Baby led weaning at 6 months
Most babies are ready to start solids at around 6 months, when they can sit with little support, hold their head steady, and bring objects to their mouth. Start with one meal a day, one or two soft foods, and expect very little of it to be eaten for the first few weeks.
The three readiness signs
Your baby is ready when all three are true at once:
- They can sit upright with little or no support, and stay there.
- They hold their head steady without it bobbing.
- They reach, grab and bring things to their mouth with reasonable aim.
Waking in the night, watching you eat, or being a big baby are not readiness signs, though they are often quoted as such.
The first week
Keep it small. One meal a day, at a time when your baby is alert but not ravenous — a milk feed an hour beforehand takes the edge off.
| Day | Offer |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | One food: a wedge of avocado or a steamed broccoli floret |
| 3–4 | The same food plus one new one, such as a soft carrot baton |
| 5–7 | Add an iron-rich food: thick oatmeal, or strips of omelette |
Serve pieces roughly the size of an adult finger, so a piece sticks out of your baby’s fist. Small pieces are actually harder at this stage, because a 6 month old cannot yet pick up small things.
What is normal
- Gagging, often and loudly. See gagging vs. choking.
- Almost nothing swallowed for the first few weeks.
- Playing, squashing, dropping and throwing. This is how babies learn food.
- Changed nappies: colour, smell and texture all shift once solids start.
Allergens, early and regularly
Introduce the common allergens — egg, peanut, dairy, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, sesame — from around 6 months, one at a time, earlier in the day, when your baby is well. Once a food is tolerated, keep it in the diet regularly. Delaying allergens does not reduce allergy risk, and may increase it.
Talk to your pediatrician first if your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy.
Common questions
How do I know my baby is ready for solids?
Look for three signs together: sitting up with little or no support, steady head control, and reaching for food and bringing it to the mouth. Age alone is not the signal, and neither is waking at night or watching you eat.
How much should a 6 month old eat?
Very little at first, and that is expected. Milk remains the main source of nutrition for the whole first year. Early meals are practice with taste, texture and hand control.
Do I need to do purees first?
No. Babies who can sit up and bring food to their mouth can start with soft finger foods. Many families do both, and that is fine too.
Which foods should I start with?
Soft, graspable foods with useful nutrition: avocado, banana, well-cooked carrot or broccoli, omelette strips, and iron-rich foods such as oats or soft meat. Introduce common allergens early, one at a time.
Medically reviewed by TODO REVIEWER NAME, RD, pediatric dietitian — last reviewed . See our editorial and review policy.