What Is Baby Led Weaning?
Baby-led weaning is an approach to weaning where the child is allowed to choose what and when they eat.
The adult offers the child bits of food and if the child is interested in them, they will feed themselves.
Baby-led vs traditional weaning
The idea behind baby-led weaning is that the child will learn to look after their own food intake, and have an idea of how much they need to eat to feel full.
This differs from traditional weaning, where the adult offers the child pureed food and has more control over when and how much the child eats.
A lot of people like to use a combination of the two approaches, and ultimately it is about deciding what is working the best for you and your child.
How to approach baby-led weaning
You would approach baby-led weaning by taking a piece of food and putting it in front of the child. If they are interested, then they will pick the food up and put it into their mouths. If not, then you would not force them to eat it. The child must be capable of self-feeding, which is why it is not a technique that is used for children under six months old.
It is a good idea to let your child sit up at the table with you while you eat as they will see you eating and want to mimic what you are doing.
A highchair is the safest way to have your child sitting up at the table with you. You may also want to ensure that you use a wipe clean tablecloth and that the floor around your child’s chair is wipe clean too as there can be a lot of spillage throughout the process.
EasyTots have created a suction food tray which you may also find helpful. The food tray means that your child can have their own plate to eat off of, on which you can place different types of food for them to try. The suction cups mean that it is stuck to the table and prevents your child from pulling it up or off – allowing them to explore their food independently.
Some of the benefits of baby-led weaning are:
When weaning a baby there is a chance that they will not get the required level of nutrients and minerals. It is a good idea to speak with your doctor, as they may be able to recommend a supplement that you can include.
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