How to start weaning & signs of when to start

Weaning is an exciting milestone in your baby’s journey, but knowing when and how to start can feel overwhelming. From recognising the key signs of readiness to choosing the best first foods and understanding the impact on your baby’s gut health, there’s a lot to consider.

Lucy Upton, one of the UK’s leading paediatric dietitians – The Children’s Dietitian – shares practical tips and expert advice to help you navigate the weaning process confidently and set your baby up for a healthy relationship with food.

When to start weaning? What the signs to look for?

“In the UK, it’s recommended to begin weaning at around six months of age, but never before 17 weeks.

The best way to determine if your baby is ready to start solids is to look for key developmental signs. Every baby is different, so the timing can vary slightly,” advises Lucy Upton.

Here are Lucy’s three signs your baby may be ready to begin weaning

Sitting Up and Head Control
Your baby should be able to sit upright with support and hold their head steady and upright.
Hand, Eye, and Mouth Coordination
They should be able to look at food, pick it up, and bring it to their mouth independently.
Swallowing Food
The tongue thrust reflex, which pushes food out of the mouth, will have reduced. Babies ready for solids can move most food to the back of their mouth and swallow.

“Some behaviours, like chewing fists, waking at night, or wanting more milk, are often mistaken for readiness to wean. While these are normal developmental stages, they don’t mean your baby is ready for solids. Focus on the key signs above to ensure your baby starts weaning when they’re truly ready.”

How to start weaning? What are the best foods to start with?

“There’s no single “right” way to start solids, but many parents find a vegetable-led approach helpful. Introducing green or bitter-tasting vegetables like courgette, spinach, and broccoli early on can encourage acceptance of these flavours later in childhood.”

“Offering a single vegetable each day for the first week of weaning can gently introduce your baby to new tastes, supporting their palate development.”

What about gut health and weaning?

Weaning is also a crucial time for shaping your baby’s gut microbiome—often called their “gut garden.” The microbiome, made up of trillions of microorganisms, and diversity and balance are key.

Early factors like delivery method, milk feeds, and environment influence your baby’s gut, but starting solids brings significant change. New foods help diversify the microbiome, maintaining the foundation for a healthy gut and potentially long-term benefits, including improved immune health and reduced health risk.

To support a thriving gut garden, aim to introduce a wide variety of foods during weaning. Whether you start with purées, finger foods, or cereals like baby porridge, focus on diverse tastes and textures.

The first few weeks are all about exploration—small tastes and learning the basics of eating. With each new flavour, you’re helping your baby build both a varied diet and a healthy gut for life.

Baby weaning basics: Puree or finger foods?

“Remember, there isn’t just one way to approach introduction to solids,” comments Lucy. “Depending on your chosen approach to weaning, you can start with puréed foods (served on a spoon) and/or finger foods. Finger foods should be appropriately sized and textured to suit your baby’s needs.”

“Don’t be concerned if your baby doesn’t eat much at first—those early days and weeks are all about tiny tastes and getting familiar with the process of eating!

What is baby-led weaning?

“Baby-led weaning (BLW) is a method of starting solids that focuses on offering finger foods, often adapted from family meals, right from the start. Babies feed themselves rather than being spoon-fed puréed or mashed foods, promoting independence and skill development.”

“Finger foods offered are adapted to be a safe and appropriate size and texture for babies Research shows that BLW does not increase the risk of choking when foods are prepared safely.”

“Choosing the right weaning approach depends on what feels best for you and your baby. Whether you opt for BLW, spoon-feeding, or a mix of both, the goal is the same: helping your baby progress to eating a variety of family foods confidently and safely. Both methods can follow responsive feeding principles, encouraging exploration, independence, and enjoyment of food.”

In some cases, BLW might not be suitable, such as for premature babies, those with developmental delays, or babies needing early weaning due to allergy risks. If you’re unsure, consult a Health Professional for personalised guidance.

What fluids should I offer my baby when weaning?

Breastmilk has a hugely beneficial impact on a baby’s gut microbiome, so continue wherever possible. Also, you can start offering water as soon as your baby begins weaning.

For babies over 6 months, tap water is safe, while those under 6 months should have cooled boiled water. There's no need to introduce other drinks during weaning, and cow's milk should be avoided until after 12 months. Baby juices, teas, fruit juices, or squash are unnecessary and not recommended.

Under 6 Months: Offer cooled, boiled tap water.
6 Months and Over: Offer tap water directly, without the need for boiling.
Continue breastfeeding where possible.
Remember formula milk will also contribute to your baby’s fluid requirements.

Lucy’s top tips for successful baby weaning

Always Supervise Your Baby and model eating
Sit with your baby during meals to ensure they are safe and supported while eating. Eating food alongside will help your baby learn to eat and build confidence with a range of foods.
Ensure Proper Seating
Make sure your baby is seated upright in a stable highchair with their feet supported, such as on a footplate, and that the chair is placed on a secure surface.
Follow your baby’s lead
Pay attention to your baby’s body language and ways of communicating during mealtimes. They will make it clear when they want more food, and when they are done. Remember it’s normal for babies to eat minimal amounts of food in the early days and weeks of weaning.
Boost Your Confidence with First Aid
A baby first aid course can be a good investment for parents before weaning to ensure you feel confident about what to do if your baby does experience a choking episode.

About Lucy Upton

Lucy Upton, known as The Children’s Dietitian, is a skilled Paediatric Dietitian and Nutritionist passionate about guiding families toward healthier, happier mealtimes. With extensive expertise in weaning and early nutrition, Lucy provides valuable support to parents navigating the weaning journey. Her experience spans the NHS, private sector, early years public health, and a feeding clinic, making her a trusted voice in infant/child nutrition.