3 to 5 days so you can look out for any reaction.
• Try vegetables, including the less sweet ones. The NHS suggests mashed or soft cooked sticks of parsnip, broccoli, potato, yam, sweet potato, carrot, apple or pear, and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
• Allergens are part of the plan. The NHS says foods containing allergens, such as peanuts, hens' eggs, gluten and fish, can be introduced from around 6 months. Ask your paediatrician first if allergies run in the family.
• No salt or sugar. The NHS advises not adding sugar or salt, including stock cubes and gravy, to your baby's food or cooking water.
• First sips. The NHS suggests offering sips of water from a cup with meals from around 6 months.

7 to 12 months: more texture, more meals

7 to 9 months

As your baby grows in confidence, the NHS suggests moving on from puréed or blended foods to mashed, lumpy and finger foods as soon as they can manage them. From about 7 months, babies gradually move towards three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and tea.

Finger foods should be soft and easy to swallow. The NHS describes finger food as pieces big enough to hold in a fist with a bit sticking out — about the size of your own finger.

10 to 12 months: joining the family table

From about 10 months, the NHS says your baby should be having three meals a day and managing a wider range of finger foods.

Skills grow quickly now. The CDC notes that babies can start to use a spoon by themselves at around 10 to 12 months, and by 12 months they should be able to feed themselves easily with their fingers.

A few things still wait until after the first birthday:

• Honey. The CDC warns that honey before 12 months may cause a severe food poisoning called botulism.
• Cows' milk as a main drink. The NHS says not before 12 months; it can be used in cooking before then.
• Juice. Babies under 12 months do not need it, says the NHS.

Safety at every stage

• Stay with your baby every time they eat.
• Know gagging from choking. The NHS explains that gagging is common while babies learn, and that it is different from choking.
• Avoid common choking hazards. The CDC list includes whole nuts, uncut grapes, popcorn and hard raw vegetables such as raw carrot.
• Sit upright, in a high chair, with no eating on the move.

What helps at the table

You do not need much: a high chair, a bib, a bowl and a plate that stay put, a soft spoon and a cup. Our baby-led weaning guide explains which piece helps at which step.

Our Full Set covers the table side in one go: a suction bowl for first spoonfuls, a divided suction plate for finger foods, a beech-wood spoon and fork, an adjustable bib and a 3-in-1 cup with two handles. The silicone pieces are dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe. If it suits your family, you will find it on our Feeding Sets page.