When Do Babies Start Solids?

Last Updated on June 10, 2026 by Jordyn Koveleski Gorman

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Starting solids is often one of the most exciting and stressful milestones for parents. After all, it’s one of the most dynamic, hands-on, and messy pieces of development! Worries about introducing allergens and figuring out how to safely serve foods to baby add another layer of anxiety, too. To top it off, there is some confusion about when babies should start solids.

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that babies are ready to start solids at about 6 months of age. (1) This number is not arbitrary, but rather is due to factors like developmental milestones, gut health, and iron needs. Yet many parents are given the go-ahead to start their baby on solids at their 4 month well-visit.

But just because you can introduce solids doesn’t mean your baby is ready. As a speech-language pathologist and feeding specialist, introducing solids is my specialty. Let’s talk about the factors that influence readiness for solids so you can make an informed decision for your family!

3 things to consider before starting solids

Developmentally, babies are ready to start solids when they can sit up with and without support. When baby can sit up well, they are in a safe position for swallowing. Sitting well in the high chair also decreases risks for choking. And if a baby can sit up well in the high chair, they can usually self-feed pieces of food. These are all important markers for starting solids.

Some research supports that starting solids too early, before 6 months of age, puts littles at risk for negative health outcomes. There is information to support that babies have an “open gut” before 6 months of age, and exposing them to foods can impact their digestive system long term. (2) Waiting until 6 months of age to start solids can be better for overall gut health.

Additionally, by 6 months of age, infants’ iron stores from birth are largely depleted. (3) This means that additional dietary iron is needed above and beyond what is found in breast milk or formula. It’s worth noting that an infant’s iron needs are higher than that of an adult male, so it’s important to start offering iron-rich foods when starting solids.

Readiness signs for starting solids

Babies are ready to start solids when they have checked the boxes on The First Bites Checklist from our Starting Solids Handbook:

• Has your pediatrician given you the go ahead to start solids?
• Is your little one able to push up on palms during tummy time?
• Does your baby have good head control and neck strength?
• Can your little one sit up with support (leaning against something or with hands on the ground) for 8–10 minutes?
• Can your baby sit up unsupported (alone on the ground) for about 3–5 minutes?
• Does your little one bring teethers and toys to their mouth?
• Does your baby watch you eat with interest?

It is important that your baby checks all of the boxes on the list before starting solids. For most babies, this happens around 6 months, give or take a few weeks! Along with sitting up with and without support, bringing objects to mouth and pushing up on palms in tummy time are particularly important markers for starting solids.

Is 4 months too early for starting solids?

Some parents are told by their pediatrician that they can start solids at 4 months of age. This can feel contradictory and confusing!

Although the AAP reports most babies are ready to start solids around 6 months, they also note that starting solids before 4 months is associated with increased health risks such as increased weight gain and/or obesity in infancy and childhood. (1) This might make it seem like a grey area, lacking clear guidance from 4–6 months. But there is ample evidence to support waiting to introduce solids until closer to 6 months.

Nutritionally, babies do not need anything besides breastmilk or formula for the first 6 months of life. (1) And, remember: the current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics support waiting. If a baby is not gaining weight well, offering supplementary foods early is not the best solution. Parents are encouraged to look into why their babies are not gaining weight well by consulting with a team of providers including a lactation counselor or feeding specialist.

There are other potential risks to starting solids early. If baby is not ready from a gross motor perspective, they could be at an increased risk for choking. If they cannot self-feed, they are more likely to passively participate in meals (e.g., be spoon fed instead of feeding themselves). At 4 months old, parents are also more likely to start with purees instead of whole foods. While starting with purees is not a bad thing, offering different textures early on is important. And self-feeding is a vital developmental skill.

How to start solids

Starting solids with baby can be simple, as long as you have the right information! Information overload can be stressful, but taking things one step at a time is okay. You aren’t alone in the process, and you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.

Start small, and start simple. Introducing solids is a gradual process, and it will be another 6 months before your baby relies primarily on solids for their nutrition! You have time to figure things out and experiment with what works best for your little one.

First, select your baby’s first food.

It’s best to start by offering any nutritionally-dense food. Great options include avocado, banana, sweet potato, or even chicken or beef. Previous recommendations were to start with rice cereal. However, this approach is no longer research-backed. (1) Rice cereal provides little to no nutritional value and it can increase baby’s risks to heavy metals. Skipping rice cereal entirely is recommended.

Then, let your baby take the lead.

It’s best to let baby self-feed as many bites as possible. You can start with purees or take a baby-led weaning approach. Either way, it’s recommended to read baby’s cues when feeding. They don’t have to eat a lot during the first days (and months) of starting solids! Remember that food is supplemental to breastmilk and formula in the first year. While it’s important to offer a variety of foods over time, it’s expected that baby won’t eat that much in terms of volume.

Starting solids resources

As a team of child development specialists (and moms), including a registered dietitian, speech-language pathologists, and feeding specialists, we know that feeding littles is hard work. That’s why we created our feeding resources to support parents through their own unique feeding journeys!

Our resources include evidence-based tips, tricks, and education to help parents feel empowered to make informed decisions for their families!

Check out these best-selling resources:

• Our comprehensive, 200-page Starting Solids Handbook teaches you everything you need to know about introducing solids.
• Baby’s First 100 Foods takes it a step further than just a checklist of ingredients. We actually teach you how to safely serve your little one each food, with more than 300 variations! Taking the guesswork out of meal time helps you be present and confident.
• Help your baby move through the texture hierarchy with our Guide to Moving Past Purees!

And one last reminder: you’ve got this!

Sources

1. Jennifer M. Zubler, Lisa D. Wiggins, Michelle M. Macias, Toni M. Whitaker, Judith S. Shaw, Jane K. Squires, Julie A. Pajek, Rebecca B. Wolf, Karnesha S. Slaughter, Amber S. Broughton, Krysta L. Gerndt, Bethany J. Mlodoch, Paul H. Lipkin; Evidence-Informed Milestones for Developmental Surveillance Tools. Pediatrics March 2022; 149 (3): e2021052138. 10.1542/peds.2021-052138
2. Hebbeler, Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Their Families.
3. Ziegler EE, Nelson SE, Jeter JM. Iron stores of breastfed infants during the first year of life. Nutrients. 2014 May 21;6(5):2023-34. doi: 10.3390/nu6052023. PMID: 24853888; PMCID: PMC4042569.