How to Let Baby Take Charge of Their Eating
If you’re wondering how and when to introduce solid foods into your baby’s diet, you may be considering the baby-led weaning approach.
What is baby-led weaning and how does it work?
One definition of weaning is the process of transitioning from a diet consisting only of breast milk and/or formula to one that includes solid foods. Baby-led weaning involves watching for signs that baby is developmentally ready for foods the rest of the family is eating and allowing them to feed themselves. It’s a little different from the traditional approach of feeding babies purees by spoon.
Signs of readiness for solid foods usually begin around 6 months of age. If your baby was born prematurely, you may see signs of readiness closer to their corrected age of 6 months, rather than their chronological age of 6 months.
You may notice your little one showing interest in your food or the meals and snacks their older siblings are eating. If they’re able to sit by themselves or in a highchair with good head control, have outgrown the reflex to push food out with their tongue (tongue thrust reflex), and are able to feed themselves, you could let them give baby-led weaning a try.
Unlike traditional weaning, which involves parents spoon feeding purees to the child, baby led weaning allows the child to have a more active role in mealtime. For example, a parent practicing traditional weaning would feed pureed avocado to their child, but a parent practicing baby-led weaning would provide their infant with slices of avocado for them to feed themselves.
The great news is that babies can often eat many of the same foods the rest of the family is eating. The foods just may need to be cooked longer or cut into smaller pieces. It is important that the foods that are offered are soft enough to mash on the roof of the mouth with the tongue, such as spears of soft ripe fruits (bananas, avocados, etc.), strips of very soft roasted or steamed veggies (carrots, sweet potato, squash, etc.), ground or finely shredded cooked meat, and scrambled eggs. You could also offer some foods with normally pureed textures like applesauce, yogurt or oatmeal. If baby has trouble at first, try putting a little in a spoon and handing it to them to bring to their mouth.
It’s important to avoid foods that are choking hazards such as nuts, popcorn, round or hard fruits, hot dogs, and raw vegetables. Babies under 1 year of age also need to avoid honey because of the risk of botulism.
When your baby is trying solid foods, they should be seated upright, well-supported, and supervised at all times. It’s recommended that all parents take an infant CPR course that covers what to do if your baby is choking.
What are the benefitsof baby-led weaning?
Proponents of baby-led weaning point to several potential benefits. It allows babies more control over what and how much they eat and offers a greater variety of flavors and textures, setting babies up to be more adventurous eaters. It also introduces the concept of family mealtime at an early age and allows babies to mimic the chewing, swallowing, and social interactions of those around them.
In addition to exploring tastes and textures, babies can build fine motor and oral motor skills through baby-led weaning. Don’t worry if not much food makes it into their mouth at first. Most of their nutritional needs are still being met with breast milk or formula in the beginning, so they can focus on practicing with solid foods. Be prepared to embrace the mess (and grab your camera for the adorable photo-ops).
Some babies thrive with this approach, while others aren’t ready to take the lead until they’re a bit older. Remember that breast milk or formula (or a combination of the two) should still be your baby’s primary source of nutrition until their first birthday.
Your pediatrician is a great resource if you have questions about what’s best for your baby.
