The beginning of weaning is both an exciting and difficult time. Some parents choose to feed pureed food, but many caregivers are attracted to the idea of baby-led weaning.
Baby-led weaning (BLW for short) does not involve spoon feeding a puree, but rather provide finger foods that the baby can eat independently. This method not only encourages babies to experiment with different tastes and textures, but also makes meal preparation easier for parents.
These baby-led weaning books include healthy recipes and easy tips and instructions for getting started. From cinnamon-flavored baked apples to cheeseburgers, this selection of baby-led weaning books will help you prepare healthy and enjoyable meals for your baby.
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Eleanor Meireles
What is baby-led weaning (BLW)?
Baby-led weaning is the introduction of solid foods to babies by letting them feed themselves instead of crushing them with a spoon, pureeing or cooking soft. Weaning foods are prepared in a safe way that allows little fingers to grab and control their own food for self feeding.
Eleanor Meireles
Why choose baby-led weaning?
Baby-led weaning recommends feeding children age-appropriate, safely prepared foods and not giving babies pureed foods. Although this can be a fun way to start, experts advise caution.
BLW is not suitable for all infants. Before trying this method, here are a few things to consider:
• Babies must be able to sit up with support and have good head and neck control before attempting BLW.
• All foods should be served in pieces that are the size of a baby’s fist.
• Parents should make sure there is no choking hazard by removing any bones or hard skin from fruits and vegetables.
• Babies should also be supervised while eating and encouraged to chew their food properly.
• Foods should be served at room temperature or slightly warm, as hot foods may scald a baby’s mouth.
Eleanor Meireles
How do I get started with baby-led weaning?
Before starting BLW, always check with your pediatrician to see if your baby is ready for starting a diet of solid foods. Opt for a weaning diet from an expert who will teach you how to wean and give you healthy and safe recipes.
What books are available on weaning with baby?
Books on BLW should include tips and tricks to help you get started. Books on baby weaning also include suggestions for preparing simple meals and menus.
Eleanor Meireles
How should weaning books be used?
Baby-led weaning can serve many different purposes. It can give you recipes for your baby or suggestions for preparing a particular ingredient, such as blueberries, sweet potatoes, or bread. Books on weaning also provide information on the milestones that need to be reached before babies are weaned and the steps needed to transition to solid foods.
Which weaning book is best?
For families who are short on time, weaning books with simple recipes are a good option. If you are cooking for the first time, a detailed cookbook with detailed instructions and helpful photos is best. If you have a large family, you may want a book with recipes for babies and adults.
Best baby led weaning books
Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Master Portion Sizes, and Identify Allergies by Malina Malkani
This book provides a roadmap for preparing healthy, balanced meals that babies can enjoy together with their families. In addition to an overview to help you understand the philosophy of complementary feeding, it also includes safety guidelines and advice on identifying allergens. Written by a nutritionist, this book is ideal for health-conscious parents.
Why Parents Love It
Parents love that it is very clear and to the point. Parents like to underline the important points and make notes for referring to later. They feel that the book has given them the tools they were looking for for a successful BLW journey.
Readers feel they can now easily prepare healthy meals on their own, anytime, anywhere. They love that there are detailed sections on how to serve the food depending on how your baby sees things.
Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide-How to Introduce Solid Foods and Help Your Baby to Grow Up a Happy and Confident Eater by Gill Rapley
Best introductory book on Baby-Led Weaning
Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide
This book presents the benefits of complementary feeding in a comprehensive guide with step-by-step instructions. Baby Led Weaning - The Essential Guide shows you how to introduce your baby to food from the beginning and how to feed him or her in addition to breast milk or formula. It is also an option on how to feed your baby safely, both at home and at daycare, and includes the latest research on allergy prevention.
Why Parents Love It
Parents say this BLW book is a great introduction to baby led weaning. One reviewer states 'What I love about this book is the joy and zest the authors put into parenting, their commonsense approach, and their faith that babies will do the right things for themselves when the time is right'.
