But we know exactly where to find a whole host of experts who want you to avoid their baby mealtime mistakes and to pass on their top weaning tips.  

We’ve gathered advice from real parents in our brilliant MadeForMums community who’ve been there, and come out the other side with well-adjusted eaters who don’t just ask for chicken nuggets every night. Between them, they’ve weaned multiple babies, battled broccoli resistance, discovered which suction plates stay put on the tray, and learned (the hard way) that white clothing has no place at the dinner table with a tot. 

This isn’t about the pursuit of weaning perfection. It’s about passing on the brilliant, bizarre, and honest lessons they wish someone had told them before they served that very first spoonful of purée.  

Instead of giving you a checklist of what should happen, these real parents tell us what actually happened. From genius mess-cleaning tips to the one thing you really don’t need to stress over, these are the 8 weaning truths every new parent deserves to know. 

1. Learn the difference between choking and gagging   

If you thought weaning was as simple as popping some food on a highchair tray and watching your child gum away at it, then think again. Many of the parents we spoke to were passionate about ensuring you have proper first aid training or a good understanding around choking versus gagging, especially if you’re going down the baby-led weaning route.  

“100 % take a baby first aid class to know what to do in an emergency,” advises Lynsay McDonald. 

“I took a first aid course to help my anxiety,” says Jenny Canavan. “They offered it free at a local education centre. Anything that makes you nervous then leave and come back to it later.”

If you don’t have time or are about to start weaning before a course is available locally then don’t worry as there are some at-home options to educate yourself: 

“Joe Wicks has a good bit in his weaning book about a baby’s gag reflex and what this looks like,” says Hattie Evans. “Knowing this before you start and being aware that it can be really hard to watch is so important, so you don’t panic and end up making the situation worse.” 

“Get to understand the difference between gagging and choking by looking at some YouTube videos from trusted partners (like St John’s Ambulance or the NHS),” says Kate Stevens. “It will save you a lot of panic.” 

Beth Eaton agrees that clueing up on safe eating for babies helps make the whole process a lot less stressful: “The difference between choking and gagging is a must know bit of information,” she says. “I didn't get it with my first and was so glad I knew about it with my second – it made weaning with her a lot more enjoyable and a lot less anxiety-inducing for me.” 

And even if you’ve been on a first aid course, in a moment of panic you might need some extra reassurance, so Emily Cwn’s advice is one you’ll want to follow: “Even if you think you are  up to date on first aid the fog of zero sleep doesn’t help,” she says, “so I printed St John’s Ambulance flyers out and stuck them on the fridge just in case. Thankfully we’ve never needed them!” 

Keeping calm is key: “Just be relaxed,” says Charlotte Page. “Try not to worry when they’re gagging, just when they go quiet. If you have a basic first aid, you’ll know what to do.” 

And if you don’t know what to do Taylor Gillman has some helpful hints. “Gagging is different to choking, gagging is perfectly normal, choking is not!” she says. “Usually they will gag (and make noise) and push the food to the front of their mouth with their tongue to spit it out. If you suspect choking, never put your hand in the mouth to try and remove the obstruction because you could make it worse.” 

“It’s normal for babies to gag on some foods,” says Jess Cassidy. “If the gagging is loud don’t intervene. If it is silent that's when they need help!” 

Or as Holly Hastings puts it: “Loud and red go ahead, silent and blue you know what to do.” 

2. Try to embrace the mess… or get a canine cleaning machine!  

If you’ve always wanted to get a puppy now might be the time to get one. A surprising number of mums we spoke to told us that the one weaning accessory they couldn’t live without was their dog?! Why? Because it meant no crawling around on the kitchen floor after dinner picking up all the leftovers for them (and probably meant their monthly dog food bill decreased somewhat!).  

“The best weaning accessory is a dog,” says Shereen Amy Wels. “I end up with zero mess on my floor because she cleans it all up for me!”  

Anita Lian agrees: “There will be mess,” she says, “and if you have a dog it will put on weight!” 

“Get a dog, they help with the mess,” says Elli Jacobs. “Seriously though, expect mess and embrace it. Having a healthy relationship with food is so important and this builds the foundations.” 

Of course, not every family has a pooch to do the vacuuming for them and when you’ve got a baby, bringing a puppy into the mix too might not be a smart move. In that case it’s time to take a deep breath and accept that your previously clean and tidy life might be a little bit messier for the foreseeable.  

“I was amazed at how messy my boys got,” says Sarah Mitchell. “I learnt quickly that it was easier to strip them down to their nappies for them to eat than having to change lots of outfits.” 

“My biggest piece of advice is not to freak out about mess!” says Aarti Jagpal. “I was constantly worried about giving my baby messy food as it would cause such a mess and would sometimes take food away when he started playing about with it! But I realised that causing a mess is all part of the way they learn and experience different types of food and it doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t learning or developing their eating!” 

And if you really can’t cope with too much mess how about this ingenious idea from one mess-hating mum: “Find something to cover their hair with!” says Keryn Hambling. “Disposable food covers are a perfect fit and very easy to get rid of after with no mess.” 

