The short answer: around 6 months, once bub is showing the signs they're ready, and not before 4 months. That's what Australia's infant feeding guidelines and the allergy experts at ASCIA recommend. Every baby gets there on their own timeline, so the signs matter more than the date on the calendar.
I'm a chef and a dad, and I've cooked first foods for a lot of little ones, starting in a daycare kitchen. Here's the simple version of what the guidelines say, what to look for, and how to make the first week easy.
What the Australian guidelines say
- Start at around 6 months. That's when babies start needing nutrients from food as well as milk. Not before 4 months.
- Milk still comes first for a while. Solids go alongside breastmilk or formula, not instead of it. Keep breastfeeding for as long as you and bub want to.
- Start with iron-rich foods. After that, other foods can come in any order.
- Bring in the common allergy foods in the first year. That means well-cooked egg and smooth peanut butter soon after starting solids, then others like dairy, wheat, fish, sesame and tree nut pastes before 12 months. Once a food is in, ASCIA suggests keeping it in bub's diet at least once a week.
- Move through textures. Go from smooth or finely mashed, to mashed, to minced, then finger foods, over the 6 to 12 month window.
Signs bub is ready
Look for these together, not just one on its own:
- Holds their head up well and can sit up with some support.
- Watches you eat, reaches for your food or opens their mouth when a spoon comes close.
- Keeps food in their mouth and swallows it, rather than pushing it straight back out with their tongue.
If bub was born early, or you have any questions about their growth or allergies, have a chat with your child health nurse or GP before you start.
Good first foods
- Iron-rich foods first: iron-fortified infant cereal, well-cooked pureed or minced meat, chicken or fish, tofu, and legumes like lentils.
- Then everything else: vegetables, fruit, grains, yoghurt and cheese. Savoury veg early on helps bub get used to more than just sweet flavours.
- Skip for now: honey (wait until 12 months), raw or runny egg, whole nuts and other hard, small foods, and added salt or sugar.
A simple first week
- Pick a calm time. Choose a time of day when bub is awake and happy, not overtired or starving.
- Start small. A teaspoon or two of one smooth food is plenty. Some days they'll want more, some days less, and that's normal. Follow their lead. If they turn away or close their mouth, they're done. (Here's how to tell if bub is still hungry or full.)
- One new food at a time. This matters most for allergy foods, so you can spot a reaction. Our guide to introducing allergens walks through it.
- Expect faces and mess. A screwed-up face is usually just a new taste, not a no. Offer it again another day.
- Start thinking about texture. Once smooth food is going down well, start moving to mashed and lumpier food. Read gagging vs choking before you do, so you know what's normal.
Purees or baby-led weaning?
Either works, and lots of families do a bit of both. What matters is safe textures for their stage and plenty of variety. More on that in BLW vs purees.
Where Tiny Beets fits in
If you'd rather not puree at 9pm, our Introduction To Solids Bundle is five smooth Stage 1 purees cooked in our kitchen from Australian fruit, veg and legumes: Zucchini, Pea & Bone Broth, Beetroot & Apple, Broccoli, Avocado & Mint, Pumpkin Dahl, and Prune & Pear. They're frozen in 60g cubes, so you can heat one at a time in about 2 minutes and nothing goes to waste while bub is only having a few spoonfuls.
When they're ready for more texture, our Stage 2 textured meals are 6m+ and Stage 3 very textured meals are 8m+. You can see everything we make on the full menu.
Starting solids FAQ
Can I start solids at 4 months?
The guidelines say around 6 months, and not before 4 months. Some babies show the signs a little earlier. If you're thinking of starting before 6 months, check in with your child health nurse or GP first.
Does bub still need breastmilk or formula?
Yes. Solids are added alongside milk, not swapped in for it. Milk is still a big part of bub's diet through the first year.
When should I introduce egg and peanut?
Soon after bub starts solids, and before 12 months. Use well-cooked egg and smooth peanut butter or paste, never whole nuts. Once they're in, keep offering them about once a week. If bub already has a food allergy or eczema and you're not sure where to start, ask your GP.
How much should bub eat at first?
Not much. A teaspoon or two to start with, then follow their cues. Early meals are more about learning to eat than filling up.
Which foods should I wait on?
Honey until 12 months, raw or runny egg, whole nuts and other small hard foods, and added salt or sugar.
This is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried about your baby's feeding, growth or allergies, talk to your child health nurse or GP.
Sources: ASCIA, How to introduce solid foods to babies for allergy prevention · NSW Health, Infant Feeding Guidelines summary (NHMRC) · Raising Children Network, Introducing solids