From the beginning with Jud, I knew I wanted to give Baby Led Weaning a shot. I heard wonderful things about the concept and loved the idea of it making him a great eater. I think I get more questions about Baby Led Weaning than any other parenting choice I make. Yes, even more than breastfeeding, and we all know how everyone wants to be all up in your breastfeeding business. I’d gladly take a dollar for each time someone said: Oh, what a cute baby! How old is he? Are you still breastfeeding him? I mean, what in the actual world? I digress.
Let’s get back to the actual point of this post, Baby Led Weaning. I think it’s probably best to just answer some of the many questions I get asked about the topic. And I get the questions, I really do, it’s odd to see a 7 month old happily eating a stalk of broccoli. You should probably know, I’m in no way qualified to tell you how to feed your baby. I’m just giving honest answers about what worked for us, everything I’ve learned about Baby Led Weaning came from this book.
What exactly is Baby Led Weaning (or for the less tactful, do you know your baby has a whole carrot in his hand?) Baby Led Weaning means we completely skipped purees (jar food, homemade food, any smashed up or blended food). We skipped baby cereals, I have never spoon fed anything. We didn’t wait a certain number of days before introducing new things, we didn’t introduce one food at a time, we simply gave him what we were eating and let him decide what he did and didn’t want to eat from his tray. We also waited until the 6 month mark to start feeding him, when we was showing genuine interest in what we were eating (some other signs we looked for: following the food with his eyes, trying to take things to his mouth, sitting up unassisted, moving his mouth in a chewing motion).
But won’t he choke? Well, any baby could technically choke on their food at any time. If done correctly, BLW babies are no more likely to choke than those who are spoon fed (the book said it, I promise). Usually people ask this question and never want to hear my really cool scientific answer (I learned it from the book)! So, babies have a gag reflex that is closer to the front of their mouth (for obvious safety reasons), if they bite off a piece bigger than they can handle, they gag to keep the food from moving too far back in their mouth. As a baby grows, the gag reflex moves further back. Luckily, we haven’t experienced any scares, but he will spit out a bite thats too big in a second! I think it’s pretty amazing to watch him as he develops and learns how to eat and makes his own choices about things. Obviously, we don’t put him in the kitchen and go watch a movie while he’s eating. We keep a close eye on him, just to be safe!
What does he eat? Everything! Seriously! For the most part, he can eat any fruits, veggies, meats, the occasional bread, and dairy. We limit most dairy because it tends to be overly processed and full of extras. I’m going off the top of my head, but here’s a list of what he’s eaten:
- carrots
- zucchini
- squash
- bell peppers
- broccoli
- avocado
- tomatoes
- sweet potatoes
- eggs
- french toast (an easy version just dip it in eggs only)
- chicken
- turkey
- pasta
- spinach
- marinara sauce
- pork
- bananas
- apples
- oranges
- cantaloupe
- snap peas
- green beans
- eggs
- pears
- peaches
- cucumbers
- black bean/ cheese tortillas
How do you prepare his food? Once again, the book provided a wealth of knowledge on this subject. We typically cut things in sticks to make them easy to hold. He started out by sucking on the food more than actually eating the food, but now he bites off bigger chunks and tries to chew his food more. We steam, roast, or grill most veggies and meats, and apples to make them a little softer. We leave out salt entirely, but he gets other spices on things (for example, cinnamon on apples).
A few other things:
It is messy!! You’ll notice that most of the time I leave the high chair cover off. I wash it at least three times a week. It’s about time we invested in another high chair, possibly a rubber one for easier cleanup. Bring lots of bibs in public.
He didn’t have teeth when we started, and our pediatrician assures me that even if he did have teeth, they won’t be any good for chewing, just tearing pieces off, so it might actually be better than he didn’t at first. I don’t think it makes a difference either way, in all honesty.
Speaking of public, it really makes going out easier! He’s entertained and eating while we’re eating and no one is having to stop and spoon feed him. To me, the whole process is easier, I’m not making and freezing baby, and we’re all eating more fruits and veggies.
We’re branching out and starting to use things as dippers and cooking more BLW recipes, I’ll be sure to update you on the next leg of this journey!
Here are a few things you might find helpful with Baby Led Weaning:
Disposable Placemats (for eating out)
THIS high chair ended up being our favorite
Utensils for future stages
You are SO right! People are very concerned about what and how our babies are eating. We did BLW too and it was always a conversation starter. I do wish, however, that the excitement over veggies stayed. And yes, it’s so easy. No need to pack/prepare separate meals. Winning!
