Weaning: When and How to Wean Your Baby?

Weaning your baby is an exciting milestone, but when and how to start is a common question. The NHS recommends beginning around 6 months, when most babies are ready for solid foods. 

In this guide, you'll learn:

• When to wean a baby and signs they’re ready

• How to wean your baby with different methods, including baby-led weaning and spoon-feeding

• The best baby-weaning foods to start with

• How to transition from breastmilk or formula smoothly

• How to stop breastfeeding with minimal discomfort.

From weaning breastmilk to introducing solids, this article has everything you and your baby need for a smooth transition.

What Is Weaning?

When talking about babies, the definition of ‘weaning’ – also known as ‘complementary feeding’ – is giving solid foods alongside breast milk or formula. 

The end of this process is when you’ll eventually stop breastfeeding or bottle feeding as your child completes the transition to solid food, although precisely when you stop breastfeeding altogether is a matter of personal choice.

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Weaning a baby is usually a gradual process and not something that happens from one day to the next. In the early stages, the aim is to get your baby used to the idea of new feeding methods and tastes, as well as giving your body time to adjust to reduced nursing sessions if you’ve been breastfeeding.

Your little one needs time and practice to get the hang of all the skills involved in eating, such as chewing and moving food around inside their mouth.

While all this is going on – during the early stages of weaning at least – your baby will still be getting most of their energy and nutrients from breast milk or formula.

When to Start Weaning

You might be wondering when to wean a baby. Precisely when you decide to begin this exciting new phase in your baby’s development may differ, but experts agree that it’s best to wait until your little one is around 6 months old before you start introducing solid foods.

Here’s why experts recommend waiting until this point:

• Protection from illness. Giving your baby only breast milk for the first six months helps protect against illness and infections.

• Nutrition. Breast milk or formula contains all the nutrients your baby needs (although extra vitamin D is sometimes needed) until around six months. After that, most babies start needing more nutrition than they can get from breast milk or formula alone.

• Chewing skills. Your baby may have more of the motor skills needed to chew and move food around inside the mouth.

• Hand-eye coordination. Your child may also be better at picking things up and putting them into their mouth, so the ability to eat finger foods could be – literally – within reach after around 6 months old. This could be especially important if you want to try baby-led weaning.

If your baby was born prematurely, consult with your health visitor or doctor about the best time to start introducing solid foods.

Watching how your baby grows and develops is an important and joyful part of parenthood. Keep track of your little one’s progress with our baby development articles.

Baby Development Milestones Taking care of your baby is one of the most important responsibilities as a parent. Track your little one's development with our articles! Go to Baby Development Milestones

Signs Your Baby Is Ready for Weaning

You may be wondering how you’ll be able to tell when your baby is ready to start weaning. Well, there are three important signs to look out for:

• Your little one can sit up unsupported, holding their head steady

• Your baby has the eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills needed to look at a piece of food, pick it up and bring it up to their mouth

• They swallow food instead of spitting or pushing it out with the tongue.

Some things babies normally do are often mistaken for signs of readiness. For example, keep in mind that chewing on a fist, periods of cluster feeding (wanting extra feeds of breast milk or formula) or waking up more often at night are not necessarily signs that your little one is ready to start trying solid food.

Tips on How to Wean Your Baby

If your baby shows signs of readiness to start weaning off breastmilk or formula, choose a time of day when your baby isn’t too tired, and make sure you’re not in a rush yourself either. Set aside plenty of time so your baby can go at their own pace without being rushed.

A good time for those early tasting sessions could be before a regular breast or bottle feed. Once that little tummy’s full of breast milk or formula, your baby might not be interested in trying solid food.

On the other hand, don’t wait for your little one to get too hungry, or those tasty morsels of mushed-up fruit or veg just won’t be able to compete with the prospect of an instant hunger-quenching feed of breast milk or formula.

To avoid the risk of choking, you must never leave your baby alone with food or allow them to eat unsupervised. Plus, ensure the bits of food are not a small size that could get caught in the throat or windpipe if swallowed whole, like whole grapes for example.

Here are some more specific baby-weaning tips for each stage of the process:

The First Taste of Solids – From Around 6 Months Old

• At this stage your baby won’t need three meals a day. In fact, that much food wouldn’t fit inside your little one’s tiny stomach yet anyway!

• Early on, it’s best to just start by offering food in small amounts – a few small pieces or teaspoons of a single pureed or soft-cooked fruit or vegetable at a time.

• Vary the foods you offer. Keep adding things your baby has already refused to the menu. At this stage of weaning your baby, it might take up to 10 tries before your little one accepts a new food, taste or texture.

• From 6 months old, you can offer your baby sips of water with meals. An open cup or free-flow cup (without an anti-spill valve) is best. This helps your child learn to sip properly and it’s also better for their teeth.

• Keep on breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your little one. At this stage, your baby will still be getting most of the nutrition they need from breast milk or formula.

Building an Appetite – 7 to 9 Months Old

• Your baby will gradually eat more and more, and you might be giving solids two, and eventually three times a day. As the amount of solid food increases, your child may want less breast milk or formula at each feed.

