Baby-led weaning involves introducing solid foods to babies who are ready to begin weaning, allowing them to self-regulate their consumption and develop an interest in trying new foods. It is a safe way to wean babies and can help them get used to eating solid foods. Babies should be supervised when feeding and allowed to sit upright. BLW is not a replacement for breast milk or formula and pureed baby foods are still needed to meet nutritional needs.
Baby-led weaning, or BLW, is a means of introducing adult food to a baby who is ready to begin weaning. By the age of six months, most healthy babies can sit up, bring food to their mouths with their hands, chew and swallow food. Baby-led weaning eliminates spoon-feeding, to give babies more control over what and how much they eat. Baby-led weaning is often promoted as a way to introduce young children to solid foods and to help children develop an interest in trying new foods and participating in family meals. BLW is a safe way to wean babies off breastfeeding or formula and help them get used to eating solid foods.
Proponents of baby-led weaning believe that this method of weaning has a number of advantages over spoon-fed foods during weaning. BLW allows children to self-regulate their solid food consumption, eating only as much as they want. Because babies can control the amount of food that goes into their mouths, they are less likely than spoon-fed babies to choke on solid foods.
Experts recommend that babies six months and older be allowed to sit with the family during mealtimes and be offered foods they can eat with their fingers. Foods of different textures may be given to help children get used to the idea of eating a variety of different foods. Parents who practice baby-led weaning often believe that their babies enjoy a more varied diet, join family meals more easily, and are less picky about what foods they eat later in life.
Breastfed babies may begin guided weaning more quickly than bottle-fed babies because their chewing muscles are more developed. Bottle-fed babies may, however, also benefit from baby-led weaning. BLW poses a minimal risk of choking, so children should always be supervised when feeding. Babies should be allowed to sit upright while feeding and generally should not be given nuts or fruit with stones.
Most healthy babies can start feeding themselves finger foods by the age of six months. Children with developmental problems, or babies born prematurely, may need to be weaned when they are older. Babies in general are ready to feed themselves when they are able to sit upright, grip food in their fists, and bring it to their mouths.
Although BLW is considered a good way to get children used to eating solid foods, children of this age generally will not be able to feed themselves adequately to meet their nutritional needs. Babies usually still need regular feedings of breast milk or formula, as well as pureed baby foods, to meet their nutritional needs.
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