Why wait until 6 months to give your baby solid food

Waiting until six months to introduce solids foods is recommended, and it will be safer for you baby and easier as you can use soft finger foods or mashed foods (there is no need to puree) and there is no need to sterilise bowls and spoons. 

As your baby grows so does their stomach. When you start to give your baby solid food, you should be giving "me sized" portions, some people suggest using the baby's fist as a guide for how much they need. 

*If after checking with your health visitor or doctor, you decide to introduce solid foods before 6 months, you should avoid giving your baby certain foods. These include foods that contain wheat, gluten, nuts, peanuts, peanut products, seeds, liver, eggs, fish, shellfish, cows’ milk and soft or unpasteurised cheese.

Public Health Wales Here’s further reading and helpful advice on Introducing Solid Foods by Every Child Wales.

Tips and signs for feeding your baby:

Useful information and resources

If you have read of the sections on introducing solids to your baby and want to learn more below is a list of sources of further information:

• Booklet by Every Child Wales on introducing solid foods to your baby - Introducing solid foods booklet by Every Child Wales.
• British Nutrition Foundation - Introducing solid foods.
• The Association of UK Dietitians - Weaning-food-fact-sheet.pdf (bda.uk.com).
• When to start introducing solid foods - Your baby's first solid foods - NHS (www.nhs.uk).
• Video with information on introducing solid foods - Introducing Solids - Getting Started - YouTube.
• A guide to introducing solids and eating well up to baby’s first birthday - Eating well: the first year.
• Simple, cost-effective ideas for the whole family - Eating well recipe book.
• Information from Every Child Wales - Wait six months before weaning | Every Child (everychildwales.co.uk).
• Parent information resources - Parent Information Resources | Every Child (everychildwales.co.uk).