The Ultimate Guide to Baby Led Weaning

What is Baby Led Weaning?

Baby Led Weaning (BLW) is a method of introducing solid foods that skips purees and spoon-feeding entirely. Instead, you offer your baby safe, manageable pieces of food that they can hold and feed themselves from the very beginning (usually around 6 months of age).

Benefits of BLW

Proponents of BLW love it for many reasons:

• Encourages independence and fine motor skills.
• Helps babies learn appetite control and self-regulation.
• Exposes babies to a variety of textures and flavors early on.
• Makes family mealtimes easier – baby eats what you eat (mostly)!

Safety First

Safety is the number one priority. Ensure your baby is ready:

• Can sit up unassisted with good head control.
• Has lost the tongue-thrust reflex (doesn't push food out automatically).
• Is showing interest in food.

Always supervise your baby while eating, and educate yourself on the difference between gagging (normal) and choking (requires intervention). Avoid choking hazards like whole grapes, nuts, and hard raw vegetables.

Great First Foods

Start with soft foods cut into finger-sized strips (about the size of your pinky finger):

• Steamed broccoli florets or carrot sticks
• Roasted sweet potato wedges
• Avocado slices (rolled in hemp seeds for grip)
• Banana strips
• Strips of omelet or scrambled eggs