No, introducing food at four months isn’t routine; start near six months when readiness signs show, unless your clinician advises early allergy trials.
Parents hear mixed advice about the first spoonful. One person says “start early so baby sleeps,” another says “wait.” Here’s the clear, evidence-based take: routine solids start around six months, with a small carve-out for doctor-directed allergy prevention in select babies. This guide walks you through readiness signs, safe first foods, and when an earlier start can make sense with medical guidance.
The aim is simple: feed in a way that’s safe, responsive, and matched to your child’s skills. You’ll find practical steps, short checklists, and a simple plan you can use right away—without losing sight of breast milk or formula as the main fuel in the first half-year.
Introducing Solids At Four Months: When It’s Okay And When It’s Not
Most infants start solids around six months. Starting before four months isn’t advised. The small window between four and six months can be reasonable only in special situations. A common reason is early peanut introduction for babies with higher allergy risk, which should be planned with your clinician. Outside of that, early spoons are rarely needed and can crowd out milk intake, which babies still need in large amounts.
Readiness matters more than birthdays. If a baby can sit with support, hold the head steady, open the mouth for food, and move a small spoonful to the back of the mouth without pushing it out, that baby is edging close to ready. If those skills aren’t there, wait. There’s no prize for speed, and there’s plenty of upside to letting skills lead the way.
Readiness Signs And How To Check Them
Use this quick table to decide if it’s time to grab the bib. If several signs are solid, you can try a small spoon session once a day while keeping milk feeds steady.
| Readiness Sign | What It Looks Like | How To Check |
|---|---|---|
| Good Head Control | Holds head steady in a high chair or lap seat | Seat baby upright; watch for steady head without bobbing |
| Sits With Support | Upright trunk with a strap or your arm behind | Place in high chair; hips flexed, shoulders over hips |
| Interest In Food | Watches your plate, reaches toward the spoon | Bring a spoon near; baby leans in or opens mouth |
| Mouth Opens For Spoon | Mouth opens when food approaches | Offer an empty spoon; look for eager opening |
| Moves Food Back | Less tongue-thrust; swallows small spoonfuls | Offer a pea-sized taste; watch for a swallow, not a push-out |
| Hunger And Fullness Cues | Signals “more” by leaning in; “done” by turning away | Pause between spoonfuls; follow baby’s lead |
Why Six Months Is The Sweet Spot
By the half-year mark, most babies can handle textures beyond milk. Iron needs rise, and interest in family food surges. Milk stays central, yet the spoon (or a soft preloaded spoon for self-feeding) starts to teach skills: moving food around the mouth, swallowing thicker textures, and learning family flavors. Waiting until these skills show up reduces gagging, lowers choking risk, and keeps feeding calm.
What To Offer First
Think soft, nutrient-dense, and easy to swallow. A smooth mash that slips off a small spoon is a good start. Begin with one or two tablespoons once a day, then work up to two or three small tastings daily over a few weeks. Offer sips of water from an open cup with the meal once solids are rolling.
Iron-Rich Starts
Iron matters in the second half of year one. Good first choices: iron-fortified infant oat cereal thinned with breast milk or formula, mashed beans or lentils, silky tofu, smooth meat purées, or soft egg. Pair plant sources with foods rich in vitamin C—think mashed berries or a little puréed bell pepper in the mix—to help absorption.
Allergens Early And Safe
Peanut, egg, dairy, soy, wheat, and fish can be offered once baby shows readiness, starting with tiny amounts and smooth textures. For high-risk babies, clinicians may suggest peanut between four and six months using thinned smooth forms. Learn the approach in the peanut allergy prevention addendum, and confirm timing with your care team.
Feeding Safely Every Day
Seat baby upright, buckle in, and stay within arm’s reach. Keep meals unrushed. Offer a small amount, then pause. Let baby guide pace. Expect mess and fun—skills grow through practice.
Choking Hazards To Skip
Whole nuts, spoonfuls of nut butter, grapes, hot dogs, popcorn, raw apple, hard chunks of carrot, and sticky globs can block a tiny airway. Shape, size, and texture matter. Keep pieces soft and mashable. Spread thin layers of smooth nut butter into cereal or yogurt rather than offering a glob.
Honey And Unpasteurized Foods
No honey before the first birthday due to botulism risk. Avoid unpasteurized dairy or juices. Choose meats cooked to safe temps and fish with low mercury.
