Somewhere around six months, most parents start thinking about the first spoon of mashed carrot or the first soft piece of banana. If your baby is also going to nursery, a new question comes up: how do weaning at home and the nursery day fit together? This guide covers the basics of starting solids (weaning), based on NHS advice, and how to keep home and nursery working as one team. If your baby is joining us soon, our infant care page explains how we look after babies from 45 days old.

If you want to see what a normal day looks like for babies in our care, read a day in the infant room. For the bigger picture of what changes between 6 and 12 months, our guide to baby milestones from 6 to 12 months is a good companion to this post.

When should babies start solid foods?

The NHS advises starting solid foods at around 6 months. Until then, breast milk or first infant formula gives your baby everything they need. If your baby was born early, ask your paediatrician when to start, as the timing can be different.

The three signs your baby is ready

According to the NHS, these three signs usually appear together from around 6 months:

  • Sitting up and holding the head steady.
  • Looking at food, picking it up and bringing it to the mouth without help.
  • Swallowing food instead of pushing most of it back out with the tongue.

Some things are often mistaken for readiness but are not: chewing fists, waking more at night, or wanting extra milk feeds. Solids will not make a baby sleep through the night. If you are unsure, your paediatrician can help.

First foods: keep it simple

The NHS suggests starting with single vegetables and fruits, mashed or offered as soft cooked sticks. Good first choices include potato, sweet potato, carrot, parsnip, broccoli, apple and pear. Include vegetables that are not sweet, like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, so your baby gets used to many tastes.

  • Small amounts first. A few spoonfuls or a couple of soft pieces is plenty at the start.
  • Let your baby set the pace. Never force food. Many babies need to try a new food 10 times or more before they accept it.
  • Finger foods help. Soft pieces about the size of an adult finger, such as cooked vegetable sticks, banana or avocado, let babies practise feeding themselves.
  • Milk is still the main drink. Breast milk or first infant formula stays the main drink in the first year. Cows’ milk should not be the main drink before 1 year.
  • Sips of water. From around 6 months, offer sips of water with meals in an open cup or a free-flow cup without a valve.

Foods to avoid before 1 year and safety basics

The NHS gives some clear rules for babies under 1:

  • No added salt or sugar in food or cooking water, and no stock cubes or gravy.
  • No whole nuts or hard foods like raw carrot or raw apple. Remove pips, stones and bones.
  • Cut small round foods, like grapes and cherry tomatoes, into quarters.
  • Always stay with your baby while they eat, seated upright in a high chair with a fitted harness.

Gagging (watery eyes, tongue pushed forward, a retching sound) is a normal part of learning to eat. It is different from choking. The NHS recommends learning the difference so you feel confident at mealtimes.

Foods that can cause allergies, such as eggs, peanuts (smooth, never whole), fish and foods with gluten, can be introduced from around 6 months, one at a time and in small amounts, so you can spot any reaction. If your baby already has an allergy or eczema, or your family has a history of allergies, talk to your paediatrician first.

How to share your weaning plan with the nursery

When your baby spends part of the day at nursery, weaning works best when everyone knows the same plan. A few simple habits help:

  • Write down what your baby already eats. List the foods tried so far and how they were served (mashed, soft sticks, finger foods).
  • Try new foods at home first. Many families like to introduce new foods, especially possible allergens, at home, where they can watch closely.
  • Tell the nursery about any allergy or reaction straight away, plus any advice from your paediatrician.
  • Share milk and feeding times, so the day at nursery fits around your baby’s usual feeds and naps. Our post on naps at nursery explains how sleep fits into the day.

How Balloon Nursery does it

Balloon Nursery in Al Ghafia, Sharjah, cares for babies and young children from 45 days to 4 years old. We are open every day from 6:30am to 7:30pm and follow the British EYFS curriculum with Montessori-style hands-on learning, in English and Arabic. We are licensed under SPEA (Sharjah Private Education Authority). When you visit, you can talk with our team about your baby’s feeding plan, allergies and routine, so home and nursery stay in step. Read more about infant care from 45 days in Sharjah.

Want to see our infant rooms and talk it through? WhatsApp us on +971 50 342 8582 to book a visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age should my baby start solid foods?

The NHS advises starting solid foods at around 6 months, when your baby can sit up with a steady head, pick up food and bring it to the mouth, and swallow it. If your baby was born early, ask your paediatrician about timing.

Should my baby try new foods at home or at nursery first?

Many families introduce new foods at home first, especially foods that can cause allergies, so they can watch for any reaction. Then share the list of foods your baby already eats with the nursery team.

Which foods should babies under 1 avoid?

The NHS advises no added salt or sugar, no stock cubes or gravy, and no whole nuts or hard foods like raw carrot or raw apple. Cut small round foods like grapes into quarters and always stay with your baby while they eat.

Is gagging normal when babies start solids?

Yes. Gagging is a normal part of learning to eat and is different from choking. A gagging baby may have watery eyes, push the tongue forward or make a retching sound. Learn the signs of choking so you feel confident at mealtimes.