Baby-led weaning (BLW) is a feeding approach that introduces solid foods to your baby. This approach is different from purees because it encourages your baby to self-feed from the beginning (instead of being spoon-fed).
This approach is all about offering your baby a variety of foods that are appropriately sized, with the goal of them eating independently. By using their own hands (and eventually utensils on their own), they are able to explore various tastes and textures at their own pace.
But my baby can’t pick anything up, let alone grasp a slippery piece of melon?
Yes. We hear you. Lately, pediatricians are giving parents the go-ahead to begin solids as early as 4 months old. Before starting your food journey (regardless of what your food journey is!), it is essential for you to look for your baby’s readiness signs. A few questions to ask yourself would be can you baby sit up unsupported? Do they have head control? Are they showing interest in food? Can they pick up food with their own hands? Of course, aside from answering these questions, we always recommend checking in with your pediatrician before starting any feeding approach.
Why are parents gravitating towards this feeding approach?
Likely a few reasons. For one, BLW promotes self-feeding, which fosters independence from an early age. This approach also supports your baby’s development, specifically related to their oral motor skills, as they are learning how to appropriately chew and swallow various foods and textures. Some families prefer this method because family mealtime is easier (less trips to the grocery store to buy purees, or less time in the kitchen steaming and pureeing), since your baby is eating what’s being served to everyone from the beginning.
Are there benefits? The research shows that BLW…
- Encourages the development of fine motor skills (those tiny muscles in your hand) that are particularly important as our children get older (writing, drawing, typing).
- Involves hand-eye coordination, as your baby has to bring the food from their highchair to their mouth. Yes, they will miss their mouth many times at the beginning. No, you don’t avoid the mess of mealtime with this approach. That is inevitable.
- Promotes independence, as your baby has more control over what they eat and how much they eat.
But if they’re eating bigger pieces of food, what about choking?
The research tells us that BLW does not increase a baby’s risk of choking. However, it’s possible you’ll see more gagging from them (which isn’t the same as choking, but definitely can feel uncomfortable for the parent).
Regardless of how you’re introducing solid foods, choking is of top concern for parents, so here are a few things to keep in mind, regardless of what feeding approach you’re doing:
- Make sure you understand the difference between choking and gagging (gagging is a reflex that can help your baby learn to both manage and move food in their mouth),
- Begin with appropriate foods that are both soft and easy to chew (this means avoiding hard foods or choking hazards).
- Watch your baby during mealtime. You should always be close enough to quickly respond to your baby’s needs.
- Make sure to set your baby up appropriately for meal time, this includes making sure they’re in a comfortable and upright position where they can work on chewing.
Finally, you might want to look into an infant CPR class. There’s no downside to being trained in infant CPR. In fact, you might feel more confident if you have the knowledge of how to respond to your child in case of an emergency.
Can I do a combination of BLW and purees?
One common misconception is that you have to pick one feeding approach. This is not true! How you choose to feed your baby in the first year has a lot to do with you and your own temperament, along with what suits your family and lifestyle. Want to start with purees and then incorporate BLW once your child is a bit older? That’s fine too! We’re here to say that there is no right or wrong here. Check with your pediatrician, educate yourself on the top allergens, understand infant CPR, and, as with anything parenting, give yourself grace and patience as you navigate this new aspect of your parenting journey.
What now?
If you’re debating whether BLW is right for you, talk with your co-parent about what approach to feeding feels most comfortable for your family. Next, look at readiness signs to figure out if your baby is ready to begin. Finally, if you decide to go for it, we recommend looking into BLISS, which is a Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS that specifically addresses the risk of choking. One of our favorite researchers and Instagram follows, Dr. Cara Goodwin (also known as the Parenting Translator) wrote about this in a recent newsletter too. We like the chart that Cara linked in her newsletter. It breaks down BLISS and could easily live on your fridge for quick reminders during meal time.
Here are our takeaways from BLISS:
- Only offer foods that your baby can mash with their tongue against the roof of their mouth.
- Refrain from offering foods that can crumble easily in your baby’s mouth.
- When deciding what type of food to offer your baby, make sure it is at least as long as your baby’s fist.
- Ensure that your baby is the one putting food in their mouth. Avoid putting food in there yourself, as your baby needs to learn their appropriate pace and how to control what they eat.