Breast or formula milk and weaning
Breast or formula milk will provide your child with all the nutrients they need for healthy development in the first stages of life. All infant milk formulas are gluten free.
At around six months your baby will be ready to eat solid foods, as well as still needing breast or formula milk. If, after checking with your health visitor or doctor you decide to start weaning before six months, you should avoid certain foods, including gluten and other foods which might trigger allergies such as eggs, cows’ milk, fish, shellfish, nuts and seeds.
Introducing gluten
Gluten can be introduced from six months old – there are no benefits for delaying introducing gluten.
Once a baby is established on solid foods, gluten should be eaten regularly. Coeliac disease can only be diagnosed once gluten is in the diet. Don’t guess, a diagnosis can be made quickly and easily if symptoms do start.
Your health visitor or dietitian can give you more advice. For more information on weaning, see the NHS guide on weaning.