ABCs of Baby-Led Weaning

ABCs of Baby-Led Weaning

Introduction

Most parents know that it’s around six months old that babies should start solids, but taking a “baby-led weaning” (BLW) approach can be intimidating at first. This way of introducing solids lets the baby explore eating on their own big pieces of food without a spoon. As of six months, you can give your baby a chunk of ripe avocado instead of avocado puree. They will mash the food up in their mouth using their tongue and gums. Isn’t that amazing?

You might be surprised to learn that, starting at six months, your baby can snack on silken tofu, or even boneless sardine fillets! Obviously, BLW doesn’t mean you can give the baby exactly what you’re eating for dinner (at least, not at first). It’s still best to make sure you’re offering unprocessed foods with no added salt or sugar. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add a dash of dried oregano to some roasted sweet potato, or a little curry powder to an egg! Just wait a little before giving the baby a slice of homemade pizza.

BLW isn’t something new. Many babies eat purees a little before six months, but quickly show an interest in grabbing pieces of food off another family member’s plate to try on their own! British nurse Gill Rapley was, for many professionals, the person who coined the term and popularized the approach, publishing a book about it in the early 2000s. Since then, Rapley has developed quite the following. Many parents choose BLW because it’s practical, but most of all because it has shown to be beneficial in terms of overall development.

Pros (and cons)

The main advantages of BLW are at the learning-experience level: baby develops motor skills and discovers different foods. At first, your baby might do more playing with the food than eating. Using their hands gives them a sensory experience and a chance to build dexterity. Which leads us to the cons: the mess! Because you won’t be spoon feeding, it’s normal for food to end up all over… including on the floor! But since your little one will be controlling how much they put in their mouth, they’ll learn to self-regulate their eating—a big plus for long-term healthy habits.

 

Pros of BLW Cons of BLW
Baby discovers and explores food in its true form (which can help prevent picky eating). Letting baby explore leads to lots of mess (be prepared… and be patient!).

 
Baby learns to determine how much food they need on their own. If you’re not used to BLW, you might be nervous that baby will choke at first (see section “Will baby choke?” further on).

 
Baby gets to explore different textures and get used to them, which means they might be more open to new foods later on. It might be tempting to give your baby food that’s slightly more processed (restaurant takeout while you’re on the road, for instance), but you should make sure what you give them is as natural as possible, or completely homemade.

 
Baby learns to develop their fine motor skills. BLW might not be recommended in certain circumstances (e.g., for premature babies); in which case, you should consult with a pediatric nutritionist if you want to try this approach.

 
Parents don’t need to spoon-feed baby (a little break!)

 
Baby is more independent, and mealtimes are more relaxed.

 

Get the facts... And prep the kitchen!

So you’ve decided to try baby-led weaning. Great! Like any good parent, you want to do your research, so you can get it right. Before you start, make sure your baby is showing signs of being ready for solids (your baby can keep their head at 90 degrees, shake their head no, bring food to their mouth on their own). Just like with purees, you’ll also need a comfortable high chair with a big tray where the baby can grab the food.

Every parent knows how much messiness they can handle… Some people prefer to let the baby play and then give the floor a good mopping after the meal. Or you can lay down a plastic tablecloth under the highchair— then wipe it down or throw it in the wash. These are also a great option: washable tidy tot kit that attaches to a smock. It’s the perfect way to keep stains at bay! Or go all in: let your baby eat in their highchair in just a diaper, then straight to the tub! There’s no perfect set-up when it comes to starting BLW—find what works for you! There are lots of options on the market for products to help develop eating independence: small silicone cups or easy-to-grip spoons. But you can start with just a few basics (a plastic plate, utensils and a cup).

First steps in baby-led weaning

Once you’re equipped with the basics and the facts, you’re ready for a baby-led approach to starting solids. Here are a few ideas on what to give your baby, depending on their age and progress.

*Be sure to introduce allergenic foods correctly (read more about this here).

Around 6 months

Baby can grab large pieces of soft food with their hands. Food can be cut into sticks, usually longer than your pinky finger.

 –        Piece of very ripe avocado

–        Banana rolled in iron-rich baby cereal (the cereal makes it easier to pick up)

–        Chicken drumstick on the bone (well-done and any small bones removed)

–        Strips of omelet cooked with a little milk to soften the egg

–        Meatballs made with ground meat cooked in the juices from the meat

–        A ready-filled spoon with plain oatmeal and peanut butter

–        Steamed or roasted broccoli, very soft

–        Soft homemade cookies or waffles

–        Large ripe peach, peeled

–        Cubes of silken tofu

 
Around 7 to 8 months

Baby is progressing and has started eating food in slightly smaller pieces. Baby might also now have teeth that allow them to better bite and chew. They can handle more complex textures.

