{"id":16017,"date":"2026-05-15T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/?p=16017"},"modified":"2026-08-07T17:47:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T16:47:28","slug":"baby-weaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/blog\/diversification-alimentaire-bebe\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby weaning: where to start? The complete guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There <strong>baby weaning<\/strong> is one of the most anticipated \u2014 and most stressful \u2014 milestones of the first year. What age to start? Pur\u00e9es or pieces? Which foods to begin with? What to do if baby refuses? This guide answers all your questions to approach the <strong>weaning<\/strong> calmly. \ud83e\udd55<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcc5 At what age should you start weaning?<\/h2>\n<p>The WHO and the French Society of Paediatrics recommend starting the <strong>baby weaning<\/strong> between <strong>4 and 6 completed months<\/strong> \u2014 never before 4 months, ideally around 6 months for breastfed babies.<\/p>\n<p>No exact universal age: it is baby who gives the signal. Three signs indicate that he is ready:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>He holds his head up by himself<\/strong> and sits unsupported<\/li>\n<li><strong>He is interested in food<\/strong> - he looks at your plate, reaches out towards the food<\/li>\n<li><strong>The extrusion reflex has disappeared<\/strong> \u2014 he no longer systematically pushes out what is put in his mouth with his tongue<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With these three criteria met, it is the right time. Neither too soon (allergy and digestive risks), nor too late (risk of food neophobia).<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83e\udd63 Traditional weaning or baby-led weaning: which method to choose?<\/h2>\n<h3>Traditional weaning (spoon-fed pur\u00e9es)<\/h3>\n<p>This is the traditional method: blended vegetables, stewed fruit, dissolved cereals. We start with simple flavours, one at a time, to test for tolerances. The texture thickens gradually \u2014 smooth at 4-6 months, lumpy at 7-8 months, mashed at 9-10 months, soft pieces at 12 months.<\/p>\n<h3>Baby-led weaning \u2014 BLW<\/h3>\n<p>More recent approach: baby feeds themselves, using their fingers, with suitable whole foods (soft, in stick form) from 6 months. No pur\u00e9e, no spoon fed by the parent \u2014 baby explores, grasps, tastes at their own pace. BLW develops independence, fine motor skills and the acceptance of varied textures.<\/p>\n<p>Baby-led weaning requires baby to sit up unaided (not just with support) and to have lost the tongue-thrust reflex. It is not recommended before fully 6 months of age.<\/p>\n<h3>The mixed method<\/h3>\n<p>The most common in practice: spoon-fed pur\u00e9es for some meals, pieces to explore for others. It combines the advantages of both approaches without the rigidity of an exclusive method.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83e\udd66 Which foods should I start with?<\/h2>\n<h3>Vegetables first<\/h3>\n<p>Traditionally, you start with vegetables \u2014 less sweet than fruit, they allow baby to develop a taste for vegetal flavours without being influenced by sweetness. The first recommended vegetables: courgette, carrot, green beans, pumpkin, parsnip. Well cooked, blended, with no salt or spices.<\/p>\n<h3>The fruit afterwards<\/h3>\n<p>Cooked apple, pear, mashed banana, peach: gentle and naturally sweet flavours that baby accepts easily. Raw or cooked depending on texture and digestive tolerance.<\/p>\n<h3>Starchy foods<\/h3>\n<p>Potato, sweet potato, semolina, rice \u2014 important sources of energy right from the start of weaning. Pureed with a little breast milk or formula to thin it out.<\/p>\n<h3>Proteins (meat, fish, egg)<\/h3>\n<p>To be introduced from 6 months: well-cooked blended meat (chicken, veal), cooked fish (sole, cod), well-cooked egg. Gradual quantities: 10g at 6 months, 20g at 8 months, 30g at 12 months. The iron contained in meat is essential for preventing anaemia.<\/p>\n<h3>Allergens: introduce early<\/h3>\n<p>The guidelines have changed: major allergens (peanut, egg, gluten, cow's milk, sesame, tree nuts, etc.) must be introduced right at the start of weaning, not delayed. Early introduction reduces the risk of allergy. They should be introduced one by one, a few days apart to observe any reactions.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83c\udf7d\ufe0f The essential equipment for weaning<\/h2>\n<p>Weaning causes mess \u2014 it\u2019s inevitable and desirable (it\u2019s sensory exploration!). Here is the equipment that makes life easier:<\/p>\n<h3>The suction divided plate<\/h3>\n<p>It doesn't slip, won't tip over, and separates food for babies who don't like things touching. Made of food-grade silicone, BPA-free, dishwasher safe.<\/p>\n<p>\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product\/complete-silicone-feeding-set\/\">See the PetitMaxou complete silicone meal set<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product\/baby-crab-meal-set\/\">See the PetitMaxou crab-themed baby meal set<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>The ergonomic silicone cutlery<\/h3>\n<p>Spoons and forks designed in size and shape for baby's small hands. The silicone is soft on delicate gums and does not hurt in the event of a knock.<\/p>\n<h3>The bib with a waterproof pocket<\/h3>\n<p>Essential for baby-led weaning in particular: it catches everything that falls, so you don\u2019t have to change your baby\u2019s clothes after every meal. The ultra-thin silicone bib is dishwasher-safe and dries in a matter of minutes.