Baby Weaning Stage Guide
Weaning — introducing solid foods alongside breast milk or formula — should follow your baby's age and developmental readiness. Stage 1 (4–6 months) introduces smooth single-ingredient purees to get the digestive system used to solids. Stage 2 (7–8 months) moves to thicker mashes with multiple ingredients. Stage 3 (9–11 months) introduces soft lumps to practice chewing. Stage 4 (12–18 months) prepares babies for regular family food.
Developmental readiness matters as much as age: your baby should be able to hold their head steady, show interest in food, and not push food out with their tongue. Introduce new ingredients one at a time, waiting 3–4 days between each to watch for allergic reactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Freeze for 2–4 weeks in small portions. Never refreeze thawed baby food.
No salt, sugar, or soy sauce before 12 months. Babies' kidneys are not yet able to process added sodium. Herbs like mild parsley or basil are generally safe in small amounts.