How do I introduce my baby to baby-led weaning?

31/05/2022

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Recently updated on June 2nd, 2022 at 01:47 pm

Beginners guide for starting solids without spoon-feeding

How do I introduce my baby to baby-led weaning?

At what age can you start baby-led weaning?

Weaning is a process of gradually introducing solid food to babies. Baby-led weaning, or BLW, is an alternative to traditional weaning that involves giving your baby finger-sized soft solid foods from the age of six months and letting them learn how to feed themselves.

The age at which you should start BLW depends on your child’s individual needs, but most parents start at six months.

In our case, I started my son’s traditional weaning at about 5-6 months and then transitioned to BLW at around 7 months.

Check out my Introduction to BLW post where I mention the “Early signs that baby is ready for solids”

How do you start baby-led weaning after purees?

From experience, I have to say that this part was fairly easy. I had already done my research on how to prepare the finger foods, but my main problem was my fear of him choking. At first, I was quite skeptical, but once I saw that he was handling the food very well, my fear slowly disappeared. Whenever he would put too much food in his mouth, he’ll gag – another thing you’ll have to get used to.

Before we gave up purees completely, I would still offer him a pureed meal, I just wanted to make sure he was satisfied. It took us about 1-2 weeks to completely give up on purees and do solely BLW.

What are the advantages of baby-led weaning?

Understanding how to eat and how to chew
Learn about foods, textures, tastes, and colors while playing

Learning how to eat safely
Being part of family meals & eating together
Appetite control and better nutrition

No mealtime battles
It’s natural
Less complicated meals

Food Lover
Eating out is easier

What are the disadvantages of baby-led weaning?

Mess
Choking Hazards
Not getting the right foods

Do I still offer breast milk or formula?

Yes, definitely! Your baby will still take most of the nutrients he needs from milk. No matter if it’s formula or breastmilk.

I remember that when we started with solids I used to nurse him either before or after he’s had his solid meal. Whenever I used to nurse him before his solid meal he would be calmer and more interested in his food.

Can I do both purees and baby-led weaning?

You may be wondering where you can spoon-feed and BLW at the same time – the short answer is “yes!”. For a short period of time, we did both purees and baby-led weaning. I think it’s always a good idea to spice things up when it comes to mealtimes. But of course, it’s up to you and how do you want to do things for yourself and your little one.

How do I stop my baby from choking on baby-led weaning?

Let your baby eat on their own
Watch your baby while they eat

Use a proper high chair and make sure they sit up correctly and not leaning on their backs
Don’t offer food in choking-hazard size
Offer appropriate size, texture, and shape of food

Don’t let your baby play with toys or watch TV during meals – this one’s super important!

List of foods to avoid

Here’s a list of foods to avoid offering to your baby at a very young age. Some are choking hazards and some are just foods that need to be avoided at least during a baby’s first year of life.

Nuts – are a perfect choking hazard due to their shape.
Fruits or veggies that have stones – such as cherries, olives
Bony fish – it’s dangerous to even adults

Hard pieces of food – such as croutons
Salt
Honey

Sugar
Drinks – coke, soda, tea, cow’s milk
Fat

Artificial colorings, preservatives, and sweeteners
Allergy triggers – check your family history on any food allergies. If someone in your family has an allergy to a certain food, chances are that your baby could be allergic to the same food. This isn’t a rule, but it’s always good to be safe.

Baby-led weaning recipe ideas

Here’s a list of the baby-led weaning recipes you can try for your little one:

Breakfast Ideas for Baby Led Weaning
Lunch & Dinner Ideas for Baby Led Weaning
Deserts & Snack Ideas for Baby Led Weaning

Take a look at the recipes here – you’ll get 49 recipes your baby will love.

BLW Equipment and tools to make your life much easier

I know how hard it can be to choose the right products, therefore, here’s a list of the baby-led weaning must-haves, in my opinion, that will make your life a lot easier.

High chair – make sure your baby is safe and secure.

Towels and washcloths for wiping hands and spills from faces, bodies, clothes, and tables.
Bibs that will catch food particles without being too difficult to clean off when they’re covered in food. And make sure it has an easy fastener like velcro so it won’t fall apart while your child is eating.
Plates, bowls, and mats – these are optional, especially for BLW, but if you are like me and don’t want to put food straight on the table, these can be very handy.