FAQs on Baby Weaning and Baby Led Weaning

Baby weaning – also known as starting solids, is a major milestone in your little one’s development. It’s exciting, messy, and sometimes a bit confusing, especially with so much advice out there. That’s why I’ve created this blog about baby weaning and baby led weaning to answer the most common questions families ask about baby weaning. Whether you’re exploring baby-led weaning, wondering when to start solid foods, or looking for first food ideas, this page brings together everything you need to feel confident and supported when starting baby weaning. My website is packed with trusted tips, expert-backed advice, and real-life strategies to guide you through every stage of your baby’s weaning journey, but let’s start here with some of the most frequently asked baby weaning questions…

1. When is the best time to start weaning?

The NHS recommends starting to introduce solid foods at around 6 months of age. At this point, breast milk or formula alone no longer provides everything your baby needs (particularly iron).

Rather than focusing purely on their age, look for these three key signs of readiness (your baby needs all three!):

• Sit and hold: Can they stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady?
• See and grab: Do they have the hand-eye coordination to look at food, pick it up, and bring it to their mouth?
• Swallow: Have they lost the ‘tongue-thrust reflex’ (which pushes food out of their mouth) and so can they swallow food when it is eventually offered?

For more on WHEN to start weaning your baby, head to my blog. 

Note: In some cases, if your baby is at a higher risk of developing a food allergy (if they have an existing allergy OR they have eczema), it may be recommended to start weaning from 4 months of age. However, this should happen alongside the signs of readiness above. If you have questions about this, have a chat with a healthcare professional to discuss your child’s needs and see if you can get further help. Check out my detailed blog for more information on introducing allergens during weaning. 

2. What equipment do I need for baby-led weaning?

There really isn’t a lot that you NEED in terms of ‘equipment’ for weaning. I’ve got a detailed blog sharing some of the essentials, as well as the more ‘fancy’ items that you might want for weaning. But essentially, all you really need is:

• A highchair – read more about choosing a highchair for your baby 
• A saucepan for cooking veggies etc.
• Knives for chopping veg/meat etc.
• A chopping board
• A tin opener
• A vegetable peeler
• A potato masher (or a small blender if you’re planning to offer purees!)
• Spoons and crockery

Of course, everyone will have pieces of equipment that they have found especially helpful throughout their weaning journey. But the success of your baby weaning journey really isn’t about having the ‘perfect’ equipment, so don’t be afraid to keep it really simple! I have a blog all about equipment you need (and that you don’t really need) for weaning, so check that out too. 

3. Should I offer purees or follow baby-led weaning (BLW)?

This is by far one of the most common questions I get asked by parents. It can be SO overwhelming when looking online, and it can also feel like something you have to get ‘right’ or you’ll be getting baby weaning all ‘wrong’. I really want to reassure you that that is absolutely NOT the case. 

Let’s have a look at the different methods of weaning:  

• Spoon-feeding: Involves starting with smooth purees or mashes and gradually increasing texture and lumpiness.
• Baby-Led Weaning (BLW): Skips purees entirely and offers ‘finger foods’ (soft, graspable pieces of food) for the baby to feed themselves from the very start.

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong way. You can choose one method, or you can do a combination of both – which is my personal preferred way! The most important thing is to move on from smooth purees to more textured foods relatively quickly (ideally by around 7-8 months). This helps your baby learn to manage a variety of textures, and to develop the skills needed to bite and chew. 

To read more about the benefits and differences between baby led weaning and starting with purees, check out my blogs. 

4. Should I start baby weaning with baby rice? 

Whatever solid foods you start weaning with is completely up to you! There’s no single ‘best’ first food. I’m a big advocate for ‘veg-led weaning’ – focusing on a variety of savoury and bitter flavours like broccoli, spinach and cauliflower at the very start. 

There is lots of research on Veg Led Weaning in the UK and it can be a fab way to help baby accept a variety of tastes (and some veggies) later on too. Of course, you don’t HAVE to start with vegetables. It’s perfectly fine to offer fruits or other foods at the beginning. The key really is to offer a variety right from the start. There’s no need to wait three days between introducing new foods either. It’s also not necessary for babies to have baby rice or cereal as their first food. Offering as much variety in terms of tastes, textures, smells and food groups is the best way to support your baby’s skill development and their nutritional intake. 

