Baby-led Weaning has become a popular feeding trend in the last decade. When I first started having kids, though, I’d never heard of it. After my daughter was born, I assumed I would eventually give her purées when starting her on solid food. However, I knew I would never give her the awful canned baby food in the grocery store.
For one thing, I had terrible college experiences (hey, sorority games!) trying those purees, and the thought of it made me gag. Secondly, I knew from research that most of these purées were not made with high-quality ingredients and often contained added sugar. I preferred to feed my baby good food, so I decided I would make her purées. How hard could it be?
Long story short, I survived one week making homemade purées —ONE WEEK. I discovered the hard way that I didn’t have the time, patience, or energy to make my kid homemade baby food every few days. Admitting to myself that I was a lazy mom (i.e., tired mom), I was determined to find a better way. I started researching other methods of introducing solids, and (praise the heavens!) I stumbled onto Baby-Led Weaning.
What Is Baby Led Weaning?
Baby-led weaning is a feeding approach that allows your baby to explore food safely and naturally through self-feeding.
The term “baby-led weaning” (BLW) was coined by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett in their book, Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide to Introducing Solid Foods. Rather than offering purees by spoon, BLW encourages babies to feed themselves soft, manageable pieces of food at their own pace.
Why Try Baby Led Weaning?
Beyond saving time, this approach supports independence, confidence, and healthy eating habits right from the start.
In short, BLW is just plain easier! It’s the exhausted parent’s answered prayer to mealtime. Purées, if made at home, can be time-consuming. And moms who do purées often spend a lot of time feeding their babies before themselves. With BLW, babies get to eat with the family (including mom!) and, for the most part, eat what the family is eating.
So yes, it’s a great parenting hack, but it’s also much more. BLW teaches babies to self-regulate their eating, self-select foods, and try a wide range of healthy options. All of this can lead to healthier food choices later in life.1,2 Babies also learn the art of chewing and swallowing and how to manage various textures, tastes, and sizes of food. Additionally, they develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills by moving food to their mouths. None of these things are learned when a baby is spoon-fed purées.
Related: Baby Led Weaning: Advantages and Disadvantages
How Do I Know When My Baby Is Ready?
Babies’ digestive systems are typically not ready to handle solid foods until 6 months old.3 So the short answer is anytime after that. However, there are a few more “readiness” signs your baby should be exhibiting before they should try baby-led weaning:
- Sits up well without support
- Has lost the tongue-thrust reflex (automatically pushes solid foods out of his mouth)
- Has developed the fine motor skills to pick up small solid objects (like the pincer grasp)
- Can chew (even with little to no teeth)
- Shows interest in mealtime and grabs at food
I waited until my babies reached for food before I started BLW (around 8 months old). In both cases, I was sitting on the couch with my kiddo, eating a banana, when they suddenly grabbed it. Before I knew it, they were chomping on the banana like a crazed baby monkey. We started BLW that night! I also continued to nurse both of my babies throughout the BLW process. It is important to continue giving breast milk and/or formula while introducing solids, as this is still your baby’s primary source of nutrients.
What About Choking?
Choking is a common worry, but research shows baby-led weaning can be safe with the right precautions and food choices.
Many moms worry about the potential for choking with baby-led weaning. And it is an understandable concern. However, studies have shown that babies who feed themselves through BLW are no more likely to choke than babies who are spoon-fed purées.4 Common-sense safety measures should be taken, of course. For example, avoid feeding them foods that cannot be easily mashed on the roof of the mouth. Also, don’t give your baby small foods such as nuts, grapes, popcorn, or food cut into discs, like sausages or carrots. All foods given during BLW should be soft and easily mashed by the baby using his tongue and mouth.
Here are some great examples of soft foods you can safely give your baby from the start of BLW:
- avocado
- banana
- steamed veggies (carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, zucchini, beets)
- soft fruits (peaches, pears, plums, melon)
- finely chopped meats
- small pieces of bread
- rice or pasta
- pumpkin
- egg yolk
- liver
Related: Baby-Led Weaning Foods: Recipes and Helpful Tips
What Tools Do I Need To Get Started With Baby-Led Weaning?
BLW can get messy! Feeding your baby while they are only wearing a diaper is key. I found that to be the best way to ensure we could clean up quickly after mealtime. I suggest investing in a few mealtime items for babies that will make the BLW experience fun and easy for both you and your little one:
- an easily cleanable high chair
- portable placemats for eating out
- an apron-style bib for catching dropped food
- an easily-cleaned floor mat (put it under the high chair)
- baby utensils
Baby-led weaning is more than just an easy way to introduce your baby to solid foods. It’s a chance to help your little one explore, grow, and build confidence at the table. I used BLW with both of my kiddos, and we had a wonderful experience. Whether you’re an exhausted parent looking for an easier routine or simply curious about a new approach, give BLW a try. You might be surprised by how much you and your baby love it.
