When my daughter Rose was old enough to eat solid food, I did the usual. Started her on rice cereal, then oatmeal, and eventually pureed fruits and vegetables. She pretty much loved whatever we gave her when she was a baby. But when she was about 18 months, she suddenly became super picky. Now, at 4, she eats a handful of things, mostly cheese-based (though she randomly loves broccoli and kale), but is generally a very picky eater.
When I got pregnant the second time around, I decided I wanted to do things differently and see if I could raise a healthy, non-picky eater.
When my son Liam reached 4-5 months, I started researching baby-led weaning, also known as BLW. Rather than introducing pureed foods to babies at 6 months, BLW teaches them to feed themselves by giving them finger food from the beginning. It sounded kind of scary, and I was concerned about choking, but the more I read about BLW, the more I wanted to give it a go. Liam is now 11 months old and pretty much a pro when it comes to eating. That’s not to say he won’t get picky like his sister as he gets older, but for now, we are doing well.
Curious about whether BLW is right for you? Here’s some info on safety and getting started to help you with your decision. *Disclaimer: I am not a BLW expert or a medical professional.
Make sure baby is ready. Your pediatrician may tell you that you can start offering baby rice at 4 months of age. Babies that young are not ready for BLW. To start BLW, your baby must be 6-8 months old, be able to sit up unassisted, and have lost the tongue-thrust reflex (test for this by putting your finger on baby’s lower lip — if her tongue thrusts out she isn’t ready for BLW).
Offer milk first. Whether you breastfeed or formula feed, offer them milk half an hour to an hour before BLW. A hungry baby will be easily frustrated and less likely to succeed.
Forget “baby food.” With BLW, you just give your baby the same food you have. No more making multiple meals for different members of your family. This has been the biggest win for me so far.
Cut food into fingers. Smaller pieces can be hard for your baby to grasp. By cutting food into fingers, you’re making it easier for your baby to self-feed.
Avoid hard foods. Don’t give raw carrots or other vegetables, hard crackers, or popcorn, as these can more easily lodge in the throat and cause choking. Soft foods that are easily squishable are good for BLW.
Watch your food prep. Baby can have round foods like blueberries or chickpeas, but you should squish them before letting them get in your baby’s hands. Cook meats, seafood, and eggs thoroughly before offering them to baby.
Some foods are fine to give whole. A general rule is that foods larger than your baby’s fist can be given whole. Liam learned to eat strawberries this way, and at 11 months now, he is a total strawberry fanatic and actually does a happy dance when he sees them.
Gagging is not the same as choking. Gagging is normal as your baby learns to eat. Choking is not normal and is an emergency. With BLW, gagging is common, especially in the beginning, and it can be quite alarming for you as a parent. If you’re concerned, it’s a good idea to take an infant first aid class before starting BLW. But don’t let gagging put you off. Your baby will learn how to chew and swallow properly and gagging will be a thing of the past.
Studies show that BLW is safe. An Australian study followed 200 families as they began feeding their babies solid food. Half were given pureed foods from the beginning, and the other half did baby-led weaning. The study found that there was no greater risk of choking in the BLW group than in the traditional weaning group.
NEVER give an infant honey. Babies younger than 1 year cannot have honey in any form, even cooked in something like graham crackers. Honey can cause botulism in babies, which can be very dangerous.
Look for resources online. I found a lot of great information from the Facebook group Baby Led Weaning for Beginners. There are also numerous books on the subject that provide a great deal of thorough information.
Talk to your pediatrician. Mention that you are thinking of trying BLW, but bear in mind that your pediatrician might not be familiar with it and might try to talk you out of it. If you really want to do it, educate yourself the best you can and go for it.
Enjoy! You will find that baby-led weaning is very messy, so you might choose to strip baby down to a diaper before dinner. A wipe-clean mat or shower curtain beneath the high chair can make clean-up easily. But despite the mess, BLW is truly a fun experience. I have loved watching Liam turn into a foodie, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with him!