It’s also important to remember that iron-rich foods should be offered early on, after those first tastes, as your baby’s iron stores start to run low.

5. How do I know if my baby is getting enough solid foods during weaning?

This is a big worry for many parents. In the early stages of weaning, milk is still the main source of nutrition and it’s important to remember this to reassure you. Solid foods are about exploration initially and helping little ones to LEARN to eat. Nutrition is important, but it’s not everything. Look out for signs like steady weight gain, regular wet and dirty nappies, and babies having plenty of energy for moving about – these are better indicators than how much they eat at each meal.

Try to let your little one lead with the portions they eat, they are very intuitive about their own appetite. When it comes to portion sizes, for babies under 12 months, there are NO guidelines in terms of how much they should be eating. Babies’ appetites can vary SO much and it’s impossible to say how much is ‘right.’ Babies are also incredibly good at managing their own appetite and it’s important to follow their cues of hunger and fullness to feed responsively. 

In the beginning, start with small amounts and you’ll find that some days they might eat it all, other days they might just explore and play – this is all part of the learning process!

During the first year, the main source of nutrition will continue to come from breast milk or formula. Whilst it’s not true to say that ‘food before one is JUST for fun,’ it’s absolutely ok to let them explore and play with food, rather than focusing on how much they’re eating. 

If you’re interested in learning more about “responsive feeding” (which is what we recommend instead of measuring portions), check out my blogs on Responsive Feeding and my factsheet on portion sizes for young children. 

6. I’m scared of choking during baby-led weaning. How can I tell the difference between choking and gagging?

This is a very common fear, but it’s important to know the difference.

• Gagging is normal. It’s a loud, dramatic reflex that protects your baby from choking. They will cough, splutter, and go red in the face, pushing the food forward with their tongue.
• Choking is silent. This is when the airway is blocked. The baby will likely be quiet, unable to cough or make noise, and may start to turn blue, pale or deep purple. For darker skin, these changes will be seen on the lips.

To reduce the risk of choking:

• Always supervise your baby while eating.
• Role model safe eating with your baby – let them see you chew properly and take your time
• Ensure they are sitting upright.
• Avoid whole nuts and hard, raw vegetables.
• Learn how to safely prepare common choking hazards 

For more on the difference between gagging and choking, read my blog. 

7. When (and how) should I introduce allergens during weaning?

The current advice is to introduce common allergens from around 6 months. Recent research has suggested that delaying their introduction may increase the risk of an allergy developing.

The main allergens include:

• Cow’s milk 
• Eggs
• Foods containing gluten (like wheat, barley, rye)
• Nuts (serve crushed, ground, or as a smooth butter – never whole)
• Peanuts (serve crushed, ground, or as a smooth butter – never whole)
• Seeds
• Soy
• Fish and Shellfish

How to do it: Introduce allergens one at a time, in small amounts, and several days apart so you can watch for any reaction. For more detailed guidance on introducing allergens, read my blog on this topic and I also have a fantastic podcast episode with Dr Helen Evans-Howells about introducing allergens into a baby’s diet too. 

8. When do I reduce milk intakes when my baby starts weaning?

Milk intakes during weaning can be so confusing for families. As already mentioned above, until 12 months, breast milk or formula continues to be their main source of nutrition. In the very early stages of weaning, you wouldn’t expect many changes to their milk intake. 

When it comes to whether you should offer milk or food first when weaning, there isn’t really a right or wrong. Advice around this topic can be conflicting, and it’s different for every baby. Try to find what works best for you and your baby. 

As your baby progresses through weaning and their solid intake increases, their milk intake will gradually decrease. If you’re breastfeeding, it’s advised to continue feeding your baby responsively. If your baby is formula fed, the guidelines suggest:

• Between 7-9 months – around 600ml per day
• Between 10-12 months – around 400ml per day

This is just a guide, and it will vary depending on your baby’s age, growth and appetite. However, if you’re noticing that they don’t have much interest in solids and they’re having high intakes of milk, it may be worth slightly reducing their milk intake.

For more about milk recommendations, throughout weaning and beyond, check out my detailed factsheet.