• Breastfeeding babies take as much milk as they need to supplement the solids at this stage, so just keep breastfeeding on demand.

• Babies who get their nourishment from formula may need around 600 millilitres of infant formula a day in this stage of weaning, but this is just a rule of thumb. Pay attention to your little one’s feeding cues, such as sucking on a fist or finger or searching for the bottle teat with their mouth, to determine whether they are still hungry.

Three Meals a Day – 10-12 Months Old

• By your baby’s first birthday, they will probably be tucking into three meals a day alongside roughly the same number of breast or bottle feeds.

• Consider timing these meals to coincide with breakfast, lunch and dinner (or whatever you call the early evening meal in your household), so you can eat together. Besides making weaning into a fun (if messy) bonding experience, this can help lay the foundations for good eating habits down the track.

• It’s great if your little one is learning to drink water from an open or free-flow cup, but breast milk or formula is still the best choice for your baby’s main drink until they are around 1 year old.

• By now a formula-fed baby may be down to around 400 millilitres of formula a day. Breastfed babies adjust their intake depending on how much they need on top of solid foods.

• Experts recommend giving your baby a vitamin D supplement if they are drinking less than 500 millilitres of formula a day, or if you’re still breastfeeding your little one.

Your Little (Picky) Gourmet – 1 Year and Beyond

• Now your child could be eating lots of different foods at those three daily mealtimes, and maybe having a couple of healthy snacks between meals as well.

• If you’re still breastfeeding, your baby will take as much as they need at each feed. After 12 months, your little one no longer needs infant formula on top of solid foods.

• At 12 months old, your baby may also be ready to try cow’s milk. Milk is a great source of calcium and other vitamins, but introduce it gradually at first. Don’t give low-fat dairy products at this age, as children under 2 years old need the extra energy contained in whole milk.

• You may notice your baby getting better at picking up food and putting it in their mouth, and all that practice with a cup could now be paying off, too.

• Keep in mind that babies and toddlers learn these skills at different speeds, and some are fussier eaters than others, so don’t worry if your child’s transition to solid food isn’t as effortless as you might have expected. Just be patient, and they will get there in the end!

Baby-Led Weaning or Spoon Feeding?

There are two main methods for introducing solid foods. One is referred to as baby-led weaning. So, what is baby-led weaning? This is when you just give your baby finger foods – like pieces of boiled or steamed vegetables or soft fruit – and let your little one feed themself.

The other is spoon feeding, and as the name suggests, is when you spoon mashed or pureed foods into your baby’s mouth.

You might choose one or the other of these methods, or a combination of the two. Neither way is right or wrong, so go with whatever feels right for you and your child.

If you want to learn more about what baby-led weaning is, check out our dedicated article.

Breastfeeding Weaning Schedule

The weaning process is different for every baby, but a gradual transition can help ensure they receive the nutrition they need at each stage. The NHS recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months. After this, solid foods should be introduced alongside continued breastfeeding.

If you decide to stop breastfeeding before 12 months, first infant formula should be used as a replacement. Whole cow’s milk or an unsweetened, fortified plant-based alternative (such as soya milk) should only be introduced after 12 months.

The chart below provides a simple guide to help navigate weaning your baby off breastmilk based on your child’s age.

What Are the Best Baby Weaning Foods?

Your little one’s first weaning foods could be single fruits or vegetables, either mashed up or cooked/steamed in pieces until they are soft (and cooled back down again).

Great first baby weaning foods include:

• Sweet potato

• Apple

• Pear

• Potato

• Spinach

• Broccoli

• Carrot.

It’s usually OK to give your baby foods that contain allergens (such as peanuts, eggs, fish and glutenous products like bread) after 6 months of age, but always give only one of these foods at a time, and in a very small amount at first. That way, you’ll be able to spot any allergic reaction early. Signs of an allergic reaction can include sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy, red, watery eyes, an itchy, red rash, wheezing, coughing, stomach pain, digestive issues such as constipation or diarrhoea, and worsening of asthma or eczema symptoms. Allergic reactions generally occur immediately after exposure to an allergen; however, some may develop after a few hours or days. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your child’s GP. 

In more rare and severe cases, Anaphylaxis can occur. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing and swelling of the face and lips. If you notice these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention by calling 999. 

You can use cow’s milk in cooking (or mixed in with food) from about six months, but don’t give it to your baby as a standalone drink until they are at least 1 year old.

As your baby starts to get more nutrition from solid food, it’s important to make sure your little one is getting a balanced diet. As a general rule, try and include plenty of all these different types of food in their diet:

• Fruit and vegetables

• Starchy foods like potatoes, rice and pasta

• Sources of protein, like beans, fish, eggs and meat

• Pasteurised full-fat dairy products like unflavoured yoghurt and reduced-salt cheese.

Shop-bought baby foods can be convenient, especially when you’re travelling with your baby, but nothing beats home cooking! Learn more about how to make and store your own baby food.

