Weaning: A Complete Month-by-Month Guide

Weaning, now also called complementary feeding, is the time when solid foods are introduced alongside milk. It is an exciting stage and, let's face it, also a bit messy. In this guide you will find what the main pediatric recommendations say, how to proceed month by month and what mistakes to avoid, with an important warning: every child has their own pace, and the right plan is built together with your pediatrician.

When to start weaning

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding until around 6 months and the introduction of complementary foods from that point on, while continuing to breastfeed. The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) indicates a similar window: the first foods should not be introduced before 17 weeks (about 4 months) or after 26 weeks (about 6 months).

Why around 6 months? From that point on, the requirement for certain nutrients, particularly iron, increases and milk alone is no longer enough to fully meet it. At the same time, most babies have developed the motor skills necessary to eat safely.

If your baby was born prematurely, has growth problems or allergies in the family, the timing may be different: in these cases, the pediatrician decides the schedule.

The signs that the baby is ready

Age is a reference, but observing the baby counts for more. These are the signs most cited by pediatricians:

• Sitting up with minimal support and holding their head straight and steady.
• Showing curiosity about what you eat: following the fork with their eyes, opening their mouth, reaching out their hands.
• Bringing objects to their mouth and coordinating eyes, hands, and mouth.
• Not automatically pushing out with their tongue everything that enters their mouth: the so-called extrusion reflex is weakening.

A common false sign is the baby waking up more at night or seeming hungrier: it often depends on a growth spurt and does not indicate, on its own, that it is time to start.

Month 6: the first tastes

At the beginning, the goal is not to fill their belly, but to introduce flavors and consistencies. A few teaspoons once a day are enough, at a time when the baby is calm and not too hungry. Milk remains the main meal.

What to offer, always in agreement with the pediatrician:

• cooked and blended or mashed vegetables (pumpkin, carrot, zucchini, potato);
• mashed ripe fruit (cooked apple or pear, banana);
• cereals and cereal creams, even those containing gluten;
• foods rich in iron such as meat, well-cooked and boneless fish, well-cooked and pureed legumes, egg yolk, and then whole well-cooked egg.

Introducing one new food at a time, a few days after the previous one, makes it easier to understand if something is not tolerated.

Months 7 and 8: more variety and consistencies

When the first tastes are well accepted, meals usually become twice a day. It is time to gradually increase variety and move from a smooth puree to more lumpy and fork-mashed consistencies. Do not rush to blend everything: European guidelines emphasize that offering coarser consistencies by around 10 months helps the baby accept them better later.

At this stage you can offer:

• small pasta and well-cooked whole grains;
• minced meat and fish;
• hulled or pureed legumes;
• full-fat plain yogurt without added sugars;
• soft pieces to grasp, such as cooked vegetable sticks.

Many babies at this age start wanting to do it themselves. Let them touch the food: messing around is part of learning, and it is also valuable exercise for fine motor skills, as we explain in the guide on developmental milestones in the first year.

Months 9-12: towards the family table

Between 9 and 12 months, most babies have three main meals, to which one or two snacks can be added. Consistencies are getting closer and closer to those of the rest of the family: foods cut into soft pieces, meatballs, egg fritters, short pasta.

It is also the period when the baby improves their pincer grasp between the thumb and index finger: an excellent time to offer pieces they can pick up by themselves. Eating together, at the same time and with the same adapted foods, is one of the best ways to pass on good habits.

Milk remains important, but its role gradually changes as solid meals become more complete. If you use formula, ask the pediatrician which one is most suitable at this stage.

Traditional weaning or baby-led weaning?

There are two main approaches, often combined:

• Traditional weaning: you start with purees and creams offered with a spoon, then gradually move to coarser consistencies.
• Complementary feeding on demand, also known as baby-led weaning or baby-led weaning: the baby participates in family meals and serves themselves with adapted, soft foods in the right shape.

Both can work. The important thing is that the baby receives enough iron and energy, that the foods are prepared safely, and that the approach is sustainable for your family. If you choose baby-led weaning, talk to the pediatrician first and learn thoroughly about safe shapes and consistencies.

