The current guidelines for weaning from the Government say to wean your child at 6 months, But speaking to my health vistitor, I was told that you are supposed to try to wait until 6 months, but as long as they are over 4 months it will be fine. This information can be quite confusing.
I started weaning my baby girl, Lucie at 20 weeks, on advice from Nursery Nurse. I went to weaning classes at my local health centre, with 2 other mums that I already knew. Was a very good experience, and taught us alot. We got the chance to make baby food, look at prices of baby food, and even taste some! (Was quite yummy actually!). At the end of the three lessons, we were given a free electric hand blender, so was well worth going, even for the freebie!
At first, like all mums, I started giving Lucie baby rice, which she loved. But most of it ended up on her rather than in her!
Next I started making up purees, like carrot and turnip, potatoes, peas, etc. She loved all the new tastes!
Her favourite thing is apple and pear puree, and the smell is lovely, I just cook it to make my home smell nice!
I froze all the portions in small containors and reheated when they were needed, It is so much cheaper than buying jars of baby food! It usually only takes about an hour to make up enough to last for the whole week, so there is not that much effort involved in this either. I blended everything in an electric blender, or with the hand held blender, and pureed starchy foods like potatoes using a mouli.
At first I was very against processed baby foods, etc, and wanted to make everything myself, for health benefits, but now I will give her jars of baby food if we are out, or going away.

Her current diet at almost 7 months is:

Breakfast of porridge or cereal, bottle of milk.
Lunch of vegetable puree, with fruit or yogurt for dessert
Dinner of the same as for lunch usually and a bottle of milk
And a bottle of milk before she goes to bed.

I cant wait until she can really start eating finger foods properly. Will give us a reason for actually having a high chair! At the moment, I tend to just feed her on my knee as it is easier!

I think that the current government guidelines for 6 months are because new information about the effects of the digestive system shows that a milk diet is best for the first six months, but this won\\\\\\\'t apply to all babies.
My sister had a wee boy in 2004 and the guideline then was 3 months, and when she had a girl in 2005 she was shocked to find out that it had risen to 4 months, and no one believed me when I told them that I was supposed to wait until 6 months.

I think if the government wants all babies to be weaned at 6 months, they should put 6 months as the minimum age on all baby foods.