Times to Avoid Weaning Babies

You may want to delay weaning if:

• You are concerned about food allergies. If you or your partner have a history of allergies, asthma or eczema, your baby may be at higher risk of allergies. However, the NHS advises that introducing common allergenic foods alongside breastfeeding from six months may help reduce the risk of developing allergies. If you have concerns, speak to your GP or health visitor.

• Your baby is unwell. It’s best to wait until your baby has recovered before making changes to their feeding routine.

• You are unwell and do not feel up to focusing on weaning. Continuing to breastfeed while unwell can provide comfort and immunity support for your baby.

• Your baby is struggling with teething. Some babies may be fussier about feeding during teething, so you may wish to wait until they are more settled.

• Your baby is experiencing a major change. If there have been recent disruptions, such as moving house or a change in childcare, it may be best to delay weaning until your baby feels more settled.

When to Stop Breastfeeding

There’s no hard or fast rule for when to stop breastfeeding—it’s a personal choice.

The NHS recommends exclusively breastfeeding for around the first six months and continuing alongside solid foods for as long as both parent and baby are happy. If you stop before 12 months, first infant formula should replace breast milk, as cow’s milk is not suitable as a main drink before then.

Some parents phase out breastfeeding once their baby gets most of their nutrition from solid foods, while others continue into the second year or beyond. Both are perfectly fine. Breastfeeding is not just about nutrition—it can provide comfort, especially at night, during illness or when your child is feeling upset.

Sometimes, practical factors like returning to work, discomfort (such as sore nipples) or personal preference may influence your decision. If breastfeeding is uncomfortable, adjusting your baby's latch or feeding position may help. A health visitor or lactation consultant can offer support.

Try not to compare your journey to others. Every parent and baby is different, and the best time to stop breastfeeding is when it feels right for you and your little one.

How to Stop Breastfeeding

There is no single ‘right’ way to stop breastfeeding. Some babies naturally lose interest as solid foods become their main source of nutrition, while others may need a more structured transition.

Gradual weaning is recommended to help your body adjust and reduce the risk of discomfort or mastitis. It can also make the transition easier for your baby. A good approach is to:

• Start by dropping one regular feed at a time, replacing it with expressed milk, formula (if under 12 months), or solid food (if appropriate).

• Leave a few days between dropped feeds so your body gradually reduces milk production.

• Night feeds are often the last to go, as they provide comfort as well as nourishment.

If you need to stop breastfeeding quickly, expressing small amounts of milk can relieve engorgement without overstimulating the supply.

Symptoms and Challenges After Stopping Breastfeeding

Weaning can bring physical, hormonal and emotional changes for both you and your baby. A gradual approach can help ease the transition, but if you need to stop quickly, being aware of potential effects may help manage the process.

For You:

• Breast engorgement. Your breasts may feel full or uncomfortable as milk production slows. Expressing small amounts or using cold compresses can help.

• Risk of mastitis. Stopping too quickly can cause blocked ducts or inflammation. If you experience pain, redness or flu-like symptoms, seek medical advice.

• Hormonal shifts. A drop in oxytocin and prolactin can cause mood swings, anxiety or feelings of sadness. These should settle over time, but if they persist, seek support from your GP or health visitor.

• Changes in fertility. Stopping breastfeeding may cause ovulation and menstruation to return, which could be a consideration for family planning.

• Emotional adjustment. You may miss the closeness of breastfeeding. Finding new ways to bond, such as extra cuddles, can help ease the transition.

For Your Baby:

• Adjustment to a new routine. Some babies may take time to get used to bottles, cups or new feeding methods.

• Loss of comfort feeding. Extra cuddles, skin-to-skin contact or soothing bedtime routines can help maintain closeness.

• Immune support. Breast milk provides antibodies that support your baby's immunity. If stopping during illness or flu season, pay extra attention to hygiene and nutrition.

Gradual weaning is ideal, but if stopping quickly, offering comfort and patience can help ease the process. If you’re struggling with any aspect of stopping breastfeeding, reach out to your health visitor for guidance.

Taking Care of Yourself When Stopping Breastfeeding

Even if you phase out breastfeeding gradually, your breasts may still become overfull at times. To ease discomfort:

• Express a little milk if needed, but avoid excessive pumping to prevent prolonging milk production.

• Wear a well-fitted bra for support but avoid tight compression, which can increase the risk of blocked ducts.

• Drink plenty of fluids and eat well to support your body's adjustment.

Emotionally, you may feel a mix of relief, sadness or anxiety. This is completely normal. Give yourself time to adjust, and if you’re struggling, speak to your health visitor, a lactation consultant or a breastfeeding support group.

Stopping breastfeeding is a significant change, but with patience and support, both you and your baby will adapt in a way that feels right for you.

The Bottom Line

Introducing solid foods is a gradual process that can require plenty of patience and, if you’re breastfeeding, stopping when the time comes can also be an adjustment that takes a bit of getting used to for both you and your baby.

Try to keep in mind that weaning is an exciting time of exploration for your little one that can bring so many magical moments as your baby discovers and delights in new flavours and textures. Bon appétit!

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_{How we wrote this article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the National Health Service (NHS). You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}