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Infants feeding themselves whole pieces of food? Wait, what? There’s been a lot of talk and excitement recently about the idea of Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) as a new trend in infant feeding. I have to admit, I was really skeptical when I first heard about it from moms Bringing their babies in to see me. From what I knew then, as a Pediatrician I worried about the risks of choking. As a mom, I felt it was rushing babies to grow up too fast. I forced myself to learn more about BLW since my patients were doing it anyways! I’ll share what I learned, and my thoughts on baby-led weaning – from a Mommy Doc perspective.

After doing a lot of reading, I realized BLW is actually not as bad as I thought. In fact, it’s probably what my own parents were doing years ago with my brothers and I in Jamaica. They didn’t have store-bought baby food. There really was no other choice. So, here’s the low-down.

What is Baby-Led Weaning?

Baby-led weaning became popular in the U.K. in 2008, with the book “Baby-led Weaning: Helping Your Baby Love Good Food”, by Gill Rapley. It’s only recently become well-known in the US. When I first heard the term, I thought it was a way for babies to wean from breastfeeding. While this is partially true, it’s actually more about the introduction of solid foods than the getting rid of milk.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends spoon-feeding infants puréed foods starting at 4-6 months of age. But, in BLW, babies skip purees and feed themselves table foods, usually starting after 6 months of age. Whole chunks of food are placed in front of the baby for mealtime, and he feeds himself (there is more to this, but this is the basic jist).

The main idea behind BLW is to encourage babies to have a healthy, “more natural” relationship with food. It allows them to explore foods through touch, smell, and taste, which babies don’t always get through spoon-feeding.

When are babies ready for Baby-Led Weaning?

They’re ready when they can do the following:

• Sit unsupported
• Maintain good head control
• Reach for and grasp food in their hands
• Coordinate well enough to get their hands to the food, then the food to their mouth
• Move food to the back of the mouth and chew well

* This is all usually the case between 6-8 months old

What are the benefits of Baby-Led Weaning?

Benefits for babies: By picking up foods and putting them in their mouth themselves, babies work on their fine motor skills and coordination through BLW. They also become more independent eaters since they no longer have to rely on parents to feed them. Babies may get a wider variety of flavors and textures through this method, compared to spoon-feeding purees.

With BLW, babies regulate the amount of food they put in their mouth, when, and how often that happens. They can eat as slow or as fast as they want. This helps with self-control and prevents overfeeding, similar to breastfeeding. As parents when feeding from the bottle, we tend to want the baby to finish all of the milk in it. And with spoon-feeding, we want the baby to finish their portions and we push for “one last bite” even if the baby makes it clear they’re done (I’m guilty of this)! BLW gives the baby back control. This should hopefully lead to better eating habits and weight control in the future.

Benefits for parents: It’s easier for parents to prepare food with BLW, since the baby can eat many of the same foods they’re eating. Making or buying purées for the baby is no longer necessary. Parents can also enjoy their own meals, and not have to worry about spoon-feeding their baby at the same time. This makes meal-time a little easier.

What are the risks of Baby-Led Weaning?

Anemia can develop if the BLW diet doesn’t include enough iron. This usually isn’t a worry for babies that follow the traditional recommendation of starting with baby cereals, since they’re rich in iron. Anemia can be avoided, though, by offering iron-rich foods and a daily iron supplement.

When babies first start with BLW, they may not fully get the hang of it. They may play with the food and most of it may end up on the floor. Babies can end up with poor weight gain and growth if they aren’t eating enough. Parents should offer 3-4 different foods during a meal to prevent this. Babies should also still receive breast milk or formula until they’re a year old. True “weaning ” shouldn’t happen til then.

Since babies that practice BLW are eating larger chunks of food, there is a choking risk. This was always my biggest concern with BLW. I was surprised that studies show that there’s actually no increased risk of choking with BLW vs traditional feeding. No matter the method, babies should always be supervised when eating. Parents shouldn’t offer foods that are too firm, or that are known to be choking hazards. Babies should avoid nuts, popcorn, hot dogs, cherry tomatoes, and grapes. Early foods should be soft enough to be easily mashed by a baby’s gums, such as ripe fruits, flaky fish, shredded meats, cooked pasta and veggies.

No matter which feeding method you choose, it’s important to know the signs of choking, and how to respond if your child does choke. Knowing CPR is a must for all parents!

BLW can be messy! This isn’t really a “risk”, but is more of a downside. Don’t get me wrong, spoon-feeding can be messy, but a child feeding himself can be even messier. You end up having to clean the child, their tray, and the floor after every meal!

BLW can also be time-consuming. It’s important for parents to set aside enough time for the baby to explore and to feed themselves. I recommend at least 15-30 minutes. Also, time meals well so that your baby isn’t too hungry or upset. Feedings may not go well if that’s the case.

Would I do it with my own kids?

The short answer is yes. I’ve done a mixture of purée spoon-feeding, spoon-feeding table foods, and baby-led weaning with my kids. With my oldest, I stuck to the traditional feeding schedule and started her with solids, then self-feeding table foods closer to 9 months. My youngest, though, was eating shrimp macaroni and cheese at 6 months! I always had purees on hand, though, in case table foods didn’t go well. For me, it depended on each child’s interest in table foods, and my own comfort as a mom. I was much more comfortable and less afraid of choking risks with baby #5 than I was with baby #1!

I’ve also always enjoyed the time I spent feeding my little ones. Although it can be exhausting, there’s something special about having your baby reliant on you. Whether it was breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or feeding them from a spoon. I was never in a rush for them to grow up. The connection that we had during feeding time was awesome. I still miss those moments now!

So, when it comes time for you to make a decision about how you’ll feed your baby, make it a personal one. Just like deciding between breastfeeding and formula. Don’t worry about what the latest trend is. Don’t worry about what your friends are doing. Do what’s best for you and your baby. Watch for cues to see if your baby is ready for purées vs solid foods. Don’t rush things. It doesn’t matter to me whether they pick up and bite into a cucumber at 6 months or 18 months. As long as they do it! They’re going to be eating for the rest of their lives, so to me there’s still no rush!

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