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When can my baby start solids?

Most babies are ready to start solid foods at about 6 months old, alongside continued breast milk or formula.

Waiting until 6 months lets babies build the developmental skills needed to sit up, swallow safely, and get iron-rich foods when they need them most.

Strength of evidence

Strong

This is based on consistent national and international guidelines (AAP, CDC, WHO), which reflect expert review of the underlying research.

What the evidence says

Major health groups agree: babies can start solid foods at about 6 months old. The World Health Organization and U.S. CDC/AAP guidance both recommend introducing complementary foods around this age while continuing to breastfeed or formula-feed.

Instead of watching the calendar alone, look for readiness signs. According to the CDC, your baby should be able to sit up alone or with support, control their head and neck, open their mouth for food, and swallow rather than push food back out.

Starting solids earlier than 4 months is not recommended. Some research has linked introducing solids before 4 months to a higher risk of later overweight and obesity, though this evidence is still described as limited.

Once you start around 6 months, you don't need to follow a strict food order. By 7 to 8 months, most babies can handle a variety of foods from different food groups, including iron-rich options, which become especially important as babies grow.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked July 25, 2026

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so this may not apply to you. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. What Founded Parent cannot do

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