You've probably heard of baby-led weaning, but what exactly is it? Baby led weaning is simply letting your baby feed themselves from the very beginning.
That's right, no more purees! I know what you're thinking, "But my baby can't even sit up on their own, let alone feed themselves!" But trust me, they can.
Baby led weaning is not only easier than you think, but it also has some great benefits for both you and your baby.
So if you're ready to ditch the purées and let your little one start exploring solid foods on their own, read on for everything you need to know about baby led weaning.
Eleanor Meireles
What is Baby Led Weaning?
Baby led weaning is a method of introducing solid foods to your baby that involves them feeding themselves from the very beginning. That means no more purées! Instead of spoon-feeding your baby pureed food, you'll give them small pieces of soft, cooked food that they can pick up and eat on their own.
Benefits of Baby Led Weaning
There are several benefits of baby led weaning, both for you and your baby. For starters, it's a lot less work for you! No more making (and then cleaning up) purees every day.
Plus, since your baby is eating what you're eating, there's no need to make separate meals. And since your baby is in control of how much they eat, they're less likely to overeat or become fussy eaters later on.
Baby led weaning also has a number of benefits for your baby. It helps them develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they learn to pick up small pieces of food and get them into their mouths.
It also allows them to explore different textures and tastes at their own pace without being force-fed purees they might not like. Plus, since they're eating the same food as the rest of the family, they're more likely to develop a positive relationship with food from an early age.
How to Get Started with Baby Led Weaning
The best way to get started with baby led weaning is to start slowly and work your way up. When you first introduce solid foods, offer your baby some soft cooked fruits or vegetables that they can easily mash up with their gums. forehead."
From there, you can gradually start introducing more challenging foods like meatballs or strips of roasted chicken. Just be sure to cut these foods into small pieces so they're easy for your baby to pick up and chew.
A few other things to keep in mind when getting started with baby led weaning:
• Offer a variety of foods at each meal so your baby can explore different tastes and textures. For a list of foods to try when you start your baby-led weaning journey, check out my blog The Best Foods to Start Baby-Led Weaning.
• Encourage exploration by letting your baby touch and play with their food (even if it makes a bit of a mess!).
If you want to find out about the best bibs to help keep the mess to a minimum you can read my blog The Best Bibs for Baby Led Weaning.
• Be patient! It may take a few tries (and lots of messes!) before your little one gets the hang of eating solid foods on their own.
For a comprehensive list of the best recipe books for baby led weaning, you can refer to my guide The Benefits of Baby-Led Weaning and the Books to Help You Master It.
Conclusion
Ready to ditch the purées and try baby led weaning? With its many benefits for both babies and parents, it's definitely worth giving it a try! Just remember to start slowly, introduce a variety of foods, and be patient while your little one learns this new skill.
Trust me, it'll be worth it in the end!
