A Taste of Baby-led Weaning
A Taste of Baby-led Weaning
Starting solid foods can be an exciting time, but with so many approaches available, how can you know which one to choose to feed your precious little one? Let me first start by saying that above anything else, fed is best. The purpose of this post is to offer some insight into one option when it comes to your baby starting solid food, but it may not be for every child. The most important thing is that they are growing and developing properly, and as always, be sure to bring up any concerns with your child's pediatrician.
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What is Baby-Led Weaning?
Baby-led weaning can sometimes feel a little confusing. I know that when I learned about it with my first child, I thought it meant removing all formula or breast milk from the child's diet and replacing it with solid foods. This is not the case! It may be helpful to think of it as "baby-led feeding" instead of weaning. The idea behind it is rather than feeding your baby the ground cereals and purees often associated with starting solids, you include your baby in mealtimes by feeding them the same foods you are eating. This doesn't mean presenting your child with their own cheeseburger and fries, though! They are given foods in an age-appropriate preparation, and they are allowed to choose how to interact with their food. They can explore it with their hands and mouth, perhaps introduce some of it into their mouths, and they choose when they are finished with their meal. Nursing or bottle-feeding is still very much an essential part of their nutrition!
When Can I Start Baby-led Weaning?
If you choose to implement baby-led weaning, it is important to note that starting at 6 months is the official recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (See Source). There are a variety of reasons why experts recommend holding off on solid foods until this age; one reason is that solid foods are not as densely packed with nutrients as breast milk or formula, which can affect your baby's ability to receive the proper calories and nutrition they need (See Source).
From a developmental standpoint, at 6 months old, babies are starting to express interest in their surroundings. They can generally:
- Reach to pick things up
- Explore objects with their mouths (this is great practice for chewing)
- Sit upright with assistance.
All of these skills are a natural part of eating! Additionally, children around 6 months of age can be naturally curious and may show interest in the food you are eating. Giving them opportunities to interact with solid food encourages curiosity and helps them to become more familiar with eating. It can introduce babies to new textures, temperatures, and flavors, even if they aren't consuming a large amount of the food each time.
At first, your child likely won't be eating because they recognize the solids as food; rather, they will be exploring a new aspect of their environment. Don't worry too much about how much they are eating! It can be helpful to view it as a way to let your child develop a relationship with food at their own pace.
How Do I Start Baby-led Weaning?
You may be asking, "Now that I have a better understanding of baby-led weaning, how can I best implement it?"
A note on safety: please follow your pediatrician's recommendation for frequency in introducing new types of foods into your baby's diet. Some pediatricians recommend introducing new foods one at a time so that if there is any kind of allergic reaction, the cause can more easily be identified. It may be helpful to familiarize yourself with the difference between choking and gagging as well. Choking is when a baby's airway is completely blocked and requires immediate attention. Gagging is a part of a baby learning how to manipulate food in their mouth, and you can closely monitor them and allow them to practice clearing the food out of their mouth.
When you are ready to start, make sure that their environment has been properly prepared. When we asked our community what advice they had for those starting baby-led weaning, they said to remember that it can be quite messy! To help with this, some have found that a sheet or tablecloth placed under the high chair can be helpful for cleanup. Once the space is prepared, make sure your child is safely seated, whether that be in a high chair, a weaning chair, or even sitting on your lap. The most important part is that baby is safe and sitting upright.
The great thing about baby-led weaning is that you can introduce your baby to the same foods that you eat every day; the difference will be in preparing their food in an age-appropriate way. For example, most fruits or veggies work best if they are cut into strips long enough for your baby to grab and gnaw on. Bread can work better if it is toasted and cut into strips so that it doesn't simply turn into a goopy mess. A crinkle cutter is helpful for cutting food into strips because the texture of the crinkles helps the baby to better grip the food. Please note that this doesn't mean you can't introduce your baby to anything pureed! Purees offer their own texture and eating experience; they just aren't the only thing offered in baby-led weaning.
Additionally, their food doesn't need to be bland! They can be introduced to a variety of spices and flavors from the beginning.
Wanting a resource to help you dive a little deeper? Solid Starts is a website designed by feeding and medical experts intended to be an educational feeding resource for parents. They have a First Foods Database that includes information on many foods, including nutritional benefits and how to prepare the food for various ages of children.
We want to reiterate that you and your child are not failing if they are not consuming large amounts of food during this exploration of new foods. This can also be a time for social experiences! It is recommended to include your baby in mealtimes with the rest of the family as much as possible. After all, for many, food isn't just nourishment; it is a way to connect with loved ones and strengthen family relationships.
References:
Developmental Milestones for a Six-Month-Old
