The short answer
At six months, avoid honey, whole nuts, hard round or sticky choking hazards, unpasteurised dairy and unsuitable drinks. Cow’s milk should not replace breast milk or formula as the main drink before 12 months, although suitable pasteurised yoghurt can be offered with solids. Safe preparation matters as much as the ingredient.
In this guide · 11 sections
Keep in mind
- Never give honey before 12 months.
- Avoid hard, round, sticky or whole choking hazards.
- Do not replace infant milk with cow’s milk before one year.
- Safe preparation preserves variety without unnecessary bans.
Why are some foods treated differently?
Online lists of “forbidden foods” can be misleading. Some foods really are unsuitable until a certain age; for others, the problem is their hardness, round shape or preparation. Soft cooked carrot is not the same choking hazard as a piece of raw carrot.
At early meals, your baby needs to sit upright, be developmentally ready to swallow and receive food soft enough to manage. Do not assume they can already chew small hard pieces. Variety and sensible safety limits can go together.
Why avoid honey until the first birthday?
Do not give honey before your baby turns one. Honey may contain bacterial spores that can cause infant botulism. This applies to honey mixed into food, formula or water, or placed on a dummy—not just honey from a spoon.
Natural does not always mean safe for a six-month-old. Let your baby explore the natural tastes of suitable fruits and vegetables instead of adding honey for sweetness.
Which shapes and textures can cause choking?
Whole grapes or cherry tomatoes, hard raw apple or carrot, whole nuts, popcorn, hard sweets, large meat chunks and thick spoonfuls of peanut butter can be choking hazards. Round pieces may block the airway; hard and sticky textures are difficult for early eaters.
That does not mean every listed ingredient is banned forever. Cook and mash carrots, or cook meat thoroughly and shred it into a suitable texture. Never offer whole peanuts; smooth nut butter thinned into food may be an option after considering individual allergy needs.
Why are cow’s milk and yoghurt different?
Breast milk or infant formula should remain the main milk drink at six months. Cow’s milk and plant-based milk drinks should not replace them before 12 months because they are not designed to provide the same nutrition.
Unsweetened yoghurt and suitable cheese made from pasteurised milk can, however, be offered during weaning. Avoid raw milk and unpasteurised dairy. “Not suitable as a main drink” does not mean all dairy foods are forbidden.
What about juice, tea and sweet drinks?
Fruit juice is not recommended before 12 months; serve appropriately prepared whole fruit instead. Sugary or fizzy drinks and products with added sugar have no place in a young baby’s routine. Tea is also not an appropriate infant drink.
Offer small sips of water with solids, but do not replace breast milk or formula. If you worry about hydration in hot weather, seek advice rather than changing the formula concentration or inventing a new feeding plan.
Why limit salt and some fish?
There is no need to add salt or sugar to your baby’s food. Sausages, processed meats and very salty convenience foods can be unsuitable because of their sodium content and sometimes their shape or texture.
Fish need not be avoided altogether: properly cooked, deboned, low-mercury options can fit into a varied diet. NHS advice is that babies and children under 16 should avoid shark, swordfish and marlin because of their mercury content.
Are eggs, peanuts and allergens forbidden?
Egg, fish, wheat, sesame and peanut need not be postponed simply because they can trigger allergies. They may be introduced when your baby is ready, in safely prepared textures. Whole peanuts pose a choking risk, whereas suitably thinned smooth peanut butter has a different physical form.
If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, seek advice before peanut introduction in particular. Do not improvise risky home challenge tests.
What can you do today?
Before serving, ask: “Is this suitable for my baby’s age? Is it soft enough to mash in the mouth? Are there large, round, hard or sticky pieces?” Cook, mash, cut safely or choose another food as needed.
Keep your baby upright and stay beside them throughout the meal. Do not feed while lying down, moving in a pushchair or riding in a car. An unhurried, undistracted meal makes it easier to notice your baby’s cues and keep them safe.
When to seek support
Some signs need emergency help; other concerns can be discussed with your child’s healthcare team.
- If your baby cannot make sounds, cough effectively or breathe, call emergency services and follow infant first-aid guidance if trained. Call 999 now.
- Breathing trouble, tongue or throat swelling, severe weakness or fainting after new food needs emergency help.
- Persistent swallowing trouble, inability to feed or recurring serious mealtime problems require medical review.
Sources used for this guide
- NHS Healthier Together — Introducing Solid Foods
- NHS — Foods to Avoid Giving Babies and Young Children
English editorial review:
The English text and regional guidance have been checked editorially. This is not an individual clinical assessment.
Luluna provides general parenting information. It does not diagnose conditions or replace your child’s healthcare professional.
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