CG Baby Led Weaning -

Baby Led Weaning

What is Baby-Led Weaning?

Baby-led weaning (BLW) is another way to offer your baby complementary foods starting at the age of 6 months. Instead of being spoon-fed with pureed foods and gradually increasing the consistency, BLW encourages self feeding after 6 months.¹ Foods fed by the family are given to the infant as finger foods. This allows the child to feed themselves, promotes independence, and allows food exploration. Note BLW does not mean you start decreasing the amount of breast milk you offer your baby; it is a different way to introduce complementary foods. Research has shown families who tried BLW practices exclusively breastfed for longer period.²

When to Start BLW?

How do you know if your baby is ready?³ Look for these signs:

Can control head and neck
Can sit up with support
Brings objects to mouth
Tries to grab small objects like toys or food
Swallows food instead of pushing it out

Benefits of BLW

Here are a few benefits of BLW:^4,5

Eat when hungry and stop when full (may help with preventing excess weight gain)
High consumption of fruits and vegetables
Improve development of motor skills
Part of family meals and eating the same food

Concerns of BLW

Here are a few concerns with BLW:

Concerns with choking⁶
- Cut food into long, thin sticks about the width and length of your pinky finger. Avoid circles. When babies can pick up food on their own (8-10 months), cut food into pea-sized pieces.
Leaving baby alone while eating
- Important to be with your baby when they are eating
Messier then spoon-feeding
- Use a floor mat, bib or towel
Concerns about not meeting nutritional needs⁷
- Give a variety of foods like protein, vegetables, fruits, calcium-rich foods, and whole grains. Focus on foods with iron, protein, and healthy fats.. Soft fruits, vegetables and meats are great first foods.
Concerns about eating too much sugar, fat and salt⁷
- Do not feed foods with added sugar, fat and salt
Delay complementary foods
- Offer at around 6 months when baby shows signs they are ready

What If I Have Questions?

If you are interested in learning more, this Aeroflow class expands on some of the topics discussed above:

Solid Foods for the Breastfed Infant

To register for this class, log into your portal or click here.

Want More Info?

For a directory of Aeroflow’s other Care Guides offering information on pregnancy, baby care, and more, browse our comprehensive list of titles:

https://www.hersourcehealth.com/aeroflow-care-guides/ ‎

References