Portions, Pace, And Milk Feeds
Start with 1–2 tablespoons once daily and build gradually. Offer food or drink about every two to three hours in the daytime, which usually nets three small meals and two snacks by the later months of year one. Keep breast milk or formula on a steady schedule; solids add variety and nutrients while milk remains the main source early on.
Sample Week For Getting Started
This plan assumes a baby near six months who shows clear readiness. Adjust textures based on skills, not age alone.
| Day | Menu Idea | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Thin iron-fortified cereal with breast milk/formula | 1–2 tbsp; offer water sips in an open cup |
| Tue | Silky lentil mash + mashed pear | Vitamin C helps iron absorption |
| Wed | Smooth peanut powder mixed into yogurt | Tiny amount first; watch for reactions |
| Thu | Mashed egg (well-cooked) thinned with breast milk | Offer a pea-sized taste; pause and observe |
| Fri | Chicken purée + mashed sweet potato | Protein + soft veggie mash |
| Sat | Silken tofu + mashed berries | Colorful, soft, spoon-friendly |
| Sun | Oatmeal mash + avocado | Healthy fats support growth |
What An Earlier Start Can Look Like
In some high-risk infants, clinicians may advise an earlier, careful plan between four and six months to lower peanut allergy risk. That plan uses smooth, thinned forms under guidance, not casual bites from the table. If testing shows a high chance of reaction, the first feeding may happen in a clinic. If risk looks low, it can happen at home with clear instructions and small measured amounts. The goal is steady exposure, not a one-time taste.
For broader feeding, mainstream advice still centers on the six-month mark. Many babies won’t show stable head control or spoon readiness at four months. If the signs are missing, wait. You’ll get there soon, and feeding will be calmer.
Simple Troubleshooting
Lots Of Gagging
Gagging is a safety reflex. If it happens with nearly every spoonful, textures may be too thick or baby may not be ready. Step back to thinner mashes and give it a few days.
Constipation After The First Week
Add fiber-rich choices like pears, prunes, or peas, and keep fluid intake steady. Belly massage and bicycle legs can help. Call your clinic if stools are hard and painful over several days.
Rash Near The Mouth
Many mild rashes are contact reactions to drool and food. Wipe the face often and apply a thin barrier ointment. If hives, swelling, vomiting, or wheeze shows up, seek care right away and pause that food until you speak with your clinician.
Myths That Trip Up Parents
“Early solids make babies sleep through the night.” Sleep changes a lot in month four and five. Extra spoonfuls rarely change night wakes, and they can displace milk that your child still needs.
“Cereal must be the first food.” It’s a handy iron source, but you can start with beans, egg, tofu, or meats. Mix and match across the week.
“Avoid allergens until year one.” Not needed for most families. Many babies can try common allergens once skills are present, starting with tiny amounts in safe textures.
Practical Gear That Helps
You don’t need a fancy setup. A sturdy high chair with a footrest, a few shallow spoons, a small open cup, and a bib do the job. A silicone mat can keep bowls from sliding. Steamer baskets, a blender, or a fork handle the prep.
When To Call Your Pediatrician
Reach out if you see poor weight gain, frequent choking, repeat vomiting after feeds, blood in stools, or a strong reaction to a new food. Ask for guidance if you’re starting peanut early due to eczema or egg allergy. Your clinician can tailor timing and give clear amounts for that plan.
Quick Reference: Age Windows And Goals
Every child moves at a personal pace. Use this as a flexible map, not a stopwatch.
4–5 Months
Milk feeds lead. A small group of high-risk infants may begin doctor-guided peanut exposure using smooth, thinned forms. Most babies are not ready for daily spoon meals yet.
Around 6 Months
Start daily spoon practice once readiness signs line up. Offer iron-rich foods, a veggie or fruit mash, and small amounts of common allergens in safe textures. Keep milk feeds steady.
7–8 Months
Work in more textures and finger-friendly shapes that mash easily between your fingers. Offer meals two to three times a day with a snack if hungry.
9–12 Months
Family meals get easier. Baby eats many of the same foods, just softer and cut to size. Offer water in an open cup with meals.
Trusted Rules And Where To Read Them
Mainstream public health advice places the start near six months and advises against solids before month four. See the CDC page on when and how to introduce solids. For peanut timing in higher-risk infants, read the NIAID prevention guideline addendum and follow your clinician’s plan.
How We Built This Guide
This article pulls from pediatric public health guidance and allergy prevention recommendations, checked against current pages from leading agencies. You’ll see those linked above. Use them with your child’s medical plan for the safest path.