Eleanor Meireles
The Super Easy Baby Led Weaning Cookbook: 55 Simple Recipes to Introduce Your Baby to Solids by Tok-Hui Yeap
Best Baby-Led Weaning Book for Parents Who Already Started BLW
Super Easy Baby Led Weaning Cookbook
The Super Easy Baby Led Weaning Cookbook provides easy, healthy recipes and allergens at a glance in addition to the basics of baby led weaning. This baby led weaning cookbook explains how to safely introduce an eating newbie to different tastes and textures. Bright, colorful photos make it easy to understand and fun to read.
Why Parents Love It
Parents say it has some great recipes, but overall not as many baby weaning recipes for baby finger foods as other popular cookbooks. Also, the recipes in this book are not as detailed as other cookbooks so this book works best for parents who have already began their BLW journey.
Eleanor Meireles
Baby-Led Feeding: A Natural Way to Raise Happy, Independent Eaters by Jenna Helwig
Best Baby-Led Weaning Book with Photos
Baby-Led Feeding: A Natural Way to Raise Happy, Independent Eaters
With over 100 ideas and recipes, Baby-Led Feeding: A Natural Way to Raise Happy, Independent Eaters supports the content with beautiful photos. From basic safety and nutrition guidelines to food preparation and frequently asked questions, this book on weaning babies is packed with pertinent information. All recipes have been reviewed by a nutritionist to ensure they are not only tasty, but healthy.
Why Parents Love It
Parents say the content of this book is excellent and helpful in guiding them through the weaning process, with one parent stating it even helped when their daughter was choking on a pear!
They liked the first sections on how to break down foods and what foods to suggest and have recommended this book to many moms and they have followed it for 6-12 months.
Parents also love that the author is food director at Real Simple magazine, and former food editor at Parents and Health.
What Mummy Makes: Cook Just Once for You and Your Baby by Rebecca Wilson
What Mummy Makes provides delicious meals for the whole family, including baby, in less than 30 minutes, saving the time and energy needed to prepare individual meals. This baby food book contains over 130 recipes that can be easily adapted to meet a variety of dietary needs. In addition to meals, the book includes recipes for snacks and foods that can be stored in the freezer.
Why Parents Love It
Parents love that the bulk of the recipes in What Mummy Makes are items that you would usually have to hand in your own cupboard. The less-than-30 minute recipes are simple to make and many parents find themselves returning to them again and again with the resulting food turning out great for feeding baby.
BLW Baby Food Cookbook: A Stage-By-Stage Approach to Baby-Led Weaning with Confidence by Ellen Gipson
The BLW Baby Food Cookbook is a book that helps toddlers experiment with different foods in a fun, tummy-friendly way and introduce a healthy and intuitive eating style. Each recipe is labeled with an icon to help you avoid common allergens, and the delicious recipes are organized by age group, making it easy to prepare healthy and appropriate meals. The book also includes tips on which foods to start with and which are best for teething.
Why Parents Love It
New parents who worry about their babies choking liked the gentle recipes in this book. and say that everything they tried is delicious and fun. Parents also love eating the meals with their babies with these great recipes.
The Big Book of Baby-Led Weaning: 105 Organic, Healthy Recipes to Introduce Your Baby to Solid Foods by Aubrey Phelps
Focusing on organic foods, this book offers healthy recipes and helpful tips for weaning your baby. The book follows the stages of weaning so you can choose recipes for healthy foods according to your baby's eating ability and changing preferences.
There are also examples of how to shop for ingredients and menus, and from start to finish, the book offers easy-to-follow instructions for preparing healthy, organic meals.
Why Parents Love It
Parents say they like to use this as a recipe book, never mind the baby part! They love the organic homemade granola bars and Double Chocolate Veggie Muffins to pumpkin soup - saying they are all healthy and delicious.