<\/p>\n<p>\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product\/baby-silicone-bibs\/\">View the bavoirs silicone PetitMaxou<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>The food feeder pacifier<\/h3>\n<p>Ideal for introducing early flavours safely: baby slips a piece of fruit or vegetable into the silicone mesh, nibbles away and discovers tastes without the risk of choking. Perfect for the early days of weaning.<\/p>\n<p>\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product\/baby-fruit-dummy\/\">See the PetitMaxou teething dummy<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>The table seat or high chair<\/h3>\n<p>Baby must be sitting upright, stable, with feet supported to eat properly. A portable table seat or a highchair harness makes it possible to eat as a family at the table \u2014 essential for baby to observe and imitate adults.<\/p>\n<p>\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product\/baby-high-chair-harness-and-comfort\/\">See the PetitMaxou baby seat harness<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product\/hook-on-high-chair-with-transport-bag\/\">See the PetitMaxou baby high chair<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\udeab Foods forbidden before 1 year<\/h2>\n<p>Certain foods are strictly not recommended before 12 months:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Honey<\/strong> - risk of severe infant botulism<\/li>\n<li><strong>Added salt<\/strong> \u2014 baby's kidneys cannot filter it properly<\/li>\n<li><strong>Added sugar<\/strong> \u2014 nutritionally useless, creates a preference for sweetness<\/li>\n<li><strong>Whole cow's milk as a main drink<\/strong> (before 12 months) \u2014 iron deficiency and renal overload<\/li>\n<li><strong>Whole tree nuts<\/strong> \u2014 choking hazard<\/li>\n<li><strong>Raw fish, raw or undercooked meat<\/strong> \u2014 bacteriological risk<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cured meats<\/strong> - too salty and fatty<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>\ud83d\ude24 What to do if baby refuses to eat?<\/h2>\n<p>Food refusal is completely normal and is all part of the process. A few principles to bear in mind:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A food typically needs to be presented 15 to 20 times before it is accepted<\/strong> \u2014 never give up after 2 or 3 refusals.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Never force it<\/strong> \u2014 this creates aversion and turns the meal into a battle.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eating as a family<\/strong> \u2014 baby copies. If he sees you eating with appetite, he'll want to do the same.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No-pressure proposal<\/strong> \u2014 \u00abYou can try some if you like\u00bb rather than \u00abEat your carrots\u00bb.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vary the preparations<\/strong> \u2014 a vegetable rejected as a pur\u00e9e may be accepted in a gratin or mixed with others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The food neophobia phase (refusal of anything new) is normal between 18 months and 5 years of age. It is not a failure of weaning \u2014 it is a developmental stage.<\/p>\n<h2>\u2753 FAQ \u2014 Baby weaning<\/h2>\n<h3>Should milk be continued during weaning?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, absolutely. Milk (breast milk or formula) remains the main food up to 12 months. Weaning comes IN ADDITION to milk, not instead of it. The amounts of milk decrease gradually as solid meals increase.<\/p>\n<h3>How many meals a day during weaning?<\/h3>\n<p>At 5-6 months: 1 vegetable meal at lunchtime in addition to bottles\/breastfeeds. At 7-8 months: 2 meals (lunch + fruit snack). At 9-10 months: 3 meals. At 12 months: 3-4 meals like adults, with a snack.<\/p>\n<h3>How to prevent choking?<\/h3>\n<p>For BLW: only offer soft foods that can be squashed between your fingers. Cut into batons (not rounds). Avoid small, hard, round pieces (whole grapes, nuts, raw carrots). Baby must sit upright, never lying down. Learn first aid for choking.<\/p>\n<h3>How much should I give at each meal?<\/h3>\n<p>Let baby lead. Guide quantities: 2-3 teaspoons at 5 months, 100-150g at 8 months, 150-200g at 12 months. But every baby is different \u2014 respect fullness cues (turns head away, closes mouth, plays with food).<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\udecd\ufe0f Get everything you need for a varied diet at PetitMaxou<\/h2>\n<p>Suction-cup plates, silicone bibs, teething dummies, high chairs: PetitMaxou offers everything you need to make the <strong>baby weaning<\/strong> simple and pleasant. Free delivery throughout the EU, 14-day returns.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product-category\/baby-feeding-accessories-and-utensils\/\">\u2192 See all PetitMaxou baby feeding accessories<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Also to read on the blog:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/blog\/what-to-put-in-a-changing-bag\/\">What to put in a changing bag? The complete checklist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/blog\/6-month-baby-developmental-toy\/\">6-month-old baby sensory toy: the complete guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/blog\/9-month-old-baby-developmental-toy\/\">Baby sensory toy 9 months: the complete guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>La diversification alimentaire b\u00e9b\u00e9 est l&rsquo;une des \u00e9tapes les plus attendues \u2014 et les plus stressantes \u2014 de la premi\u00e8re ann\u00e9e. \u00c0 quel \u00e2ge commencer ? Pur\u00e9es ou morceaux ? Par quels aliments d\u00e9buter ? Que faire si b\u00e9b\u00e9 refuse ? Ce guide r\u00e9pond \u00e0 toutes vos questions pour aborder la diversification alimentaire avec s\u00e9r\u00e9nit\u00e9. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[228],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conseils"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}