3. Don’t compare yourself to other parents… or compare your own children 

Parenting in 2025 can be overwhelming – not only do you have the usual mum guilt to deal with but every time you look at your phone or turn on the TV you’re confronted with a picture of someone perfectly parenting their child and making you feel bad for your haphazard approach! 

But the images you’re seeing aren’t real and every baby is different, so comparing your baby or your weaning efforts to someone else’s is just a recipe for feeling bad. As many of our parents found: 

“With my little boy I felt so much pressure from everything I saw online. It all said about baby led weaning and I saw so many mums making their own food and pouches every single day, it was making me so stressed,” says Brook Sears. “This time I won’t be comparing myself to anyone else and will just be following my baby’s lead!” 

Clare Indge agrees that it’s not helpful to compare yourself to others. “Give yourself a break,” she says. “Despite what social media tells you not every mum is making gourmet concoctions for their kid.” 

It’s not just other parents though – it’s also really important not to compare your own children’s weaning journeys. Every baby is different when it comes to food, and that includes siblings. In fact, a huge number of parents find that their children couldn’t be more different when it comes to how they wean and the foods they initially like.  

“I couldn’t believe how different it was weaning my first vs my second child!” says Elizabeth Storton. “My first ate so well and my second was far more average in terms of quantity – it was difficult at first not to worry about it!” 

“The advice I would give my past self (having gone through this four times now) is that every baby is different and to follow their cues,” says Ellen Karmios. “Two of my four wouldn’t take purée food, but the other two hated feeding themselves.” 

“Comparison is the thief of joy,” says Kathleen Wilkins. “I wish I hadn't spent so many months stressing that my baby would never eat.” 

4. Don’t be afraid to delay if you get off to a rocky start 

The current NHS advice is to wait to wean your baby at 6 months, but that doesn’t mean every baby will suddenly wake up on their 6 month birthday feeling hungry for solids! Some babies make take a lot longer and that’s ok. Just like some babies walk at 9 months and other at 2 years, weaning happens at its own pace depending on each unique child.  

“Every baby is different,” says Shannon Pettifer. “Some may be very hungry from a young age and want to eat solids a lot quicker. It may be that your baby doesn’t follow the normal age range of what is expected for them to have and that’s okay.”  

Mum Amy Patel found all three of her kids were on different weaning timescales: “Try not to stress if they don't take to weaning immediately!” she says. “My first took a few weeks of us offering food before he properly started picking it up and gobbling it down. My second loved food from the word go, and my third took a week or so before she wanted to pick it up herself. They all do things at their own pace!” 

And if they’re not getting much food down them for months after starting, it’s still nothing to worry about: 

“Don't put pressure on it and take it at yours/your baby's own pace,” says Kate Jeffery. “Remember, babies get most of their nutrition from milk until they're one.”  

And if your first attempt doesn’t work out, leave it a while and then try again.  

“Just because the guidelines say from 6 months it doesn’t mean your baby will be ready bang on 6 months,” says Amy Brooks. “Make sure you know what a weaning ready baby looks like (e.g sitting up right with head control / loss of tongue thrust / being able to pick food up and bring it to their mouth). 

“My son wasn’t ready at 6 months, and we definitely had a false start but started again a couple weeks later and it was perfect.”  

“I was so excited to start weaning my first at 6 months and honestly, she just wasn’t ready,” says Grace Emma. “I found it so stressful, neither of us were having a nice time so, we stopped and came back to it a month or so later when she was ready and it was a whole new experience. We both loved it and it was so much more enjoyable.” 

5. Find a weaning guide you love and stick with it  

Many of the mums in our community described finding the right weaning guide, recipe book or app as a “lifesaver” during the weaning process, so if you can spend some time before you wean reading up on the best resources to help guide you through. 

A huge number of parents swore by the Sold Starts App including Harriet Nry who said: “The Solid Starts website/app was a game changer for knowing how to prepare foods for my little one.” 

Others preferred having their weaning advice in the form of a book. 

 “We loved the How To Wean Your Baby book by Charlotte Stirling-Reed,” says Andrea Soteriou. “I have bought/recommended this to so many mums and found its focus on vegetables great. Our 2.5y old still prefers vegetables now!” 

Jenny Kermode also liked having a guide to refer to: “What Mummy Makes by Rebecca Wilson was the best thing we had,” she says. “The info at the start is great and so are the recipes.” 

And many of our mums gave Joe Wicks’ Wean in 15 the thumbs up:  

We loved Joe Wicks’ Wean in 15,” says Lana Frances. “We found we just had to go with the flow and not worry about the mess.” 

6. Make weaning a family affair  

Eventually you’re going to want your little one to sit at the dinner table and enjoy meals with the whole family, so why not get them into that habit from the off? Lots of parents said this was the one thing they’d done that they’d 100% do again as it meant they could model good eating for their baby as well as introducing them to the happy, sociable side of eating. 

Sit them at the table with you and eat together,” says Melanie Baker. “Make mealtimes fun and relaxing for both parties.” 

Stephanie Manning agrees with this approach and says it can help babies learn key skills: “Feed them at the same time as the rest of the family so they are trying everyone else's dinner if theirs is different,” she says. “With my first I always gave him dinner first then we ate once he was asleep. But with my second we all eat together, and he has learnt basic cutlery skills, how to drink out of a cup and how to eat certain foods like spaghetti much quicker.” 

