Introducing your baby to his first solid foods is an exciting time. But it can also be a bewildering process, especially if you're a first-time mum, so we're here to guide you through choosing and introducing the right foods for your baby.

When to start on solids

Doctors advise that babies should not be weaned until they are about six months of age. This is because introducing solid foods before this time makes them more susceptible to allergic conditions such as eczema. But despite the guideline, some babies may want to begin some solids sooner, so if your baby seems dissatisfied with breastmilk or formula alone at a much earlier stage, you should seek advice from your GP or health visitor before embarking on early weaning.

Is your baby ready?
Your baby is probably ready to try solid foods if he shows some of these signs:

He seems interested in what you're eating

He is still hungry after regular feeds, but refuses more milk

He wakes more often for night feeds

The time between feeds gets shorter

Maybe it's time to introduce solid foods. But don't retire those milk bottles just yet. It's better to move on to solid foods gradually.