If the last piece of weaning advice you heard was from your own mother's experience raising you, some of it may genuinely be out of date - not because it was wrong then, but because the guidance has moved in a couple of specific, well-evidenced directions since. This is especially true for allergens, where the advice has actually reversed.
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer - This article reflects current World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics guidance as of 2026. It's general information, not a personalised feeding plan - talk to your paediatrician about your baby's specific needs, especially around allergy risk factors like eczema or a family history of food allergy.
When to Start: What Current Guidance Says
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, with complementary foods introduced at 6 months (180 days) while breastfeeding continues, ideally to 2 years or beyond. This 6-month mark is the current global standard, and it applies whether a baby is breastfed, formula-fed, or a combination of both.
This is a public health recommendation for the general population - some individual babies may have specific reasons to start slightly earlier or later, which is exactly why this is a conversation to have with your paediatrician rather than a rule to follow in isolation.
Signs Your Baby Is Ready
- Can sit with minimal support and hold their head steady
- Shows interest in food - watching you eat, reaching for your plate
- Has lost the tongue-thrust reflex that pushes food back out automatically
- Can bring objects to their mouth and seems to be developing the coordination to move food to the back of the mouth
Readiness signs matter alongside age - a baby who's 6 months old but not showing these signs yet is worth discussing with your paediatrician, as is a baby showing strong readiness signs slightly before 6 months.
The Big Shift: Allergen Introduction
This is worth its own section because the change in guidance here is significant and many parents haven't heard about it. For years, the advice was to delay introducing common allergens - peanut, egg - for as long as possible. Research over the past decade, including a major clinical trial known as LEAP, found the opposite to be true: early, regular introduction of these foods actually reduces the risk of developing an allergy to them.
Current American Academy of Pediatrics and allergy-specialist guidance now recommends introducing common allergens, including peanut and egg, around the time solids begin - generally around 6 months, or even 4-6 months specifically for babies at higher risk (those with significant eczema or an existing egg allergy), under paediatric guidance.
Once introduced, offering the allergen regularly - a couple of times a week - appears to matter more for the protective effect than a single introduction.
⚠️ For Higher-Risk Babies - If your baby has significant eczema or a known food allergy already, talk to your paediatrician before introducing peanut or egg - they may recommend a specific approach or timing for higher-risk infants.
How to Actually Start
- Begin with a single-ingredient, smooth-textured food - mashed banana, cooked and mashed dal, or a thin rice or ragi porridge are common, practical Indian starting points
- Offer one new food at a time, waiting a couple of days before introducing the next, so you can identify any reaction
- Start with small amounts - a teaspoon or two - following your baby's interest rather than pushing a set quantity
- Continue breastfeeding or formula as the main source of nutrition in the early weeks of solids - food at this stage is about exploration and gradually building volume, not replacement
- Gradually increase texture and variety over the following weeks as your baby manages purees well
Foods to Avoid in the First Year
- Honey - a small but real risk of infant botulism exists under 12 months; this is a well-established, universally agreed guideline, not a cautious extra
- Added salt and sugar - a baby's kidneys aren't equipped to process high sodium loads, and there's no nutritional need for added sugar at this age
- Cow's milk as a main drink (not to be confused with dairy foods like yoghurt or cheese in small amounts) - generally held off until closer to 12 months, with breastmilk or formula remaining the primary drink until then
- Whole nuts, popcorn, and other choking hazards - these can be offered in appropriately modified forms (finely ground, smooth nut butter) rather than whole
A Note on Traditional Indian First Foods
Many traditional Indian first foods - thin dal water, mashed rice, ragi porridge, mashed banana - align well with current guidance on simple, single-ingredient starts. We've written a dedicated piece on traditional first foods and how they fit into current recommendations, since this deserves more depth than a summary here.
Trulittle - Supporting Every Stage.
Sources & Further Reading
WHO - Infant and Young Child Feeding Fact Sheet
Read: When to Start Solids: The Real Answer | Traditional First Foods for Indian Babies | Baby Growth Milestones Guide
