I’ll be the first to admit that baby led weaning scared me. I didn’t fully understand it and was used to the “traditional” purees. But as I did more research, it became more and more appealing.
All summed up baby led weaning is skipping the traditional purees and going straight for full or adapted solids along with regular breastmilk or formula.
Initially, the biggest draw for me was reading that BLW may help prevent picky eaters and encourage adventurous eaters. I’m someone who is incredibly passionate about food, and though I love him my husband would eat Mac and Cheese and pizza every day if I let him. I wanted our little girl to love food and new food experiences as much as I do. Secondly, it became about convenience. When I was first pregnant I dreamed of making my daughter a rainbow of purees, as time wore on it felt like one chore to the list. The idea of being able to give her what I was eating, was so appealing! A little selfish, I know!
As we approached six months old, I began seeking even more feeding information. I even reached out to an occupational therapist who specializes in feeding. She encouraged me to take the BLW route and even suggested teethers and toys to help encourage my daughter to learn to chew or gum down her food. She also told me that babies generally have a very good gag reflex, in order to protect them from choking. She told me how to spot the difference between gagging (noises still being made, maybe a little red in the face, but mostly unfazed) and choking (chest and ribs pulled in, no sound being made).
When we finally got the go ahead from our pediatrician to start solids I felt like I was really prepared. We got home and I immediately placed her in her high chair and gave her a spear of avocado. She absolutely loved it. As days wore on we tried new things; eggs (boiled and quartered and scrambled, sweet potato spears, shredded chicken, smashed blueberries, strips of pancakes with peanut butter).
There hasn’t been much she doesn’t like and if she seems to be grossed out, we just clear her tray and offer her something else, and then offer the gross food again a few days later. As predicted there have been times she’s gagged. It was unsettling at first but now I’m much better at keeping cool and looking for the signs.
Baby led weaning isn’t for everyone, and that’s totally understandable. Its worked really well for us, and our daughter loves mealtimes. I’ve loved seeing her explore her food, and adjust to new tastes and textures.
As with everything, if you’re unsure chat with your doctor and get their opinion. There’s tons of information out there on the subject both personal and professional so do your research and do what you feel most comfortable with!