If you all eat together and you’re doing baby-led weaning you’ll find it a lot less work.  

“With both of mine we went full baby led,” says Tanya Hayter. “They had the same as us for every meal. We don't offer alternative and there's minimal snacks available. We introduced strong flavours early too. Both of mine are now amazing eaters. I genuinely don't think there's anything they don't eat.” 

7. Don’t put any pressure on your baby to eat a certain amount 

The guidance from all nutritionists, doctors and health visitors, that you’ll hear time and time again, is that “food until one is for fun”.  

Babies will still have all their nutritional needs met by their milk feeds from 6 – 12 months and starting solids at around 6 months is simply to introduce them to it and get them used to different textures and flavours for when food is their main source of energy and nutrients at around one. 

With the benefit of hindsight, many of the mums in our community wonder why on earth they felt so stressed about the quantity of food their babies were taking in.   

“As you start this delightful journey, keep in mind: it’s not about the quantity of kale or sweet potato that ends up in their tummy initially,” says Izzah Platon. “What truly matters is introducing them to a realm of culinary exploration, nurturing a passion for discovery, and creating a mealtime atmosphere that is joyful and pressure-free for both of you. Take a moment to relax, observe their exploration, and treasure these messy yet thrilling first bites. Your little one is right on track with what they need to do.”  

Jemma Cook is looking forward to her second round of weaning after realising there’s no need to stress about quantities. “The first few months are all about experimenting and getting your baby used to food,” she says. “I got so stressed first time round that I was doing it wrong, that my baby wasn’t getting enough food. This time we will enjoy weaning and finding out what does/doesn’t work for us.” 

And it pays to remember that the food you serve is just for fun so you shouldn’t be expecting your baby to eat certain size meals. In fact, forcing a baby to eat when they’re not hungry is a sure-fire way to make them anxious around food.  

“An eye opener for me was definitely portion sizes,” says Mehack Zareen. “We forget that babies still only have tiny tummies, so I used to get so disheartened when half the portion I had prepared remained.” 

It’s not healthy for either you or your baby to be getting upset about whether they’re eating “enough”. 

“Be kind to yourself,” says Jannifer Batliwalla. “I spent so much time worrying my son hadn't eaten enough or the right food sort of food. They're stronger than we think and they'll let us know if they're hungry.” 

“Worry less about intake and don't compare your weaning journey to someone else's,” agrees Tanya Costley-White. “Both of my kids only started eating properly at 12 months despite being 90th centile. The second time around I knew not to worry so much – there's so much learning at the beginning! Don't sweat it.” 

You might not believe it now but even the pickiest and slowest weaners might have a surprise in store for you once they head off into the big wide world: 

“Don’t stress if baby doesn’t take to it,” says Stephanie Graham. “Just wait until you hear all the things they eat at nursery that they would never touch at home!”  

8. Try to see the funny side of weaning  

Amid all the mealtime madness, take a moment to enjoy it. Weaning is a very short-lived phase and goes by in a flash. And weirdly you might end up missing what can be a magical time with your baby.  

“Take lots of pictures and videos of their reactions to foods,” says Jenny Canavan. “It’s lots of fun.” 

“Have your camera ready,” agrees Natalie Davis, “because some of the reactions are pure gold.” 

And focus on the bigger picture when your little baby can join you over a meal:  

“It’s actually really fun to go out for lunch together once they’re eating, even if they do make a mess,” says Nicole Rigden Hamid. “Just remember to bring the wet wipes!” 

Parents wean early for several reasons – pressure from older generations who received different weaning advice, a desire to move on from exclusively breastfeeding or making up bottles, the hope of getting more sleep at night or the need to go back to work and make baby more independent.  

And while some studies, like one published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2018[1], that appear to support the belief that weaning your baby earlier than 6 months can help them to sleep better might tempt you to join these early weaning advocates, a whole host of other scientific studies and articles might just stop you in your spoon-feeding tracks… 

These include a 2019 scientific opinion piece[2] from the European Food Safety Authority about the appropriate age for the introduction of complementary feeding that finds no benefit in introducing solids before 6 months for growth, allergy prevention or sleep and that a baby’s gut and immune system are still maturing before 4 months.  

Then there’s an EAT study by King’s College London[3] that was updated in 2021 that busts the myth that early solids leads to fewer allergies. The follow-up showed that early introduction did not reduce allergy risk long-term for the general population.  

Another consideration for parents about to start weaning is how their timing could affect their child’s future weight. A recent study[4] has found a link between early introduction of solids and obesity, suggesting that weaning before 4 months was associated with higher BMI and increased obesity risk at preschool age. The study went on to suggest that waiting to wean until 6 months may protect against childhood obesity.  

Finally, there are digestive concerns to consider when it comes to weaning and a 2020 study[5] found that early weaning disrupted the natural development of the infant gut microbiome. In fact, a more mature and diverse microbiome (which is associated with a stronger immune system) was found in infants weaned after 6 months.  