They rave that there are many recipes to choose from and they are all easy to follow and know they are healthy for their kids.
Eleanor Meireles
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FAQs
The following are some frequently asked questions about baby-led weaning:
At what age should weaning start?
The NHS recommends starting weaning at around six months of age, although some parents start giving their baby solid food a little earlier. Premature babies should ask their GP when they should start weaning.
Breast milk or formula provides most of the nutrients they need before you introduce solid foods. So all that matters is that they have new tastes and learn new textures in the first few months.
When your baby is able to sit up and sit down and move their eyes, hands and mouth to put food in their mouth, this is a good sign that weaning is ready to begin.
What are the three stages of weaning?
Some books and nutritionists divide weaning into three phases, namely.
· Purees and soft foods starting at 6 months of age.
· Solid foods and finger foods from 7 months.
· From 9 to 12 months, more varied foods and family meals
What type of weaning foods should I start with?
Many nutritionists and weaning experts recommend that babies eat one fruit or vegetable at a time. This helps them get used to different tastes and textures. It's also important not to give them only sweet foods. Try mashing (or soft-boiling) potatoes, parsnips, carrots, broccoli, peas, apples, bananas, and pears.
It is also advisable to give the foods one at a time to avoid allergic reactions. Foods that often cause reactions, such as fish, nuts, and eggs, should be given in small amounts. Milk can be added to the diet when cooking, but should not be given as a drink until one year of age.
When giving finger foods, start with soft foods that can be easily crushed in the mouth. At six months of age, many infants do not have all their teeth yet. Try cooked carrot sticks, broccoli, sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados and peaches. Pasteurized hard and fatty cheeses and toast are also good finger foods.
Its a great idea to create a toddler meal planner so that you can offer them a varied diet.
How long will weaning take?
Every child is different. Some children adjust quickly to weaning, while others show no interest for the first few weeks or months after weaning. There is no need to worry because breast milk and formula provide the necessary nutrients.
Don't panic if your baby seems to swallow less. Picking up food, holding the spoon, and trying different flavors are all part of the weaning process and will help your baby develop.
Between seven and ten months, your baby may begin to eat smaller meals three times a day and regular milk. As food intake increases, milk consumption can be reduced; by 12 months of age, children can be offered three meals a day and a healthy snack.
Why baby-led weaning instead of spoon feeding?
Pureed baby food is no longer necessary, as the use of liquid food is only recommended up to the age of six months.
Babies are developmentally ready to eat finger foods independently at the same age that solid foods are recommended.
Why wait until 6 months of age?
There are many reasons to wait until 6 months of age to wean.
Breast milk or formula provides the necessary nutrients needed before they turn six months of age.
The child cannot properly digest food until his or her digestive system has developed (at six months of age), and weaning before six months of age increases the risk of infections and allergies due to an immature immune system.
Even if solid foods are given, the main food intake is liquid milk until about one year of age.
When can babies start baby led weaning?
Signs that your baby is ready for solid foods and when you should start weaning include the following;
· Your baby is able to sit up with little or no assistance.
· He is able to reach and grasp objects and bring them to his mouth quickly and accurately.
· He will be able to chew on toys and make chewing movements.
· He will show interest in food, watching you eat and trying to grab for your food.
· His weight has increased significantly since birth.
When it comes time to start the weaning process, remember that it takes time and patience. Above all else, enjoy this special journey with your baby!
Conclusion
Baby-led weaning is a fun and exciting way to introduce your baby to weaning. It allows children to learn about different tastes and textures by giving them real foods prepared in a safe and healthy way for babies and toddlers.
Baby-led weaning not only prevents snacking, but also makes meal preparation and mealtimes easier for the whole family. The baby led weaning books above contain healthy recipes and the necessary tools and tips for successful weaning.
I hope the above information has been helpful for you.
When it comes time to start the weaning process, remember that it takes time and patience. Above all else, enjoy this special weaning journey with your baby!
