When Is the Right Time to Start Weaning?
weaning child
Weaning can feel like one of those parenting milestones that sneaks up on you. One moment you’re learning how to hold your newborn, the next you’re staring down the baby aisle wondering if it’s time to offer a spoonful of purée or a piece of banana. It’s messy, exciting, and emotional all at once — because this isn’t just about food. It’s about watching your baby take their first step into independence.
At The Bubba & Me Club, we know how many questions this stage can bring. Whether you’re navigating it with your first baby or your third, weaning often comes with a mix of curiosity, anxiety and lots of Googling. That’s why our antenatal and postnatal education, both in Tunbridge Wells and online, gives you grounded, evidence-based support — so you can wean with confidence, not confusion.
So, When Should You Start Weaning?
The short answer? Around 6 months old.
According to NHS guidance, most babies are developmentally ready to begin solid foods at about six months. By this age, their digestive systems are more mature, their immune system is stronger, and they’ve developed key motor skills that make eating safe and enjoyable.
Weaning earlier than this—before 17 weeks—can increase the risk of allergies and choking, and offer little nutritional benefit, since babies' gut linings aren’t fully sealed. So although those early signs of interest might look promising (hello, fist-chewing and milk-draining marathons), they’re not enough on their own to signal readiness.
How Will I Know My Baby Is Ready?
Rather than following the calendar to the day, it’s more helpful to watch your baby for these three clear signs of readiness. These should all appear together:
They can sit up well with support and hold their head steady
They have developed hand-eye coordination — such as reaching out, grabbing food and bringing it to their mouth
They can swallow food rather than pushing it back out with their tongue (known as the tongue-thrust reflex)
If all three signs are there, your baby’s likely ready to explore their first tastes. And remember, every baby is unique. Some show readiness closer to 5½ months, others a little after 6 months. Trust your instinct — you know your baby best.
It’s Not Just About Food — It’s About Learning
Weaning is about so much more than nutrition. It’s about discovery. Taste, texture, smell, and even social interaction. Every mouthful is a learning opportunity. And in the early days, the amount they eat doesn’t matter much — it’s about the experience.
This approach is echoed by experts like Charlotte Stirling-Reed, who champions responsive feeding and variety. Offering iron-rich foods early on (like mashed lentils, soft-boiled egg or spinach) can be a good start, and eating together as a family when possible helps babies learn by watching.
What About Allergies?
Introducing allergens can understandably feel scary. But recent evidence — supported by allergy specialists like Dr Adam Fox — suggests that introducing allergenic foods like egg and peanut from around 6 months (but not before) may actually help reduce the risk of developing allergies later on.
The key is to introduce new foods one at a time, in small amounts, and to watch for any reactions. You don’t need to do this all at once — slow and steady really does win the race. If your baby has eczema or a family history of allergies, you might want to speak to your GP or health visitor for personalised advice.
Trust Your Baby, Trust Yourself
It’s easy to feel pressure to get it all “right” — to start on time, to feed the perfect food, to do baby-led or spoon-fed “properly”. But the truth is, weaning doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be gentle, gradual, and tuned into your baby. Some days they’ll eat everything. Other days, they’ll clamp their mouth shut. It’s all normal.
At The Bubba & Me Club, we always say: follow your baby, not the hype.
Our Support, Your Way
We know how overwhelming the weaning journey can be — especially when it’s filled with conflicting advice. That’s why we offer postnatal support sessions in Tunbridge Wells, across South East England, and online, that are evidence-backed and delivered with heart.
You’ll learn:
How to recognise signs of readiness
Safe ways to introduce solids
Allergen guidance supported by the latest research
Spoon-fed and baby-led weaning options
Creating calm, connected mealtimes
We keep it real, we keep it evidence-based, and we keep it focused on you and your baby.