And then there’s guidance on baby feeding from the Public Health Agency[6] that says: “The latest research shows that babies don’t need anything but breastmilk or infant formula for the first six months of life. This is because babies’ digestive systems and kidneys are still developing. Introducing solids too soon may increase the risk of asthma, eczema, digestive problems, allergies and obesity in later life.” 

It's not just these studies that should encourage you to wait to wean. The NHS advice is clear that 6 months is the right time to wean, and your doctor and health visitor will both support this: 

“The current recommendation is to wait until your baby is around 6 months old to start weaning onto solid foods,” says NHS GP Dr Philippa Kaye. “There are various reasons for this, including the fact that breast milk or formula milk is enough, in that it contains all the calories, vitamins and minerals that your baby needs. The only exception to this is around vitamin D where supplementation may be advised, for example if you are exclusively breastfeeding.” 

“The content of the milk aside, waiting until around 6 months means that your baby is more likely to be sitting up, be more able to feed themselves, better able to co-ordinate movements like chewing and swallowing and it allows for their bodies to develop to be able to cope with solid foods.” 

All experts are united on one important fact, though: it's definitely not safe to start weaning before 17 weeks. 

When do mums actually start weaning? 

Despite all this advice, mums are still weaning a lot earlier than you might expect. A MadeForMums poll of 402 mums told us that 54% start either at 4 or 5 months and only 40% wait until 6 months or more. 

The full results are as follows: 

When did you start weaning your baby? 

• Before 4 months: 6% 
• At 4 months: 26% 
• At 5 months: 28% 
• At 6 months: 34% 
• At 7 months: 6% 

The experts’ view – what age is safe to start solids? 

"If you think your baby is ready to wean earlier then the recommended age of 6 months," says Dawn Kelly, an independent UK health visitor with 20 years' experience, "speak to your health visitor or doctor about it. But never introduce solids before 17 weeks." 

“It may be that you are advised by your doctor to start weaning at a slightly earlier age, for example to help with reflux,” says Dr Philippa Kaye. “Please do not start weaning early unless advised to do so by a healthcare professional.” 

There’s no doubt lots of mums start earlier than 6 months for a variety of reasons, but many of these are not medical. For example, Jodie, a member of our MadeForMums community says: “I started weaning my little one at 17 weeks. I felt under pressure to start earlier from family but wanted to wait until the advised time (6 months).” 

Why should you never start to wean before 4 months? 

The Department of Health, NHS and health professionals all state clearly that your baby’s digestive system isn’t ready for solid food before 17 weeks. 

Research also suggests that weaning before 4 months may be linked to an increased chance your child will become overweight. Data from The Millennium Cohort Study (which is following 12,000 children born in 2000) found that 26% of babies given solids before 4 months were overweight at the age of 3, compared with 22% of those fed solids later on. 

The same pattern was true when the children reached 5 years; 24% of those given solids before 4 months were overweight compared with 20% of those given solids after 4 months. 

Dr Lucy Griffiths, who led the research team, said: "Our findings suggest a continued need to discourage premature introduction of solid foods." 

How can you tell if it's safe to wean your baby before 6 months? 

It’s best to talk things through with your health visitor first. But, very broadly speaking: 

• It's definitely not safe if... your baby is under 17 weeks. Or if you're keen on doing baby-led weaning: your baby does need to be 6 months old before you start to wean this way. 
• It's probably not safe if... your baby is over 17 weeks but not showing all the signs of readiness (below) – or if you have a family history of allergies or coeliac disease. You really do need to seek advice from your health visitor or GP first, if you're still keen to get started. 
• It's probably safe if... your baby is over 17 weeks, he or she is showing all the signs of readiness, and you’ve got the OK from your health visitor or GP. 

What are the signs of readiness for weaning? 

“Signs that your baby is ready for weaning include being able to stay in a sitting upright position with a steady head and that they can co-ordinate looking at food, picking it up and putting it in their mouths,” says Dr Philippa Kaye.  

The three main weaning signs include your baby: 

• having good neck and head control, and being able to sit well with support 
• gaining a healthy weight since birth 
• being able to reach out for objects, grab them and bring them to their mouth. 

Beware of the 'false signs' of readiness to wean 

There are some things that all babies tend to do at around about this age that are often mistaken for sure signs that it's time to start moving on to solids. They're not. 

So, if your baby is doing any of the following, you shouldn't dive for the weaning spoons – unless you can spot the proper signs of readiness, too: 

• Chewing fists. Almost all babies love stuffing things – toys, blankets, fists – in their mouth. It's one of the ways they learn about the world around them (and drive you to oh-no-he's-going-to-choke distraction). So, chowing down on a hand is not a sign of a yearning for a solid bite to eat. 
• Waking in the night. Even if your baby has always been a good sleeper and suddenly starts waking at night, it doesn’t mean it’s time to wean. Contrary to many an old wives' tale, there’s no evidence that giving your baby solids will mean a return to sleeping through. 
• Wanting extra milk feeds. It's quite normal for your baby to go through periods of growth spurts during which he or she will be particularly hungry. Giving extra milk, rather than getting out the solids, is the answer. 

