Weaning is one of those big adventures in your baby’s early life, and it is important to remember that it doesn’t always go to plan first time. But with a few helpful pointers, encouragement, the right tools, and a lot of patience, it can become one of the most rewarding stages of parenting.
We have teamed up with the experts at Nuby, to provide a series of guides to take you through your weaning journey. Nuby has a variety of weaning products, tableware and utensils to help make this time easier for parents and fun for babies – after all, squishing, touching and licking food is all part of how babies learn to eat!
Here, we’ll take you through where to begin with weaning your baby onto solid foods, the best foods to try, plus five essential tips to remember.
Weaning methods: baby-led, spoon-fed, or a mix?
There is no single right way. Focus on variety, iron-rich foods, and moving textures on as your baby is ready. Many families combine both styles.
Baby-led weaning (BLW)
BLW means offering soft finger foods from the start and letting baby feed themselves. There’s no greater choking risk when babies self-feed compared with spoon-feeding, provided foods are prepared safely.
Benefits include practising hand-eye coordination, self-feeding skills and exploring textures early. Considerations: intake can be variable at first, so include iron-rich foods often; it’s messier and needs close supervision and safe food shapes.
Spoon-fed purées (traditional)
This starts with smooth foods on a spoon, then moves on quickly to mashed, lumpy and finger foods as baby can manage them.
Pros: easier to control texture, can help parents ensure iron-rich foods are offered, and may suit babies or families who prefer a steadier pace. Considerations: don’t linger on smooth textures; advancing textures supports chewing and acceptance of a wider diet. Home-prepared or low-salt options are preferred.
Can you combine methods?
Yes. Many families do both – for example, offer spoon-fed purées and safe finger foods at the same meal. The NHS says there’s no right or wrong way; the goal is a wide variety of foods and nutrients. Introduce common allergens one at a time, in small amounts.
When to begin with weaning
Every baby is different, but as a general rule, you’ll see signs around 4-6 months that your baby is ready to start exploring solid foods. However, the NHS says solids should start around 6 months and uses three readiness signs that should appear together. These signs are:
- Showing interest when you eat
- Being able to hold their head steady and sit with minimal support without falling over.
- Can coordinate eyes–hands–mouth to pick up food and bring it to mouth. Ability to move food from front of mouth to the back to swallow – babies that are not yet ready will just push the food back out with their tongue.
If you notice these, your baby may well be ready to try solids. If you’re unsure, always check with your health visitor or GP. If a clinician advises earlier weaning (e.g. some premature babies), parents should follow personalised advice. Otherwise, don’t start weaning before 17 weeks of age as their tummies are simply not ready for solid food before this time.
Which foods should you start your weaning journey with?
When you start weaning, it’s helpful to begin with the following:
- Start with single vegetables and fruit such as cooked carrots, sweet potato, peas, or soft fruit like banana or avocado. Babies naturally have a sweet tooth, so include some more bitter veg like broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach.
- Gentle sources of starch: porridge, soft bread, mild potato, rice. These can all be mixed with small amounts of breastmilk, formula, or whole milk once your baby turns 1.
- Protein and iron-rich foods: gentle pulses (beans, lentils), well-cooked meat or fish (fully deboned), eggs (use British Lion eggs which are safe even if lightly cooked)
- Keep textures simple at first; begin very smooth or mashed and then gradually increase lumpiness once your baby shows they can manage them.
- Introduce allergens one at a time (peanut, egg, cow’s milk in foods, gluten, fish, shellfish, soya, sesame, etc.), in tiny amounts and keep them in the diet if tolerated. If your baby already has eczema or a diagnosed allergy, speak to a GP/HV first.
How much and how often should you feed solid foods to your baby
- Start with small amounts using a baby weaning spoon, once a day about two spoonful’s, alongside breastmilk or formula
- Gradually increase quantity and frequency as your baby seems ready. By 7–9 months most babies move towards 3 meals a day on weaning plates alongside milk; by 10–12 months they’re usually on 3 meals plus milk.
- Offer sips of water from an open cup or beaker at mealtimes from 6 months.
- Remember: milk is still very important until solids are well established
Weaning safety: choking risks, drinks and foods to avoid
Safe feeding matters just as much as what you offer. These NHS-backed tips help reduce choking risk and keep first foods age-appropriate.
- Sit your baby upright in a highchair and always supervise meals. Keep portions small and take your time.
- Cut small, round foods like grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthways into quarters, and remove hard stones or pips, and tough skins.
- No whole nuts or popcorn before age 5. Use smooth nut butters or finely ground nuts instead.
- No honey before 12 months due to the risk of infant botulism.
- Fish: avoid shark, swordfish and marlin because of mercury. Always remove bones from fish.
- Drinks: keep breast milk or formula as the main drinks for the first year of your baby’s life. Avoid rice drinks until at least 5 years old.
Five tips to make weaning easier
- Prepare ahead and batch cook
Cook larger portions of fruit, vegetables or purees and freeze in small, portion-size trays or silicone moulds. When time is tight, you’ll be glad of them.
- Use the right utensils
The Nuby suction bowls are great for protecting tables and floors from thrown bowls and plates, while spoons with easy grips, and bibs that cover well will also help make weaning easier and less clean up – which is a win when weaning!
- Go at your baby’s pace
Some days your baby may take well to a new food, others they may refuse or turn away. That’s completely normal. Keep offering, without pressure. Ensure you keep offering milk as normal even if your baby hasn’t eaten any of the solids – you can always try again later.
- Introduce variety gradually
Try different colours, flavours and textures over time. Don’t overwhelm with too many new foods at once. Repetition helps as babies often need to try a new flavour or texture several times before they accept it.
- Make mealtimes social and relaxed
Eat together when you can. Let the baby watch others and try to mimic. Encourage self-feeding when they’re ready. Calm, unhurried meals help children feel comfortable exploring food.
A few practical reminders from our nurseries
- Use a wipe-clean mat or an old sheet under the highchair – spills are part of the fun and learning, but this makes clean up much easier
- Choose a time when your baby is neither overly hungry nor too full, so they have just enough appetite to try whilst minimising any potential fussiness.
- Never add sugar or salt to your baby’s first foods. Their taste buds are more sensitive than ours, and simple flavours are enough.
- Capture those messy moments! They’re temporary, but memories last.
At Kids Planet, we want to support parents and families at all stages of the parenting journey through these early years, with advice and practical tips to help you and your little one thrive.
Find your nearest Kids Planet nursery.
