Starting Solids with Baby-Led Weaning
By Annie Gager, MS, RD
May 21st, 2024
Is your baby constantly trying to steal food from your plate and eyeing everything you eat with wide eyes and drool? Are you just not sure when to start feeding your baby solid food? Choking is a very realistic fear and sometimes it is easier to just start with purees. Well the truth is, babies can start with solids sooner than you may think!
What is Baby-Led Weaning?
Baby-led weaning (BLW) is the concept of feeding infants that relies on the infant's developmental readiness to start solids. Instead of going straight to pureed and gradually progressing to solids, baby-led weaning starts with safe solids and allows your infant to eat practically the same meals you and the rest of your family are eating. Baby-led weaning allows the baby to explore new foods on their plate and learn at an early age to recognize their hunger and fullness cues. Baby-led weaning makes the baby an active participant in their feeding rather than a passive recipient. One study found that by ages 18-24 months, infants that were fed with the BLW approach were more in tune with fullness cues than babies that were fed using a traditional, pureed approach. The toddlers in this study showed that they were less responsive to food. Meaning when foods were placed in front of them, they were less likely to respond to them out of boredom or simply because the food was within their reach. Children that are less responsive to food and are able to recognize their fullness cues have a lower likelihood of childhood obesity further supports the importance of the BLW approach.
When to Start
So how can you know when your baby is ready to start solids? Here are the developmental readiness signs your pediatrician will look for and likely ask you before they recommend solid food.
Your baby can sit upright with little support.
Your baby can hold their head up while sitting.
Your babies tongue thrust reflex is gone
Your baby tries to put larger objects in their mouth
Your baby seem interested in the food you are eating or preparing
If you had a premature infant, it is important that you take into account the adjusted age, not just their actual age. If they were born 1 month early, they may be ready to start solids around 7 months of age instead of 6 months of age.
There are other behaviors your baby can make that may seem like they are ready to start solids for example; having one or more teeth, slowed weight gain, smacking their lips, and restlessness during naps. These are developmental milestones that are indeed important, but don't necessarily mean your baby is ready to start solid food. It is important to speak with your physician before starting solids to ensure they can safely start.
The Research
The research suggests that the risk of choking using the baby-led weaning approach is no different than babies who start with traditional pureed feeding when parents and caregivers are educated on how to reduce the choking risk. This means appropriate sizes, types, and textures of food. It also means foods need to be cooked differently for baby-led weaning. It is so important though that parents are properly trained in infant CPR since choking can occur before infants even start eating. Common infant choking hazards are; batteries, coins, balloons, and small toys. Starting your infant on solid food instead of a puree diet can seen horrifying, but with the right education, preparation, and knowledge it is a completely safe practice and have many long-term benefits to your child.