6 reasons you should wait to wean until 6 months 

1. Your baby’s digestive system needs to mature. This is particularly important if your baby has a family history of allergies or coeliac disease. Research suggests that babies weaned early are more likely to suffer tummy upsets, diarrhoea and vomiting. 
2. Your baby needs to have lost the 'tongue-thrust' reflex. All small babies have this reflex, which means they instinctively push out anything on their tongue, to protect against choking. Before you start weaning, this reflex needs to diminish, so your baby doesn’t instantly push the food straight back out. The reflex usually starts to fade between 4 and 6 months. 
3. Your baby needs to have mastered new tongue skills. It's not just about losing the push-food-out reflex; your baby also needs to learn how to push food from the front of his or her mouth to the back, and then swallow – a skill he or she will still be developing before 6 months. 
4. Your baby needs to be able to sit up – and pick up food. By 6 months, your baby is likely to be able to sit up with little or no support, and have good head and neck control, making chewing and swallowing easier. He or she should also be able to pick up foods and move them to his or her mouth. 
5. Milk is enough. Research shows that babies can get all their nutritional needs from breast milk or formula milk for the first 6 months of their life. 
6. Baby-led weaning shouldn't start before 6 months. At 6 months, your baby can start baby-led weaning (BLW), an increasingly popular method of weaning where you encourage your child to feed him or herself, rather than be fed by you with a spoon, or a mix of purées and BLW. It’s not recommended to start BLW before 6 months. 

References

[1] Perkin MR, Bahnson HT, Logan K, et al. Association of Early Introduction of Solids With Infant Sleep: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2018 

[2] Appropriate age range for introduction of complementary feeding into an infant's diet, EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA), 12 September 2019, EFSA Journal  

[3] Michael R. Perkin et al. Randomized Trial of Introduction of Allergenic Foods in Breast-Fed Infants, May 5, 2016, N Engl J Med, Vol. 374 No. 18 

[4] Huh SY, Rifas-Shiman SL, Taveras EM, Oken E, Gillman MW. Timing of solid food introduction and risk of obesity in preschool-aged children. Pediatrics, 2011 Mar 

[5] Differding MK, Benjamin-Neelson SE, Hoyo C, et al. Timing of complementary feeding is associated with gut microbiota diversity and composition and short chain fatty acid concentrations over the first year of life, March 11, 2020, BMC Microbiology  

[6] https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/2019-03/Weaning_made_easy_nov%202018_0.pdf 

How do you know if your baby is having an allergic reaction? What do you do if they are? What do you do if you have an allergy as a parent? We've answered all these burning questions about allergies and weaning, with help and advice from an expert. 

“Food allergies can develop from a very young age,” says Annette Weaver, a registered dietitian and clinical dietetic advisor at Allergy UK. “It’s important to remember that most children do not develop food allergy and tolerate a wide variety of foods without any issues. Excessive anxiety around food can be unhelpful for parents and children.” 

“In general, there’s no need to worry about food allergies unless there are specific symptoms suggesting a problem,” she says. 

We asked Annette some of the most common questions about allergies and weaning, to help you feel informed and confident when starting your baby’s food journey. 

What are food allergies and why do they happen in the first place? 

Our immune systems are there to protect us against anything harmful that enters our bodies — but sometimes they overreact to harmless substances, like dust, pollen, or foods, causing an allergic reaction. 

We don’t fully understand why some peoples’ immune systems see foods as harmful, but Annette says that several things could play a role, including “genetics, environment, reduced exposure to a diversity of microorganisms, immune system imbalances, and impaired skin barrier issues.” 

“Conditions like eczema can allow allergens to enter through the skin instead of the gut,” she says. “The immune system may misinterpret them as threats, triggering allergic sensitisation instead of tolerance. 

“The more severe the eczema is and the earlier it started, the higher the risk is of food allergy.” 

What makes children more likely to develop a food allergy? 

Allergies are common — Allergy UK estimates that more than one in four people in the UK are affected by an allergy at some point in their lives, and they’re particularly common in kids. 

But there are several risk factors that make food allergies more likely: 

• A family history of allergies (although they may not have the same allergies as their parents) 
• Growing up in urban or industrialised areas, where “there is lower exposure to natural environments and microbial diversity which may increase the risk of allergies,” Annette says. 
• Eating a diet that is high in ultra-processed foods and sugars — but the research on this is still emerging, Annette says. 
• Delaying the introduction of peanuts or eggs in high-risk babies 
• Having eczema, asthma, or hay fever — “Eczema, hay fever, asthma and food allergies are all related allergic conditions that often share genetic and immune system traits. People with eczema or hay fever tend to have an overactive immune response, which increases their risk of reacting to harmless substances like foods,” Annette says. 

When should you start looking for allergies in your child? 

“Food allergy symptoms in exclusively breastfed babies are rare but possible, as small amounts of food proteins can pass through breastmilk. Formula-fed babies may react to formula milk from early infancy,” Annette says. 

When it comes to introducing solid foods, Annette recommends introducing foods that are more commonly linked with allergies one at a time and watching for possible reactions. 

Which foods are most likely to trigger a reaction? 