 –        Homemade fish cake

–        Long pasta shapes with unsalted tomato sauce (for instance, well-cooked penne noodles)

–        Strip of whole-grain toast with smashed avocado spread on the top

–        Rice cake with homemade hummus

 
Around 9 to 12 months

Baby begins using “pincer grasp” and pick up small pieces of food between their thumb and index finger. Increasingly, they eat the same things as their parents.

 –        Steamed green peas or corn kernels

–        Canned vegetables with no added salt

–        Homemade macaroni and cheese

–        Vegetarian chili that baby can eat with a spoon

–        Homemade pancake cut up into pieces, with homemade unsweetened strawberry sauce

 

Does baby-led weaning pose a choking risk?

Contrary to popular belief, BLW does not pose a greater choking risk. It’s obviously important to watch your baby at all times and make sure you’re providing age-appropriate foods). In the beginning, it’s completely normal for your baby to gag when they have food in their mouth. This is their gag reflex doing its job. It can be startling as a parent, but is completely normal for the baby—it’s even a good thing! The gag reflex is there to teach your baby to chew their food properly, not swallow it whole! It can also prevent suffocation. A baby who gags on food is a baby learning to eat safely. Even adults have a gag reflex! It’s just that as we get older, the area that triggers this reflex is further and further down the throat. You can rest assured that this reflex will subside as your baby gets older.

We strongly recommend taking a first aid course, so that your mind is at rest and you’ll be ready to intervene if needed. Keeping your first aid up to date is a must, whether or not you decide to try a BLW approach.

A note to caution

Hard, round, or sticky foods are not suitable for babies (whole cherry tomatoes, popcorn, etc.).

 

If there’s food stuck in a baby’s throat, never stick your finger in their mouth, as it could push the stuck food further down their throat.

 

A choking baby makes no sound and quickly turns blue. However, a gag reflex (baby is coughing) is very noisy and shows your baby is handling things on their own.

 

Regardless of how you choose to introduce solids to your baby, choking can occur for various reasons: poor sitting position, distraction (eating while watching TV), difficulties chewing due to a motor development disorder, etc.

 

Before offering your baby food, put it in your mouth and try to crush it between your palate and tongue, to see if it’s the right texture. If it can easily be crushed, then you’re good to go!

Can purees be baby-led?

Can you feed your baby purees along the same baby-led weaning principles? The answer is yes! It’s important to keep introducing whole foods so that your little one gets used to different textures, but it’s also crucial to give them foods in puree form (because, after all, puree a texture too!). When your baby eats purees, the same baby-led principles apply: baby is in charge of bringing the food to their mouth, not you. But you can still fill a spoon with meat and rest it on the high chair tray. Or, you can use other foods as a vehicle (steamed broccoli dipped in lamb puree, a sweet potato French fry dipped in turkey puree, etc.). It’s absolutely okay to include purees as part of your BLW approach. After all, purees are part of your baby discovering different food textures. They are similar to a creamy soup or yogurt, for instance.

Other food inspiration for BLW with purees:

  • Mango puree as a sauce on homemade pancakes
  • Pork puree spread on toast, sprinkled with hemp seeds
  • Veal puree and diced unsalted tomatoes can be mixed into pasta for a sauce.
  • Or just as-is, in a spoon placed for baby on the high chair tray.

Before you get started: some precautions

While some parents might want to start solids around four months, you must absolutely wait until six months to try baby-led weaning. In other words, your baby needs to be able to sit up straight and hold their head up. They must be able to pick up a large piece of food in their hands and bring it to their mouth. And just as for introducing all solids, it’s important to choose foods that are rich in iron. Also, while it might be tempting to put food in your baby’s mouth yourself to see their reaction, hold back! You need to let your baby take the lead! Lastly, BLW may not be recommended for certain babies, especially babies born prematurely or babies with a short lingual frenulum. It’s best to speak with a pediatric nutritionist before trying BLW.

Reliable sources

Geneviève Nadeau

Nutritionist

Geneviève has been collaborating with Mother Hen for almost 7 years. As a mom, breastfeeding enthusiast and nutritionist, her greatest desire is to pass on her love of delicious meals and fun-filled times around the dinner table.

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Read the article 29 June 2021