Baby-led Weaning: What is it, and Should I Try It?

Is your baby ready to begin trying solid foods? One approach that has gained a lot of attention veers away from the traditional introduction of mushy baby foods found in jars and welcomes the baby as a part of the meal the entire family is enjoying.

Baby-led weaning is a great way to allow your baby to take the lead in exploring solid foods, starting around six months of age. Instead of feeding your baby each spoonful of food, your baby takes the lead and feeds themselves the foods they are interested in trying. 

How Baby-Led Weaning Works:

1. Your baby sits at the table with the rest of the family (albeit in their high chair) and is offered small portions of whatever foods the rest of the family is enjoying at that meal. 
2. Age-appropriate food should be small enough for little fingers to grasp to prevent choking. Soft foods that are mashable with their gums or chewed with just a few teeth should be offered. Avoid offering round or coin-shaped slices of veggies, fruits, or meat, as they can pose choking risks. 
3. Your baby sets the pace and is not required to finish all their food and is instead allowed to eat however much they want.

Benefits of Baby-Led Weaning:

1. Improved motor skills – Self-feeding helps develop your baby’s fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
2. Positive eating habits – Baby-lead weaning can foster a healthy relationship with food and reduce the chance they will become a picky eater. 
3. Fosters independence—When your baby is in the driver’s seat of what they are putting into their body, their confidence grows.
4. Helps prevent obesity – when your baby is allowed to stop eating when they feel full, they learn to listen and trust their body, which can help prevent obesity.
5. A healthier and more diverse diet—eating processed baby food from a jar is limiting. Your baby will be healthier if they can enjoy the same balanced, colorful, and minimally processed meal the rest of the family is enjoying. 

Safety concerns to consider:

There are many advantages to trying baby-led weaning. However, parents and caregivers should also consider some safety concerns. 

1. Are they getting enough calories, vitamins, and micronutrients? If your baby enjoys one particular food, like fruit, and avoids meat, cheese, or veggies like mashed potatoes, they may need to consume more calories for healthy growth and development. Fill any nutritional gaps by breastfeeding or giving them formula either between meals. 
2. Always think about safety first. Choking is one of the leading causes of unintentional death among infants. Offer soft, easily mashed foods like ripe avocados, steamed vegetables, and soft fruits. Cut foods into small, manageable pieces and avoid round foods like grapes. Always supervise your baby while they are self-feeding to prevent choking. 

Remember that every family is unique. If you are considering baby-led weaning, give yourself the grace and flexibility to recognize that the timing may not always be right. You aren’t failing if your baby eats food from a jar or a package. It is more important that they experience a variety of minimally processed, colorful foods and grow and develop at a healthy rate. The trick is to offer your baby healthy, whole foods and support them in their messy, exploratory process. 

We are here to support you. Talk to your baby’s pediatric provider for suggestions on making this process enjoyable for the whole family. 

You can learn more about baby-led weaning by reading the American Academy of Pediatrics blog here.