When to start solids: what the AAP, CDC and WHO say

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC all put the start of solid foods at about 6 months, and the CDC says introducing foods before 4 months is not recommended. This post summarizes what those sources and the World Health Organization say about when to start solids, as of October 2026, and adds no advice of its own.

The sources are the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025 to 2030, the AAP's starting solid foods page on healthychildren.org, the CDC's When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods, and the WHO's fact sheet on infant and young child feeding.

The age: about 6 months

Every source here names the same age.

• The Dietary Guidelines. The guidelines say to feed your baby only breast milk for about the first 6 months, and iron-fortified infant formula when breast milk is not available. They say that at about 6 months of age, infants may begin to have solid foods.
• The CDC. The CDC's solid foods page says your child can begin eating solid foods at about 6 months, and that introducing foods before 4 months is not recommended. It says the Dietary Guidelines and the AAP both recommend introducing foods other than breast milk or infant formula at about 6 months.
• The AAP. The AAP's starting solid foods page recommends providing only breast milk for approximately 6 months after birth, and supports continued breastfeeding along with introductory foods after that.
• The WHO. The WHO's fact sheet says WHO and UNICEF recommend breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months, then introducing safe complementary (solid) foods from six months while breastfeeding continues.

None of them treat 6 months as a fixed date. The guidelines and the CDC say "about", the AAP says "approximately", and the WHO's complementary feeding section opens with "around the age of 6 months". The CDC and the Dietary Guidelines both say that every child is different, and the AAP says each child's readiness depends on their own rate of development.

The readiness signs

The Dietary Guidelines and the CDC give the same seven signs that a child is developmentally ready to begin eating food. In the guidelines' wording, your child:

• Sits up alone or with support
• Can control their head and neck
• Tries to grasp small objects, such as toys or food
• Brings objects to their mouth
• Opens their mouth when food is offered
• Moves food from the front to the back of their tongue to swallow
• Swallows food instead of pushing it back out onto their chin

The CDC lists the same seven, in a different order.

The AAP frames readiness as questions to consider:

• Can they hold their head up? The AAP says your baby should be able to sit in a high chair, a feeding seat or an infant seat with good head control.
• Do they open their mouth when food comes their way? The AAP says babies may be ready if they watch you eating, reach for your food and seem eager to be fed.
• Can they move food from a spoon into their throat? The AAP says that if food is pushed out and dribbles onto the chin, a baby may not yet be able to move it to the back of the mouth to swallow, and that this is normal. It suggests you may want to wait a week or two and try again.
• Is your baby big enough? The AAP's fourth question is about your baby's size. Your pediatrician, who tracks your baby's growth, is the person to go through it with.

Breast milk or formula keeps going

Starting solids does not replace milk, in any of these sources.

The Dietary Guidelines say it is crucial to continue breastfeeding or formula feeding while solids are introduced, and that breast milk or infant formula continues to be the main source of nutrition up to 12 months of age. The AAP says that at first your baby will still be getting most of their nutrition from breast milk, formula or both, and calls starting solids a gradual process. The WHO says to start at 6 months with small amounts of food and increase gradually as the child gets older.

If your baby is not interested yet

The AAP's answer is to wait and try again. Its starting solid foods page says that if your baby cries or turns away when you feed them, do not make them eat. Go back to breastfeeding or bottle-feeding exclusively for a time before trying again. It adds that each baby is different, so readiness to start solid foods will vary.

What happens in the weeks after the first spoonful is covered in the first month of solids, and the Dietary Guidelines' full section on babies and toddlers is summarized in the Dietary Guidelines for infants and toddlers.

How current this is

The Dietary Guidelines cover 2025 to 2030. The AAP's starting solid foods page was last updated June 23, 2026, and says it is adapted from the AAP's Starting Solid Foods, copyright 2020. The CDC's page is dated April 14, 2026. The WHO fact sheet is dated August 4, 2026. This post summarizes those versions as of its publish date. Your pediatrician can say what fits your baby.

Common questions

Is the timing different for formula-fed babies?

None of these sources give a separate age. The Dietary Guidelines name iron-fortified formula as the alternative when breast milk is not available, and in the same section say infants may begin solid foods at about 6 months. The CDC describes the 6-month point as starting foods other than breast milk or infant formula.

Can babies start solids at 4 months?

The CDC says introducing foods before 4 months is not recommended, and that your child can begin solid foods at about 6 months. The one earlier step the Dietary Guidelines name is for babies at high risk for peanut allergy, because of severe eczema, egg allergy or both: talk with your health care professional about peanut introduction as early as 4 to 6 months. More on that in when to introduce allergens.

What about babies born early?

The sources summarized here do not give separate timing for babies born early. That is a question for your pediatrician, who knows your baby's history.

Does the first food have to be a certain one?

The CDC says the AAP recommends that for most children, you do not need to give food in a certain order. The AAP says your baby's first foods are your choice.

The short version

The Dietary Guidelines, the AAP, the CDC and the WHO all point to about 6 months, read alongside your baby's own readiness signs, with breast milk or formula still the main source of nutrition through the first year. The CDC adds that before 4 months is not recommended, and your pediatrician can say what fits your baby.