“It is possible to be allergic to any food,” Annette says. But the most common food allergens in children in the UK are: 

• Cow’s milk  
• Hen’s eggs 
• Peanuts  
• Tree nuts  
• Wheat  
• Soya 
• Fish  
• Shellfish  

How to introduce foods that are common allergens 

Annette shares her tips on how to best introduce common allergens: 

• Introduce a new allergenic food one at a time, on separate days when your child is well. 
• Give your child new foods early in the day to allow time to monitor them afterwards. 
• Stay with your child when feeding them and stop giving them the food if you suspect they are having a reaction to it. 
• With any new allergenic food, start slow (e.g. with ¼ of a teaspoon) and gradually increase over the next few days if the food is tolerated. 
• Once the food is successfully introduced, it is important to continue to give them the food regularly as part of their normal diet. 
• Don’t force foods. If the child doesn’t eat the food, try on a different day. 

If you as the parent are allergic to a food, Annette says you “should seek individualised advice from healthcare professionals who can consider the risk to the baby and parents.” 

“A clear plan needs to be developed for how introduction and regular intake thereafter will be achieved, for example, by a different caregiver who regularly looks after the baby,” Annette says. 

Introduce eggs and peanuts to babies who have a higher risk of food allergies early 

“For guidance on identifying high-risk infants and safely introducing allergens, see the BSACI parent guide,” Annette says. 

If your child is at a higher risk of having a food allergy, introducing them to eggs and peanuts earlier on in the weaning journey can reduce their risk of developing an allergy to them (if they don’t have the allergy already).  

They can start eating eggs and peanuts when they can comfortably swallow pureed vegetables – any time after 6 months. Peanuts should not be given whole until at least 5 years of age and should be given in age-appropriate form like peanut butter. According to the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology, the risk of anaphylaxis or a severe reaction is low — one or two per 1000. 

How to prepare common allergens for your child 

For foods that are common allergens in children, Annette gave the following recommendations for preparing and serving them in the weaning stage: 

Eggs: Choose fresh, in date, British Lion-stamped eggs, as these have been laid by chickens vaccinated against salmonella to reduce risk of food poisoning.  

For the first time you give your baby egg, give them ¼ tsp egg (both white and yolk) mashed into other food that you know they can eat with no problems — e.g. fruit, vegetables, yoghurt, or baby rice. 

If that goes down ok, offer your baby scrambled or boiled eggs, or omelettes, and continue to use both the white and the yolk.  

Peanuts and tree nuts: Use smooth nut butters or grind whole nuts to a fine powder. Mix this with fruits, vegetables, yoghurt or baby cereals, or add to your baby’s milk.  

IMPORTANT: Never give whole nuts, coarsely chopped nuts or chunks of nut/peanut butter to children under five years of age as these are a choking risk.  

Wheat: Try Weetabix or similar breakfast cereals, well cooked pasta shapes, toast fingers, or couscous.  

Fish and seafood: Puréed, flaked or mashed cooked fish — such as cod, haddock, salmon or trout — or seafood — such as prawns or crab — are good to give a weaning baby. 

Seeds: Hummus, which contains tahini (sesame paste), or crushed seeds added to foods like yoghurt or puréed fruit can be a good way to introduce seeds. 

Cow’s milk: Add fresh whole milk to foods like mashed potato or sauces. Or give your baby yoghurt or fromage frais with no added sugar. 

What does an allergic reaction look like in a baby? 

“Children under one year of age often experience milder allergic symptoms compared to older children and adults, and the risk of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) is generally lower but not absent,” Annette says. 

An allergic reaction in a baby might involve the following symptoms: 

• Hives 
• Skin rash 
• Vomiting 
• Breathing issues like coughing or wheezing 
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face 

It’s important to note that not all skin rashes from food are due to an allergy. Some foods, like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and strawberries, can irritate the skin, especially around the mouth. You can avoid this by using a barrier cream on your baby’s skin. 

Some of these symptoms are easy to see, but other symptoms can be hard to detect because babies can’t tell you about them — like an itchy mouth or pain in the throat or stomach. So, it’s important to watch your baby closely for any sign of a reaction. 

“Babies’ signs of distress can sometimes be subtle or non-specific,” Annette says, “like crying, irritability, or other general signs of distress.” 

If a baby is experiencing anaphylaxis, which is a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction, their symptoms will affect their breathing and consciousness. Signs of anaphylaxis include: 

• Persistent cough 
• Wheezing 
• Hoarse voice 
• Difficulty swallowing 
• Swollen tongue 
• Difficult or noisy breathing 
• Persistent dizziness 
• Pale or floppy 
• Suddenly sleepy 
• Collapsing/unconscious 

What should you do if your baby has an allergic reaction? 

Firstly, stop feeding your child the food you think is causing a reaction, and stay calm.  

If your child’s symptoms are mild, “seek medical advice from a GP, NHS 111, or an urgent care centre,” Annete says. “And give them an antihistamine if advised or already available.”  

Then, monitor your child closely to see if symptoms worsen. 

If their symptoms are severe, “parents should immediately call 999 (or 112) and use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen or Jext) if prescribed,” Annette says. 

“The child should be kept lying down flat with their legs raised and encouraged to stay as still as possible. This position helps keep blood flowing to the heart and brain until emergency help arrives,” she says. “If breathing is difficult, they can sit up slightly, but they should not stand or walk around.” 