Foods to avoid or delay

Some foods require special attention in the first year:

• Honey: avoid until 12 months due to the risk of infant botulism, even if cooked or in other preparations.
• Added salt and sugar: they are not necessary. Purees can be flavored with vegetables, mild aromatic herbs, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
• Cow's milk as a main drink: not before 12 months. Small amounts used in cooking are another matter: ask the pediatrician.
• Raw or undercooked foods at risk of contamination, such as raw eggs, raw meat or fish, and raw milk cheeses.
• Sugary drinks and juices: water is better, offered in small sips during meals.
• Large fish such as swordfish and fresh tuna, which may contain more mercury: ask the pediatrician which ones to prefer and how often.

How to introduce allergens

Until a few years ago, it was recommended to delay foods such as eggs, fish, or nuts. Today, the main scientific societies, including ESPGHAN, indicate that delaying allergens does not protect against allergies and that they can be introduced during weaning, like other foods.

Some practical precautions:

• introduce one allergen at a time, in a small quantity, during the day and at home;
• nuts should only be offered as a smooth cream or flour, never whole;
• if there are serious allergies in the family or the baby has severe atopic dermatitis, the plan should be defined with the pediatrician before starting.

If swelling of the lips or face, difficulty breathing, repeated vomiting, or widespread hives appear, call 112 immediately.

Safety at the table: preventing choking

The risk of choking is greatly reduced with a few consistent rules:

• the baby eats always sitting up, sitting straight, in a high chair, and with an adult beside them;
• no meals in the car, in a stroller, or while playing;
• small and round foods such as grapes, cherry tomatoes, olives, and blueberries should be cut into quarters lengthwise;
• hot dogs and raw carrots should be avoided or cut into thin sticks and cooked;
• whole nuts, popcorn, and hard candies should be avoided in the early years.

The Ministry of Health has published detailed guidelines on how to cut food for young children. It is also worth taking a course on pediatric dislodgement: the Red Cross and local associations often organize them.

The same principle applies at home: when the baby starts moving around, small objects and foods within their reach become a risk. We talk about this in the guide on how to make the home safe for a crawling baby.

An example of a day at 9-10 months

Only as a starting point, to be adapted with the pediatrician to your baby's hunger, habits, and rhythms:

• Waking up: milk.
• Mid-morning: mashed or soft-piece fruit.
• Lunch: small pasta or cereals with vegetables, a source of protein (for example, legumes or fish), a drizzle of oil.
• Snack: full-fat plain yogurt or fruit.
• Dinner: vegetables, a source of protein different from lunch, bread or cereals.
• Before bedtime: milk.

Try to vary the sources of protein during the week and offer vegetables and fruit of different colors every day. When the age of real snacks arrives, you will find many ideas in our collection of healthy snacks for children.

The most common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Forcing them to finish their plate: the baby knows how to regulate their hunger. Offer, do not impose.
• Staying too long on smooth purees: consistencies should be increased gradually.
• Distracting with screens during the meal: the baby eats less consciously and loses their satiety cues.
• Comparing with other children: quantities and timings vary greatly from one baby to another.
• Doing everything alone: the pediatrician is your main ally, even for doubts that seem small.

Frequently asked questions about weaning

Can I start weaning at 4 months?

European guidelines indicate not to introduce solid foods before 17 weeks, i.e., about 4 months. For most babies, the recommended time is around 6 months. An early start must always be decided with the pediatrician.

How much water should the baby drink during weaning?

With the start of solid foods, water can be offered in small sips during meals, with a sippy cup or a cup. The quantity depends on the baby, the season, and the type of feeding: ask the pediatrician.

Should gluten be introduced later?

No. According to ESPGHAN, gluten can be introduced between 4 and 12 months, avoiding large quantities in the first weeks. Delaying it does not reduce the risk of celiac disease.

When can they eat honey?

After 12 months. Before that age, honey may contain spores responsible for infant botulism, even if cooked.

My baby refuses vegetables: what should I do?

Keep offering them calmly, in different forms and preparations, even ten times or more. Eating them together with them helps. Avoid forcing, rewarding, or hiding vegetables with deception.

Homemade purees or ready-made ones?

Both solutions can work. Homemade purees allow the baby to get closer to the family's flavors, while those ready-made for infants are subject to specific regulations. Always read the labels and avoid products with added sugars or salt.

Sources and further reading: World Health Organization, recommendations on complementary feeding; ESPGHAN, Complementary Feeding: A Position Paper (2017); Ministry of Health, guidelines on the prevention of choking from food in children. The information in this article is general and should always be adapted to your baby together with the pediatrician.