Last reviewed: November 6, 2026. Checked against current guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), the CDC, NIAID and the NHS.
Weaning is a natural transition from breastfeeding to your baby starting their first foods. As a new mother, you might have heard different information on what age to start this process. However, the best age to begin this process is around six months, when your baby shows the signs of being ready.
If you think your baby is old enough to begin this process, here is what you must know.
An Overview Of Baby-Led Weaning (BLW)
Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) has gained a lot of traction in recent times, which is why you can also follow this trend. It is when your baby reaches around six months of age and, instead of being spoon-fed purees, they feed themselves soft finger foods with their own hands.
The primary purpose of this is to ensure that your baby has the opportunity to explore unique foods with different textures.
When this happens, your baby will also get better at self-regulating the amount of food that they would like to consume. But, it is important to know when and how to start this process.
Baby-Led Weaning: How To Begin
Introducing solid food to your baby’s diet is the perfect way to begin the baby-led weaning process. Here are some signs to tell you it is time to begin BLW:
- Sitting up well without support and holding their head steady
- They can look at food, pick it up and bring it to their mouth by themselves
- They can swallow food instead of pushing it back out with their tongue
Your baby does not need teeth to start. Babies can mash soft foods with their gums.
Keep in mind that breast milk or formula is still your baby’s main source of nutrition until their first birthday. BLW is a gradual process, and it will take some time for your child to get used to it. Keep offering breast milk or formula as usual while your baby learns to eat solid foods.
Things To Keep In Mind When Starting Baby-Led Weaning
Having the right information before you begin anything new with your baby is always important. We have listed some tip things you can keep in mind when beginning this process:
- Select The Right Foods
The right foods can make all the difference in this process. Some foods will be choking hazards for your baby that you should stray away from.
These include whole grapes and cherries, whole cherry tomatoes, hard raw vegetables and apples, whole nuts and seeds, spoonfuls of nut butter, large or tough meat chunks, hot dogs, popcorn, or anything hard and crunchy.
You should begin by introducing soft foods into their diet so they can get used to it. Offer pieces about the size of an adult finger that squash easily between your fingers. We have listed some first foods you can try with your baby during BLW:
- Steamed carrots, cooked until very soft
- Banana
- Steamed broccoli
- Roasted and peeled sweet potatoes
- Soft, shredded chicken
- Keep An Eye On Your Baby
We tend to get distracted as there are many things that want our attention throughout the day.
However, you must not make this mistake when you are with your baby. As they try new foods, make sure that you are there at all times. Your baby should sit upright in a high chair, never lying back, and never eating in a car seat or stroller.
If you leave them unattended, they might start choking on the food or create a mess. Your presence will also provide them with the comfort and encouragement to try new foods.
Gagging is common while babies learn to eat. It is a normal reflex that helps move food forward. Choking is different. A choking baby may be silent and unable to cry, cough or breathe. Ask your baby’s doctor what to do if your baby chokes, and consider taking an infant first aid and CPR class.
- Look For Signs Of Food Allergies
Experts now advise against delaying common allergy foods. Offering foods like egg and peanut early, around six months, may lower the chance that your baby develops an allergy to them.
But some foods can still cause allergies. Important allergic signs to look for include hives or rash, swelling of the lips, face or tongue, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, coughing or wheezing, and trouble breathing.
Supervision is important so you can act quickly. Call 911 right away if your baby has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or tongue, or seems very unwell. For milder signs like a rash, stop the food and call your pediatrician.
Introduce common allergens such as egg, peanut, dairy, wheat, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish one at a time, in small amounts, after your baby has started other first foods. Never give whole nuts. Instead, mix a little thinned peanut butter into a food your baby already eats. If your baby has severe eczema or has already had an allergic reaction to a food such as egg, talk to your pediatrician before introducing peanut and other common allergens.
- There Will Be A Mess
BLW means children will begin exploring food through dropping, smearing, smashing, and more. Get ready to clean up a big mess at every meal during this time. It is part of the process as the children learn to love various foods they try.
Our top recommendation for you would be to place a plastic cloth or garbage bag under the chair. The food falling from there will get into the can, making cleaning a breeze for you.
So, get ready to clean a mess whenever you feed your baby.
Final Thoughts
Whoever has a child of around six months who shows the signs of readiness can begin the BLW process to ensure a gradual transition from breastfeeding to independent eating.
Your child might get fussy or have negative reactions to this process, but it is an important childhood experience every baby goes through.
On the other side of this struggle is an independent child that can easily eat all kinds of foods. So, struggle today and reap the fruits of your labor soon enough.
This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Always contact your pediatrician with questions about your baby’s health.
5 Sources
Newborn Stages uses trusted sources, including government health agencies, children’s hospitals and pediatric organizations, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn how we research, fact-check and keep our content accurate.
- NHS Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Three signs your baby is ready for solids.
- NHS. 6 months: Feeding your baby.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Choking Hazards.
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). When to introduce egg, peanut butter and other common food allergens to your baby.
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Peanut Allergy Prevention Guidelines: Clinician Summary.
