Weaning Chart: When and How to Start Solids

How does the weaning chart decide when a baby is ready? It pairs the age with signs you can see, so it works as a guide, not a schedule. The AAP and the NHS, which calls this stage weaning, describe much the same picture: sitting upright with a steady head, coordinating eyes, hands and mouth to reach for food, and swallowing it. The NHS adds that fist-chewing, wanting extra milk and night waking are not signs of readiness, which many parents find reassuring.

Which foods come first? The AAP's guidance supports offering iron-rich foods and vegetables early, one single-ingredient food at a time, with 3 to 5 days between new foods. The NHS suggests moving from smooth purées to mashed, lumpy and finger foods as soon as possible. For babies under 1 year, the AAP lists whole grapes, nuts and seeds, popcorn, hot dogs and chunks of meat or cheese as choking risks.

How many meals a day does the chart show? WHO describes 2 to 3 meals a day at 6 to 8 months and 3 to 4 from 9 months, with snacks as needed; the NHS notes that babies under 12 months don't need snacks, so either pattern can fit your family.

Does starting solids change vitamin D? No. The AAP advises 400 IU (10 µg) a day from birth for breastfed and partly breastfed babies, and for formula-fed babies until they drink about 32 oz (1 liter) a day. The UK also advises vitamin D for all children aged 1 to 4, and a health visitor can confirm the UK advice for babies under 1.

What can't the chart do? It can't see your baby, and it is not a full menu: for the years that follow, our page on childhood nutrition picks up where this one ends.

Common questions

How much milk does my baby still need once solids begin?

By 9 to 12 months, formula-fed babies usually take 16 to 24 oz (480 to 720 ml) a day, according to the AAP's Bright Futures guidelines, which also support a standard iron-fortified first infant formula for the whole first year, with no move to toddler or transition formulas. In the UK, a health visitor can talk through amounts for your baby.

Which foods can wait until after 12 months?

Only a short list. The CDC advises waiting until after 12 months for honey, because of botulism risk; for cow's milk as a drink, because a baby's kidneys can't easily handle its protein and mineral load; and for fruit or vegetable juice.

Should I introduce egg and peanut early or hold them back?

The evidence supports offering them early. The 2015 LEAP trial (Du Toit et al., New England Journal of Medicine) supported early peanut introduction, and the AAP says there is no evidence that delaying egg, dairy, soy, peanut or fish beyond 4 to 6 months prevents food allergy. That range is about not holding these foods back; the chart's start stays at about 6 months.

Can I mix breast milk and formula while starting solids?

Yes, and many families do. WHO and the AAP describe formula as a safe, complete alternative. NHS Start for Life's feeding guidance adds that any amount of breast milk has benefits and that mixing can keep breastfeeding going. An IBCLC lactation consultant or your pediatrician can help with supply.

Next steps

A good place to start is to watch your baby, not the calendar, and to offer a small first taste when the signs are there. If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, it's worth talking to your pediatrician (health visitor or GP in the UK) before offering egg or peanut. It's also worth a visit if your baby is crossing percentile lines (centile lines in the UK) on the growth chart, or losing or gaining weight rapidly. You can find more in our tools section, and if you are wondering about your own iron, our page on iron supplements for women is written for you. Take what fits your baby and your family: not one size fits all.

What does a weaning chart say about starting solids?