Baby Led Weaning Is a modern approach to the tradition of feeding purées or specially made food for babies. It was first introduced in 2005 by Gill Rapley.
What is Baby led weaning (BLW)?
It is a process of introducing solids to babies as a complementary meal with breastfeeding or formula feeding at appropriate age. Which is 6 months, recommended by World Health Organization.
(For more details read When To Introduce Solids)
Process starts with finger foods or hand mashed food, Allowing baby to SELF FEED right from start. No spoon feeding.
Why you should consider BLW?
1. Baby can explore new textures, color, taste and colors.
2. Good for babies motor development like eye-hand-mouth coordinations
3. Baby can eat from family pot, no special food
4. Teaches baby how much to eat and when to stop according to their needs, which encourage Responsive Feeding.
5. BLW suggests to have meals together as a family, which helps baby to understand the routine and customs which family follows.
Things to watch for!
1. While offering finger food make sure its right shape and size, or it could be a CHOCKING HAZARD.
2. Food offered should be cooked and soft, easy to chew even with gums.
3. Always watch baby while he/she is self feeding and try to encourage them to eat.
4. Make sure your are offering right amount of nutrients.
Baby can reject the food at first, but it’s ok! Keep offering new textures later again. Give plenty of time for them to explore, do not hurry. They will eventually learn how to use spoon by watching you, that’s why it is advisable to eat together.
Risk Factors
• Baby not eating enough, as at first it’s a learning process for them, it’s hard for them to get food into their mouth
• Not getting enough of iron intake
• High sodium food, as baby is gonna eat what family eats
• Choking, if not offered appropriate size and shape of the food or raw foods like whole grape or an apple
You have to be little confident if you are considering to go with BLW, make sure YOU are also ready for the process with your baby.
If you are not comfortable enough, go slow!
You can actually practice both ways, the traditional way of offering purées and BLW, like I did. Just make sure the consistency of puréed or hand mashed food is thick enough, not runny. And follow Responsive feeding.
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