What is Baby-Led Weaning?
Healthy Baby Self-Feeding
Baby-led Weaning (BLW), also known as infant self-feeding, allows babies to start feeding themselves real food when they begin solids, typically around 6 months of age. Instead of spoon-feeding purees, parents offer soft, stick-shaped foods that babies can pick up and bring to their mouths on their own. This approach helps babies explore a variety of safe textures, from chicken to roasted broccoli to buttered toast, by feeding themselves.
Creates independence to Baby Health
Supporters of Baby-led Weaning appreciate that it fosters independence during mealtimes, allows babies to eat the same foods as the rest of the family, and simplifies family meals since parents can prepare a single meal for everyone. BLW may also reduce picky eating as babies grow older, helps them develop an awareness of their hunger and fullness cues, and could positively influence speech development more than traditional parent-led feeding. Additionally, it supports the development of fine motor and oral-motor skills, such as chewing and swallowing, and can be easier for families since they don’t need to prepare special foods for their infants. However, more research is needed to fully understand the benefits of BLW.
One reason BLW is so appealing is that it establishes a positive feeding dynamic between babies and their caregivers, where babies control what and how much they eat. The "You provide, child decides" model is recommended for feeding children of all ages—parents provide the food, and the child decides how much to eat. With BLW, this approach is introduced from the very beginning, continuing the same feeding autonomy that started with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding into the solids phase.
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Hello, wonderful parents! Fiona Stock here. your guide and friend.Ā I'm a highly respected Paediatric Naturopath and Childrenā€™s Nutritionist. I'm known for my expertise as an educator, mentor, and author, with over 25 years of extensive experience. Throughout my career, I've gained a profound understanding of the unique needs involved in supporting children's health conditions.
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