“At six months, babies are ready to eat only solid food” 2026

Infant feeding. That great issue that generates so many doubts and questions in any pediatric consultation worth its salt: my son does not eat, what can I do? How can I get him to eat fish/legumes/vegetables? How can I wean him off the breast without it being a drama?...

Lately, in addition to these traditional ones, other questions have been added regarding 'Baby-Led Weaning', a practice that is increasingly widespread in many homes. This method, designed to introduce respectful eating in children from six months, allows the little one to eat alone and respects their satiety as much as possible (they will only eat what they want to eat). That is, from six months onwards they are the ones who eat alone, grabbing food and putting it in their mouths. Of course, we parents need to be attentive and make the task as easy as possible for them.

Amazon Essentials by Sofia Grainge - Summer 2026 Promotion

How to achieve the latter? To answer this and other questions related to the topic, we have contacted Clara Farràs, a great lover of food and healthy living, creator of the blog 'Happy BLW', in which she explains her way of understanding child nutrition, and author of 'Con mis manitas', a book that thoroughly discovers this world of BLW and that proposes a multitude of recipes so that any father or mother can start practicing it on the right foot.

What would you say to a father or mother who fears that their baby will eat less than if they feed him or her?

I would tell them that it is about learning to eat. The amount they eat is not so important because the main food is breast milk. Let us remember that BLW is a complementary feeding on demand, so the appetite and satiety of babies is respected.

How to avoid choking?

Whether they give baby food or BLW, it is important that family members or people who care for our babies are well informed about what foods they should avoid to avoid choking. According to studies by the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is no higher rate of choking in babies fed BLW than in those fed porridge and purees.

It is important to use common sense regarding the size and shape of foods we present to babies, as well as those that could be most dangerous.

What are the most dangerous foods?

Dangerous foods due to the risk of choking: whole nuts and large seeds, raw carrots and apples, sausages, round foods such as cherry tomatoes, olives, cherries and grapes, in order to eat them they must be cut into quarters.

There are some foods that we should delay consumption for different reasons. The sugar that the WHO recommends that children under 2 years of age should consume completely zero since it does not provide nutrients, can displace more nutritious foods and cause cavities, honey due to the risk of botulism, algae that are rich in iodine, large fish due to their high content of heavy metals, beverages, cereals and rice pancakes due to their high arsenic content, and ultra-processed foods due to their being unhealthy, in addition to avoiding salt and green leafy vegetables before the age of one due to their high content. in nitrates.

In the book you say that it is not necessary to give baby food, why?

If we breastfeed (or formula) exclusively and on demand until 6 months (as recommended by the WHO), at this age babies are prepared, both physically and digestively, to eat solid foods alone without having to go through the stage of porridge or purees.

Should the foods we give to babies have a specific size?

As for size, in the first months it is best for the size to be large so that they can hold them in their hand. One idea is to present the food in the form of sticks or 'finger foods', so that they can pick it up with their fingers. Around 9 months, when he learns to pinch - grasping small foods with his thumb and index finger - we can offer smaller cut foods.

What five foods are ideal to start with this practice?

There is no order of food to start with. For example, a good idea is to start with seasonal vegetables and fruits. Of course, always keeping in mind that you must offer your baby a varied diet and that they must be able to choose between several healthy options. It is also worth highlighting the importance of choosing a variety of flavors and textures because this will help you manage your food and prevent choking.

Thus, there are no suitable foods. It is perfect to start with boiled or steamed fruits in the oven such as broccoli, potatoes or carrots. (You want to make sure they are soft enough to squish with your finger.)

Could you tell us 5 practical tips for parents who want to start with BLW?

• Don't put a lot of food in it: the more you put in, the dirtier everything will end up, and it can become saturated; Leave food prepared in case you want to repeat.
• If one day he doesn't want to eat what you give him, that's okay, don't offer an alternative. It's about enjoying this moment and not stressing out, it's difficult to guess what your baby wants.
• Make sure he is comfortable, do not tie him or put uncomfortable bibs on him that may impede his movements. If your baby is comfortable, you will enjoy the moment more!
• If one day you leave your baby in the care of another person, make sure they are well informed about the foods they can offer and which ones they should avoid.
• When he is a year or a year and a half old, you can put a small plate next to him and tell him to put whatever he doesn't want on the plate instead of throwing it on the floor. It will surprise you!

And 5 tips to make it a guaranteed success?

• Offer several foods at a time (about 3); that your little one has the option to choose. Sometimes it can start with fruit and end with a stew.
• Take it as a learning experience for the baby. Be patient and let him take his time. Don't put food in his mouth, remember there is no rush.
• If you don't eat, it's because you're not hungry; Don't worry, it's normal!
• If you can, the ideal is to eat with the whole family. In this way, he can imitate adults.

Clara Farràs has shared with us two perfect recipes to practice BLW with the little ones:

• Lentil and brown rice meatballs recipe
• Pancakes recipe with carob and orange