Starting Solids at 6 Months: Readiness, First Foods and Allergens
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By BabyBloom · Updated 27 September 2026
Starting solids around six months means adding nutrient-rich foods alongside breast milk or infant formula. Use this guide to prepare for the first meals, choose iron-containing foods and know when to ask for individual advice.
Readiness involves more than age
CDC guidance recommends beginning complementary foods at about six months; starting before four months is not recommended. Readiness signs include steady head control, sitting with support, opening the mouth for food and swallowing rather than pushing food back out. These examples are not a complete assessment.
If your baby was born prematurely, has feeding difficulties or has a medical condition, discuss timing and textures with their clinician.
Your first-meal preparation checklist
- Choose a calm opportunity. Leave enough time to sit together without rushing.
- Prepare one suitable food. Match its texture to your baby’s skills and remove choking hazards.
- Stay close. Seat baby upright in an appropriate feeding seat and supervise throughout.
- Respond to your baby. Offer gently and pause when baby turns away or closes their mouth. The aim is not an empty bowl.
Keep breast milk or infant formula in the day. Complementary foods provide important nutrients, including iron, as well as opportunities to learn feeding skills.
Three iron-containing first-food ideas
| Food | Preparation idea | Check before serving |
|---|---|---|
| Iron-fortified infant cereal | Mix to a suitable texture following pack instructions. | Choose an iron-fortified infant product; vary grains rather than relying only on rice. |
| Meat | Cook thoroughly and purée or finely mash as appropriate. | Remove bones and avoid tough pieces. |
| Lentils or beans | Cook thoroughly, then purée or mash well. | Do not serve whole beans as a first-food texture. |
Iron needs vary, especially for babies born early. Ask your clinician about your baby’s needs rather than choosing a supplement dose from a website.
Introduce allergens with the right plan
Common allergenic foods can be introduced when other complementary foods begin, in an age-appropriate form. Do not deliberately delay them without a medical reason. CDC suggests starting with single-ingredient foods and waiting three to five days between new foods to help identify a reaction.
Peanut needs special planning for some babies: NIAID guidance advises considering introduction at 4–6 months for babies with severe eczema, egg allergy or both, after assessment of readiness and whether testing or supervised feeding is needed. Discuss this with the baby’s clinician before introducing peanut.
The LEAP study concerned peanut allergy prevention in infants at high risk. It does not show the same percentage reduction for every allergen or every baby. Never offer whole nuts or a thick spoonful of nut butter; use a safe preparation recommended for your baby.
If a food causes a suspected reaction, stop offering it and seek medical advice before trying it again. Breathing difficulty, collapse or swelling affecting breathing requires emergency help.
Spoon-feeding, self-feeding or both?
Choose textures your baby can manage. The safety checks apply whichever approach you use: upright posture, attentive supervision and food prepared for the baby’s development. No feeding method removes choking risk.
Before each meal: four safety checks
- Baby is upright and an adult is watching continuously.
- Food has a suitable shape, size and texture; remove bones and hard, round or sticky hazards.
- No honey before 12 months. Avoid unpasteurised foods and drinks.
- Breast milk or infant formula remains the main milk drink before 12 months; cow’s milk should not replace it as a drink.
Be prepared for choking
Learn infant first aid from a qualified provider before you need it. If baby cannot breathe, cry or cough effectively, get emergency help and follow infant choking first aid. This article is not a first-aid course.
A simple first-food note
| Record | Example entry |
|---|---|
| Date and food | Monday: iron-fortified oat cereal |
| Preparation | Prepared as directed; texture suitable for baby |
| Observation | Tried a little, then turned away |
| Question for the clinician | Which iron-rich textures should we offer next? |
As feeding develops from six to twelve months, revisit variety and texture with your baby’s clinician. Progress is individual; the table is not a portion target or a schedule for allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Do solids replace milk feeds at six months?
No. They complement breast milk or infant formula and supply nutrients as well as feeding practice.
Must cereal be the first food?
No required order applies. Include iron-containing options and use preparations your baby can manage.
Should I follow a fixed eight-week food plan?
A rigid menu can obscure readiness, reactions and individual advice. Use simple observations and discuss questions with your clinician.
Continue with our feeding overview, or see the sleep-by-age guide if you are planning the wider day.
Sources and editorial update
Updated 27 September 2026. BabyBloom editorial content; no clinical review is claimed. Sample routines and worksheets are our organisational examples, not prescribed treatment.