Weaning plan (UK): starting solid foods at around 6 months

The NHS advises starting solid foods when your baby is around 6 months old and shows all three signs of readiness: they can sit and hold their head steady, pick food up and bring it to their mouth, and swallow food rather than push it back out (NHS Start for Life). Start with a small amount of food once a day, beginning with vegetables that aren't too sweet, and keep breast milk or first infant formula as their main drink (NHS).

This page summarises NHS Start for Life guidance and turns it into a simple plan that both parents (and anyone else who feeds your baby) can follow. It isn't medical advice. If your baby was born prematurely, has a known allergy or you have any concerns, check with your health visitor or GP before you start.

Last updated: 20 October 2026 · Based on NHS Start for Life guidance

Before you start

Your baby is around 6 months old and shows all 3 signs of readiness
High chair with straps, so your baby sits upright
Open or free-flow cup for sips of water with meals
Soft weaning spoons and a bowl
Ice cube trays or small pots for batch-cooking
Bibs and a mat under the high chair
Both of you know the difference between gagging and choking, and what to do if your baby chokes (NHS)

The NHS notes that chewing fists, wanting extra milk feeds and waking at night are normal baby behaviours, not reliable signs your baby is ready for food (NHS).

A simple plan for the first weeks

The NHS suggests gradually increasing the amount and variety of foods week by week. Here's one way to organise that:

Getting started (around 6 months)

Offer a small amount of food once a day, at a time that suits you both
Start with vegetables that aren't so sweet, such as broccoli, cauliflower and spinach
Mash, blend or offer soft finger foods
Offer milk feeds as usual; breast milk or first infant formula is still their main source of nutrition

Building variety

Add fruit, starchy foods (such as porridge, toast, pasta, potato) and protein foods (such as beans, lentils, egg, fish with no bones, meat)
Add full-fat, unsweetened yoghurt and pasteurised cheese
Move on from purées to mashed and lumpy textures as soon as your baby is ready

Introducing foods that can cause allergic reactions

Introduce these one at a time, in very small amounts, so you can spot any reaction: cows' milk (in cooking or mixed with food), eggs, foods containing gluten, nuts and peanuts (crushed or ground), seeds (crushed or ground), soya, shellfish (well cooked) and fish
Once introduced and tolerated, keep offering them as part of your baby's usual diet

From 7 to 9 months

Your baby will gradually move towards 3 meals a day: breakfast, lunch and tea (NHS)

Every meal

Stay with your baby while they eat
Let your baby decide how much to eat; stop when they turn away or close their mouth
No added salt or sugar, including in cooking water
Offer sips of water from an open or free-flow cup
Keep offering new foods: it can take 10 tries or more for a baby to get used to a new taste or texture

Foods and drinks to avoid

From the NHS list of foods and drinks to avoid (NHS):

Honey until 12 months
Whole nuts and peanuts (crush or flake them for children under 5)
Salty foods such as bacon, sausages, crisps, stock cubes and takeaways
Choking hazards such as popcorn, jelly cubes, marshmallows, hard sweets and ice cubes
Mould-ripened and unpasteurised soft cheeses, raw shellfish, shark, swordfish, marlin and fresh pâté
Cows' milk as a main drink until 12 months (it's fine in cooking from around 6 months)

FAQs

When should I start weaning my baby?

The NHS advises waiting until your baby is around 6 months old and showing all three signs of readiness together (NHS). If your baby was born prematurely, ask your health visitor or GP when to start.

What is baby-led weaning?

Baby-led weaning means offering only finger foods and letting your baby feed themselves from the start, rather than spoon-feeding purées. The NHS says there's no right or wrong way, and some families combine both. What matters is that your baby eats a wide variety of foods (NHS).

What are good first foods?

The NHS suggests starting with vegetables that aren't so sweet, such as broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, then gradually adding fruit, starchy foods, protein foods and dairy (NHS).

Does my baby still need milk once they start solids?

Yes. Breast milk or first infant formula is their main drink and main source of nutrition during the first year. Keep offering milk feeds as usual (NHS).

Do babies need snacks?

The NHS says babies under 12 months don't need snacks. If you think your baby is hungry between meals, offer extra milk feeds instead (NHS).

Is gagging normal?

Gagging is a normal reflex as babies learn to eat, and it's usually loud. Choking is quiet and is an emergency. Learn the difference and what to do from the NHS choking and gagging page, and consider a baby first aid course.

Every baby is different. If you're unsure about anything, check with your health visitor or GP.

Plan it in ParentDeck — start free

ParentDeck is a shared family organiser for both parents, so the weaning plan isn't just in one person's head:

Meal planner and weaning ideas: plan the week's family meals and your baby's first foods together.
Shared shopping list: add what you need for the week, and whoever's at the shop can see it.
Specs: note foods your baby has tried, any reactions and feeding notes in one shared place.
Caregiver Pass: send grandparents, a nanny or nursery the foods your baby is eating and anything to avoid, in a couple of taps.

Start free

Want more? ParentDeck Pro is available as an upgrade.

Sources

NHS Start for Life. How to start weaning your baby.
NHS Start for Life. What to feed your baby: from around 6 months.
NHS Start for Life. What to feed your baby: 7 to 9 months.
NHS Start for Life. Foods and drinks to avoid.
NHS Start for Life. Choking and gagging on food.

ParentDeck guides are written to be practical, not medical advice. For health questions, speak to your health visitor, midwife or GP.