What should you do after the allergic reaction goes away?  

“If a food allergy is suspected, avoid the food and speak to a healthcare professional,” Annette says. “How long the food will need to be avoided depends on the type of allergy and the child’s risk factors.” 

“An allergy diagnosis isn’t just a label, it’s the key to managing symptoms, preventing complications and improving quality of life. The earlier you recognise the signs and seek diagnosis, the better you can manage symptoms and take control of the condition,” she says. 

Allergy UK’s ‘I Wish I Knew’ campaign highlights the importance of getting allergies diagnosed as soon as possible, especially because treating allergies in infancy can help to increase the likelihood that a child will outgrow the allergy or avoid it getting any worse. 

Should you reintroduce foods that your child has a reaction to? 

“Children can grow out of certain food allergies, particularly to cow’s milk and egg,” Annette says. 

“In many cases, carefully introducing small amounts of well-baked forms of these foods and gradually increasing amounts to tolerance and progressing to less well-baked forms may help with this process.” 

There are ‘food reintroduction ladders’ which give parents a process to follow when reintroducing foods — but you should always check whether this is safe and only do it with guidance from a qualified health professional. 

Immunotherapy, or desensitisation, may be an option for your child if they have certain allergies. This is a treatment where people are exposed to increasing amounts of allergens over time, with the aim of reducing their reactions to the allergen. It’s currently only available privately, but Annette says it “should only be done under the care of a specialist allergy clinic.”  

But in the weaning stages, anything goes — a baby can eat nothing but carrots one week and refuse to touch them the next.  

“An element of ‘fussiness’ is normal” when babies are weaning, Lucy Wood, a paediatric dietitian and early years feeding specialist at The Early Years Dietitian, says.  

But how do you know if your baby is behaving ‘normally,’ is a future picky eater, or if there’s something else at play? And how can you build eating habits that will allow your child to enjoy most things on their plate from day one?  

We spoke to Lucy to find out what picky eating really looks like, when to worry (and when not to), and the small, powerful things you can do to help your child build a healthy, curious relationship with food from an early age. 

When is it fussiness, and when do I need to be worried? 

“During the weaning process, from around six months to about a year, the vast majority of children will eat most things that are put in front of them,” Lucy says. They might not eat everything on their plate every day, but this is quite normal. 

“It’s a spectrum, but, for the most part, real fussiness doesn't come until a little bit later,” she says. 

Indicators that ‘fussiness’ is actually an underlying issue in a child of weaning age include: 

• consistently not wanting certain foods in their mouth, e.g. turning their head away from the food 
• getting really distressed at mealtimes 
• not taking to eating at all at a normal weaning age 
• if they aren’t growing  
• if they are missing out on entire food groups (e.g. they don’t eat any dairy or any vegetables) 
• they only eat a few foods 
• mealtimes are all consuming and get in the way of family life 

Lucy says that sometimes parents can get too worried about their child’s eating habits, though. 

“For some families, their child might actually be eating OK, but the parents’ perception is that it's really bad,” she says. “It’s very normal that a child’s appetite is going to go up and down, or for them not to finish what's on the plate.” 

“A lot of parents expect babies to eat a lot more than they actually need to. More often than not, when a parent comes to me really worried and says, ‘My baby doesn't eat very much,’ their baby is actually eating plenty.” 

“Not eating everything that’s there or rejecting some foods is normal. But a lot of parents will perceive that as fussiness, even when it isn’t,” she says. 

If your child truly is picky, Lucy says “about 60% of kids will just grow out of a fussy eating stage.” 

With the other 40%, their food behaviours are likely to stem from early experiences and health, rather than anything the parents did wrong at the weaning stage. But, Lucy says, while “we can’t stop all of those things form happening, what a parent does can determine whether that child moves out of it eventually or not.” 

There are lots of things you can do to reduce fussiness in the future 

So, the likelihood is that your baby isn’t actually displaying fussy behaviours at weaning stage. But if you want to help them avoid pickiness as they get older, and nurture a healthy relationship with food in them, Lucy has some tips.

“The weaning process is about taking it back to basics — it’s less worrying about the actual food and more about allowing a baby to learn to eat,” she says. 

1. Sit together to eat 

Sitting and eating with your baby can help them understand what to do.  

“So often you see highchair in the middle of the room, with parents sat in front of their baby, just feeding them,” she says. But babies learn by mimicking, so Lucy recommends literally putting food into your mouth in front of them. 

“If there's a dinner table, ideally use it to sit and have dinner together,” she says. 

2. Give them autonomy and independence 

“The second thing is to allow them autonomy and independence when eating — so allowing them to eat to their own appetite and stop when they're full,” Lucy says.

Whatever you do, don’t pressure children to eat as this will only make the situation worse, she says. 

Another thing to avoid is just giving children food whenever they want it or letting them graze all day — “that’s going to worsen fussy eating,” Lucy says. 

“These are the things that we as parents immediately start doing when children won’t eat,” she says. “But they just end up in a vicious cycle.” 

Instead, maintain a good eating routine, and allow them some autonomy in eating at mealtimes. 