9. What if my baby isn’t taking to weaning?

So often I get asked about babies really not taking to solid foods. This can often happen when a parent or carer has previously had an experience of a baby who DID take to weaning well. It’s perfectly normal and it’s important to know that not all babies will take to weaning so readily – different personalities and different experiences with foods lead to different weaning journeys and that’s OK. There is a lot  you can do to help baby weaning go more smoothly, including:

• Take the pressure off
• Rolemodel – eat with them when you can
• Focus on making the highchair and table itself a positive experience
• Give them plenty of variety with purees, finger foods and let them explore

I have a whole factsheet on what to do if your baby isn’t taking to weaning, so do check that out!

10. What are the best iron-rich foods for babies and toddlers? 

Iron is a crucial nutrient from 6 months onwards, and many parents often ask how to make sure they’re getting enough iron into their baby’s diets during baby weaning. Iron can sometimes be lacking in baby meals, as iron-rich foods aren’t usually associated with weaning recipes. However, getting iron rich foods in early, and frequently can help to ensure that they accept iron rich foods as they get older too.

Great iron rich options include:

• Red meat (minced or shredded)
• Lentils and beans
• Fortified cereals
• Tofu
• Dark leafy greens (pairing these with vitamin C-rich foods (like strawberries or peppers) helps with iron absorption) 
• Nut butters

11. Can I give my baby snacks during weaning? 

Babies under one do not need snacks, whatever the packaged snacks on the baby aisle say! For children over one, snacks can be a really helpful way of adding nutrition and energy intake, for many children (not all will need them). Think of snacks as mini meals and try to balance them out. Offer nutritious options like fruit with a yogurt dip, oatcakes with hummus or cheese, veggie sticks and a nut butter dip, or yogurt fruit and oats, for example. 

Avoid offering snacks “ad lib” or allowing them to help themselves or graze all day. As with meals a routine around snacks and offering around 2 a day only is ideal so as not to reduce appetite at mealtimes. Structure helps.

12. When should my baby move onto three meals a day during baby led weaning? 

All babies move through weaning at different paces, so try not to get fixed on timings and schedules. Some babies will move through from 1-2-3 meals a day by around 7 months, whilst some will take a little longer to take to solids initially. Both of these scenarios are fine. Ideally, you want to move your baby onto more meals as soon as they seem ready. When they’ve taken solids well and are moving through textures and enjoying meals then move on. 

You do want them to be on 3 meals before 9 months of age, to make sure they are getting enough in the way of the nutrients needed that come from food rather than milk, but try to go at your baby’s pace! You can read more about moving your baby onto three meals here. 

I hope this FAQ has answered most of the key questions about starting solids and baby-led weaning. Navigating the world of baby weaning can feel overwhelming, but it’s also an incredibly rewarding and exciting journey once you feel more confident. If you’re looking for more detailed support with your baby’s weaning journey, here are some of the other ways I can help you:

Online Weaning Course

Everything you need to wean safely and successfully! From video tutorials and demos to recipes and downloadable guides, this course walks you through every stage of starting solids. Includes a bonus FAQ to answer your questions, ensuring you feel 100% confident in your choices. Find out more about my online weaning course, here. 

Bestselling Weaning Book: How to Wean Your Baby

Your complete guide to starting solids! How To Wean Your Baby guides you through every stage of the journey. Packed with expert advice, easy-to-follow demos, meal planners, and recipes, this book gives you the toolkit you need to feel confident, relaxed, and ready to wean your baby safely and successfully.

Help my baby isn’t taking to weaning factsheet

Is your baby struggling to take to solids? In this essential free guide, Charlotte addresses one of the most common weaning worries. If mealtime has become a source of stress, this factsheet is for you. It covers exactly why you don’t need to panic, practical tips for different stages, and simple changes you can make to your environment to help your baby accept new foods happily. Download it now to get back on track! Make sure you check out my other factsheets too, including one on Getting Started With Baby Weaning. 

Blog

My blog is absolutely packed with free expert advice covering everything from weaning basics to toddler nutrition. With hundreds of articles, easy recipes, and helpful guides, it’s your go-to place for trusted, evidence-based support whenever you need it. Get your weaning questions answered here. 

Supplements

Confused by the supplement aisle? You are not alone. I couldn’t find a product I was 100% happy with, so I made my own! My range of vitamin drops is designed to cut through the noise. No sugary gummies, no confusing labels, just simple, science-backed drops that you can add to food or drink. Suitable from birth to 5 years, they are the stress-free way to support your little one’s health.