Baby Led Weaning: Is it right for my baby?
By: Stork
Tags: Weaning, Infant, Baby Led Weaning, Baby Care, Baby Food

What is Baby-Led Weaning

Baby-Led Weaning or BLW is gaining more and more popularity in recent years as more and more parents adopt this method of feeding their babies. You may have heard this trending term and want to know more about it and find out if it’s right for you and your baby. This article will go through the facts and the pros and cons because as always, we at Stork and Cradle want parents to be able to make informed and empowered decisions in all aspects of their parenting journey.

The term Baby-Led Weaning was created by Dr. Bill Rapley in 2005. In essence, BLW is the gradual reduction of breastfeeding and an increase in self-feeding. “The term underlines the fact that the infant is an active partner in the feeding process and not a passive recipient to fill with food.”*

What does Baby-Led Weaning Look Like?

In BLW babies will eventually get to the point where they feed themselves autonomously. When parents fully adhere to BLW they bypass spoon-feeding and offer their babies small chopped or minced portions of food which the infant picks up and feeds themselves. This, you can see, is different from parents offering purees. Now some parents also choose to use purees along with proportioned foods.

Another important piece of the BLW method is that the baby eats what the family eats just in smaller portions as mentioned above. It is also suggested that families eat together.

How Do I Start Baby-Led Weaning?

Make sure you have a high chair. Pick one food that you want to introduce to your baby. (Introducing one food at a time may be a good rule of thumb. When your baby is 6 to 8 months old, cut foods into stick form. Jenna Helwig suggests your small cut foods pass the ‘“squish test”, meaning that you can smash them with gentle pressure between your thumb and forefinger. Give your baby a head start on foods like beans, blueberries, and peas by smashing them gently before serving.” ** At around 8–10 month your baby will be able to pick up smaller pieces of food using the pincer grasp and you can then chop their food smaller.

When Do I Start Baby-Led Weaning?

The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend giving solids, including purees, to babies until they are 6 months old. If you feel as if your child is ready earlier, talk to their pediatrician and see what they recommend and make your decision from there. Your baby may also not be ready at 6 months but here are some signs or cues that may show your little one is ready.

-They can grasp small objects

-They can sit unassisted

-They’ve stopped pushing food out of their mouth with their tongues

-They have strong neck and head control

They’re curious during mealtime

What are the Pros and Cons of Baby Led Weaning?

Pros

Babies are able to experience various textures of foods.

Babies distinguish between the tastes and textures of different foods.

Babies are able to eat based on hunger instead of eating because someone is spoon-feeding them.

BLW can and should exist alongside breastfeeding.

More family time with family meals.

Cons

There is a potential that your child may not eat enough especially if they’re not developmentally ready to pick up food on their own. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

On the same note. Some doctors don’t feel that babies can adequately feed themselves to maintain their nutrition, growth, and development.

Food that isn’t properly diced or minced can become a choking hazard.

Babies do not get to experience the soft texture of purees unless you incorporate this into their diet and spoon feed them.

It’s messy.

You may have to change your diet so that the baby can eat what you eat.

What types of foods do I give my baby when BLW?

The possibilities are vast but here are a few ideas to get you started.

Grains- Rice, bread, pasta, oat bars, teething biscuits

Protein- Salmon, beef, cheese, eggs

Fruit-Bananas, peaches, plums, avocado, melon, watermelon, tangerines

Vegetables- Carrots, Sweet potatoes, Squash, Cauliflower

Here are some great resources to help you research Baby-Led Weaning, find recipes, and join the BLW community.

Baby Led Weaning Starter Foods (6months+) 19

What Exactly Is Baby Led Weaning? (A Scientific Look Into The Pros And Cons)

Starting Solids — Purees or Baby Led Weaning?

Baby Led Weaning or Spoon Feeding?- What You Really Need To Know

Facebook Group: Baby Led Weaning for Beginners and Beyond

Download Your Baby-Led Weaning Guide Here

*Baby‐led weaning and current UK recommendations — are they compatible?

Magda Sachs

**How to Cut Foods For Baby-Led Weaning For Older Babies

Jenna Helwig

Let us know if you have any BLW questions we’d love to help.