Satter’s idea of a Division of Responsibility in Feeding is a good way to think about it. This rule says that “parents are responsible for what, when, and where food is given, while the child is responsible for whether to eat or how much to eat,” Lucy says. 

3. Offer them a variety of foods, prepared different ways 

There’s a common idea that babies should be introduced to 100 foods before they turn one, but Lucy isn’t the biggest fan of this idea. 

“We should definitely be aiming for variety, but you don’t need to aim for numbers and just tick foods off,” she says. “You need to think about how you’re serving them — we need to help children to understand that that food could look different every single time they have it.”

“Cook things differently, give them in different combinations, and prepare them differently because that's going to help a baby to get used to eating a variety rather than just one type of food.” 

So rather than giving your baby a carrot stick and thinking that that means they have graduated to the next vegetable, Lucy recommends preparing a carrot in different ways. 

“Sometimes you might grate it, sometimes you might cut it into baton, sometimes you might slice it,” she says. “That’s going to help them be really accepting of however foods come.” 

Try buying different types of foods, too, so that children don’t expect certain foods to look or taste a certain way. For example, if you usually serve Bolognese with spaghetti, try a different pasta shape, or try buying different kinds of bread or rice.  

Also, “don’t rely on commercial baby foods,” she says. Shop-bought baby food is very consistent and always has the same texture, flavour, and colour, which doesn’t help to teach babies to be open to trying different foods.

4. Start the weaning process with a week or two of just green veg 

The guidance is to start your baby’s weaning journey with vegetables, like broccoli, spinach, and cauliflower.  

“There's quite robust evidence now to show that babies who do a week or two of just green veg with no other foods to start with eat vegetables better in toddlerhood,” Lucy says. 

“Essentially this is because we are born with a desire to eat sweet things because it’s more rewarding in the brain. Breast milk and formula are sweet,” she says. “So, if we start with bitter flavours that we don't love as much, for example with a week or two of green veg right at the start of weaning, it can help babies to be more accepting of foods.” 

And this means serving just those vegetables — not combining with sweeter foods or mashing with breast milk.  

“Doing that doesn't teach babies how to enjoy those flavours. It might be less gratifying as a parent, but it means we're going to help them to enjoy those foods much, much better as time goes on,” Lucy says. 

5. Let them get messy 

“Weaning is very sensory, so allow them to get in a mess,” Lucy says. 

Eating with their hands helps them get to grips with different textures, so though it might be more mess for you to cleanup, finger foods can be great for babies’ development. 

Another important thing to remember is not to clean them up during a meal.  

“If a baby has constantly had their face and hands wiped during eating, they often become toddlers who don't want to eat messy foods later on. They're like, if I eat that yoghurt, I get my face wiped. Therefore, I won't eat the yoghurt anymore,” she says. 

“Let them get in a mess, let them explore, let them take their time, and then once it's done, clear them up,” she says. 

6.You don’t need any fancy equipment or hacks

Apart from a comfortable highchair where a baby has easy access to food and they can see you eating, you don’t need any specific products or hacks to wean an unfussy child, Lucy says.  

One thing that does help, though, is making sure it’s a good environment for them to eat in. 

“Make sure there aren’t too many distractions — like animals in the room, the TV on, tablets, toys. All those things are going to draw a baby's attention away from food and on to everything else that's going on,” she says. 

And even though it might seem counterintuitive, try not to chat to your baby too much while they’re eating. 

“Babies aren't able to just go from food to talking to food to talking. If a parent is constantly getting their attention, they're not going to be engaging in their food. So, it's better to just let them get on with it.” 

In short, helping a baby wean shouldn’t be complicated. Keeping things simple and regular at mealtimes, while making sure there’s lots of variety on your baby’s plate, is the best way to raise an unfussy eater.  

And remember, most picky eating is temporary and can be helped with good role modelling and some patience. Your baby is learning how to eat for the first time — enjoy it before they learn the word “No”! 

You'll need a baking tray. This recipe makes enough to divide up into 12 portions, so you can store unused portions in the freezer. Alternatively, you can make individual portions, with separate blobs of yoghurt piped or spooned onto the baking sheet.

You'll need a 12-hole silicone or metal muffin tray – or 2 trays of 6 holes.

The mini frittatas will freeze well in a plastic freezer box. When needed, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in a hot oven for about 12 minutes.

You'll need a baking tray and a food processor or hand blender.

You'll need a baking sheet (or a frying pan) and a food processor.

You can freeze the balls in a plastic freezer container, to thaw and use when needed. Thaw overnight in the fridge or leave out for a few hours at room temperature, and reheat in an oven preheated to 180ºC (fan 160ºC), 200°F/gas mark 4 for 10 to 12 minutes.

You can freeze them, in a plastic container. When needed, thaw overnight in the fridge or leave out for a few hours at room temperature. Reheat in an oven preheated to 180ºC (fan 160ºC)/ 350°F/gas mark 4 for 10 to 12 minutes.

You can freeze the sauce in individual portions, then thaw and reheat each one as needed. Thaw overnight in the fridge or for 1 to 2 hours at room temperature, then microwave or reheat in a small pan until piping hot. Stir and allow to cool before serving.