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Adherence to recommendations to wait until 6 months to introduce solid foods into infants' diets is very poor. An in‐depth understanding of the factors involved in this decision is essential if health practitioners are to offer suitable advice and health education. A cross‐sectional electronic questionnaire study was conducted with 105 mothers recruited via UK‐based Internet parenting discussion forums. Ratings of variables important in making the decision to introduce solid foods were analyzed using factor analysis and multiple regression. Open‐ended questions were analyzed qualitatively using content analysis. In this sample of educated women, later weaning was found to be associated with a focus on the importance of the recommendations and a perception that health visitor advice and support was poor. Earlier weaning was associated with a focus on the importance of putative weaning signs from the baby …