You will get an age-based overview: which food groups are ready now and which come later.
A weaning calendar helps you see what’s typically offered at your child’s age and what’s still ahead. It’s a reference guide, not an individual feeding plan: the timing, order and amounts for a particular child are set by a paediatrician — especially with allergies, health conditions or prematurity.
When to start solids
The WHO recommends exclusive breast milk or formula until 6 months, with solids introduced at around 6 months. But the calendar isn’t the only signal — readiness matters:
- the baby holds their head steadily and sits with support;
- shows interest in food and reaches for the plate;
- the tongue-thrust reflex fades — they stop pushing the spoon out;
- they can swallow thicker food, not just liquid.
If the signs aren’t there yet, there’s no rush: the ages in the table are “not before” markers, not deadlines.
Approximate weaning table
| Food group | Usually not before | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable purées | 6 months | a common first food |
| Fruit purées | 6 months | — |
| Cereals (incl. gluten) | 6 months | gluten isn’t delayed for long |
| Meat, poultry | 6 months | a source of iron |
| Egg | 6 months | allergen — discuss with your doctor |
| Fish | 6 months | allergen — discuss with your doctor |
| Yoghurt, cottage cheese | 8 months | allergen — discuss with your doctor |
| Legumes | 8 months | — |
| Finger foods, soft pieces | 8 months | chewing and motor skills |
| Drinking from a cup | 9 months | — |
| Family table | 12 months | no salt, sugar or spice |
| Cow’s milk as a drink | 12 months | before one year, only as an ingredient |
Timings differ slightly between countries and guidelines — that’s normal. This table follows common European reference points and works as a cheat sheet, not a prescription.
Weaning FAQ
How should I introduce a new food?
One food at a time, a few days apart, watching skin and stools. That way it’s easier to tell what the child reacted to if something goes wrong.
Should allergenic foods be delayed?
Current guidance generally advises against long delays for egg, fish and other allergens — delaying doesn’t reduce allergy risk. But with a strong family history or an existing allergy, always agree the order with your paediatrician or allergist.
How much should I give?
This tool deliberately gives no amounts or grams: quantity depends on age, appetite, type of feeding and the child’s health. That’s a question for your paediatrician, not a calculator. Portions usually start very small and grow gradually.
What if my baby was born prematurely?
For premature babies the doctor sets the timing individually — sometimes based on the corrected age, sometimes on the chronological one. There’s no single rule; the paediatrician decides.