When to start solid foods?
Enter your baby's birth date to see all 4 stages — early, mid, late, and complete — with foods and textures for each.
Based on WHO's 6-month recommendation, AAP's 4–6 month developmental readiness criteria, and national health authority guidance for Korea/Japan. Learn more
This guide is for reference only. For preterm, low-birth-weight, developmental delay, or family history of allergies, consult a pediatrician first.
Based on AAP and WHO guidance
Follows the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation to start solids around 6 months, alongside the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) developmental-readiness window of 4–6 months. Korean and Japanese users see stage ages adjusted to their national health-authority guidelines.
Read the AAP starting solid foods guide →Note When to start solids depends more on developmental signs than on the calendar. Good head control, interest in food, and the disappearance of the tongue-thrust reflex matter more than a precise month. Do not push earlier than the recommended window based on age alone.
Stage-by-stage solid foods calendar
Age ranges follow the health-authority guideline for the current locale (KR / JP / Global). Texture and example foods are shared across all locales.
| Stage | Age | Texture | Example foods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | 6 mo | Smooth purées | Rice cereal, butternut squash, sweet potato, carrot purée |
| Mid | 7–8 mo | Mashed with slight texture | Well-cooked white fish, tofu, mashed vegetables |
| Late | 9–11 mo | Soft rice, finely chopped sides | Finely chopped beef or chicken, soft fruits |
| Complete | 12–24 mo | Soft to regular rice, finger foods | Modified family meals (low salt), grains, finger foods |
Sources: AAP "Starting Solid Foods" · WHO complementary feeding guidance · KR Ministry of Health & Welfare · JP MHLW infant feeding guide.
Signs that warrant a pediatrician visit
If any of these apply, talk to your pediatrician. Developmental signs and allergic reactions matter more than how quickly you progress between stages.
- No developmental signs (head control, sitting) by 6 months.
- Hives, swelling, breathing difficulty, or other suspected allergic reaction to a food.
- Weight stalls or drops for more than two weeks after starting solids.
- Repeated gagging or trouble swallowing — cannot move food to the back of the mouth safely.
- Increased vomiting or diarrhea, fewer wet diapers, or other dehydration signs.
For emergency symptoms (breathing trouble, unresponsiveness, lip or facial swelling) go to the ER right away.
Related tools
- Growth percentile Track how starting solids affects height and weight percentile trends.
- Formula feeding amount Balance solids with formula or breast milk using the recommended feeding amounts.
- Breast milk storage Verify safe storage and thawing times for breast milk while introducing solids.
- Baby sleep schedule Sleep rhythm shifts when stages change — review recommended sleep and wake windows together.
When and how to start?
The AAP recommends starting solids at 4-6 months, the WHO at 6 months. Before starting, confirm these developmental readiness signs:
- Can sit with support and has stable head control
- Shows interest — reaches for food, opens mouth toward the spoon
- The tongue-thrust reflex (pushing food back out) has faded
- Weighs roughly 6 kg or more (about double birth weight)
Start with single-ingredient foods (rice cereal, well-mashed vegetables, meat purees) 3-5 days apart. Allergenic foods (peanut, egg, dairy) should be introduced early in small amounts from 4-6 months per AAP/NIAID, based on the LEAP trial.
Limits and safety
Key safety rules of general guidance:
- No honey under 12 months — infant botulism risk.
- No cow's milk as a drink under 12 months; yogurt/cheese from 6 months is fine.
- Choking hazards: avoid whole nuts, whole grapes, hot dog rounds, hard candy until age 4 — or cut into pieces smaller than 1/4 and mash.
- Introduce allergens one at a time 3-5 days apart; with a family history, see your pediatrician first.
- Use corrected age for preterm or low-birth-weight babies.
- Under 1 year, breast/formula is the main source — solids supplement nutrition.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Should I start at 4 months or wait until 6?
The AAP says 4-6 months, the WHO says 6 months. The difference reflects different priorities — the WHO protects breastfeeding, the AAP weighs developmental readiness.
If readiness signs (head control, sitting, interest, no tongue thrust) are present by 4 months, starting at 4-5 months is reasonable; if they appear later, wait until 6 months. Confirm with your pediatrician at the next well-baby visit.
When do I introduce allergens like peanut and egg?
NIAID and the AAP recommend introducing allergenic foods in small amounts from 4-6 months, based on the LEAP trial. Earlier introduction lowers allergy risk (about 80% reduction for peanut).
If there is a family history of allergy or severe eczema, see your pediatrician first. Introduce one new allergen at a time, 3-5 days apart, watching for reactions.