I agree!
Try the ikea highchair! Its around $20 and so easy to clean!
Thanks, Tiffanie! Got it and LOVE it!
Yes! Thank you for this informative post! I feel like not that many people out there know about BLW and just like you, I’m getting so many questions from my in-laws and friends about it! But not interested questions, more questions of concern! I think I might just lose it if my MIL asks me again if I’m giving foods that will choke my baby! I’m going to send her (and others) a link of this post! Thank you!
Annie
6-12 MONTHS BABY GIFT GUIDE on The MAMA Gazette
Haha! Yes, we got the same questions, even from “concerned” strangers in restaurant. I’m always happy to explain, but they aren’t always willing to listen 🙂
So cool! We did homemade purees with my first and snuck in some whole foods as well. I’m thinking the next one might get the BLW experience. By the way, we also ditched our fancy cloth covered highchair in favor of the Ikea antilop chair ($20!!!!) and I wish I had known about it sooner. It’s so easy to clean and despite the low price tag, I’m convinced she sits in it so much better. Might be worth looking into.
Thank you!! We ordered the high chair and absolutely LOVE it!!
I think the biggest misconception I’ve heard is that people think their kids are choking when they’re gagging. I often had to explain the difference, and how gagging is good because it prevents choking, but it is scary the first time they do it. I loved baby led weaning with both of my boys, but we did spoon feed sometimes-for me, it was to avoid the yogurt mess, for my husband it was because he thought it was so sweet. But, they also ate whatever they wanted just like Jud. Both boys are still pretty great eaters-although we didn’t avoid toddler pickiness entirely. I would highly recommend the Ikea plastic high chair. It’s really simple with no spare parts to clean and super easy to hose down. And it’s cheap-around 20 bucks!
Thanks, Amanda! I ordered the high chair and we LOVE it!!
Jennifer, Such good info about BlW! From this grandma’s perspective it makes perfect sense. My grand, Gracie, 7 months old, has been doing BLW for a month. When my daughter explained how babies have a gag reflex that is closer to the front of their mouth my mind was set at ease. She and her hubby also cut the food into large sticks so they are easier to hold and safer than, for example, a small round piece of carrot which she could choke on.
Gracie has had 90% of the foods on your list and likes almost everything! You’re a gifted writer Jennifer! Thanks for sharing your insights!
Karen, thank you so much for your kind words! We love BLW and I’m confident it has made him a better eater. It definitely helped ease my mind, too when I read the book. It’s amazing what they can do when we give them a little independence. 🙂
Hello Jennifer!
I really enjoyed reading you article! I has inspired me to try BLW with my daughter when she turns 6 months next month.
I am a new blogger, and interested in any feedback, along with trying to spread the word about my blog. I would love to hear your feedback! 🙂
Thank you!
Amanda
MomerzLane.com
Can you shed more light on, “he eats what you eat”
We eat healtly, but a lot of our meals are mixed items with sauces. How do your let him eat those items? I get the veggies and fruits.
For the most part, I just let him eat as we ate, if it was spaghetti, I would give it to him with the noodles and sauce, and he would make a huge mess, but eventually he learned to be less messy. Sometimes, if I thought the same might be too spicy I would just make his plate prior to adding sauces. We don’t do a ton of mixed items with sauces like casseroles or bakes, but I would assume he would eat those just the same once he had a grasp on the concept.
Great post. My little one only put up with the purées for about a month and since then she’s been eating finger foods. I get a bit “caught up” with variety though. I feel like I’m preparing the same menu everyday and we have some limitations (no dairy whatsoever and she doesn’t dig banana).
I definitely am not preparing the same sized finger foods as your babe is eating above! How do you know when to increase the size of foods?
You said you started BLW at 6months, but did you spoon feed him at all before then or did you hair nurse him till 6 months?
Did you just***
Yes! I just breastfed him until 6 months, we didn’t spoon feed or use purees at all.
Great article! I read that book and we are doing BLW with our kiddo. I’ve explained about the gag reflex to the grandparents and although they are still wary, I think they’ve decided to trust me finally!
I took off the fabric cover on my high chair too but I think I might check out this Ikea highchair everyone seems to like. Would it work for a bar height table?
I think it might be a little short at a bar….
Great info. But I have a question.
So at 6 months you stopped breastfeeding and only fed him solid food? So he only eats food no more breastmilk/formula?
No, I just started introducing food, breastfeeding was still his main source of nutrients!