Something big is coming Harper’s way on Christmas Eve…and I’m not talking about Santa (though the fat man has been very generous!). I’m talking about FOOD!
My sweet baby girl is turning 6 months in less than a week and is showing more and more signs of being ready to start table foods. Ugh, just writing that brings a tear to my eye. Up until now she has been exclusively breastfed…thats right she has not had any other sort of food/nutrition other than breastmilk. Starting Christmas Eve she will take the first small step towards weaning. While breastmilk will still be her main source of nutrition until at least a year (and I don’t expect her to really wean until closer to 18 months if things go right)…it is still a small step in that direction. Time is going so fast.
I’ve mentioned Baby-Led Weaning in previous posts and I have had a few people send me messages asking for more information so I decided to sit down and write a post! 🙂 As a quick disclaimer: I know that most families still go a more traditional route and I am in no way bashing that route!! Each family needs to find what works for them & what they are comfortable with…BLW just happens to be what works for us! I hope this post just gives new/soon-to-be parents another perspective to consider!
So what is baby-led weaning? In most basic terms it is a way of introducing solids (and beginning the slow weaning process) by allowing a baby to control their solid food intake by self-feeding from the very beginning of the weaning process. This method eliminates the use of purees and spoon-feeding.
Before Harper was born I had planned on making my own babyfood and did tons of research into recipes, blenders, storage, etc. No nasty smelling Gerber for my baby 😉 At some point I heard some mom’s talking about BLW and having never heard of it I started asking questions and doing a bit of research. The more information I found on BLWing the more interested I became!
The traditional method of introducing babies to solids is to start rice cereal around 3-4 months and add in fruit/veggie purees at 4 months. I’ve always found it odd that pediatricians and parents rush into introducing solids since the AAP recommends waiting until 6 months. There are many arguments for waiting until 6 months to introduce anything other than breastmilk/formula: giving infants digestive systems time to mature (the pancreatic enzyme amylase does not reach adequate levels for digestion of starches until around 6 months, and carbohydrate enzymes such as maltase, isomaltase, and sucrase do not reach adult levels until around 7 months), decreases the risk of food allergies, helps baby from developing obesity later in life (obviously medical obesity..not the KFC kind!), and helps breastfeeding mothers maintain a better milk supply longer. I was very happy when my pedi told me we would not even begin discussing solids until her 6 month appointment! I wish they all were like that!
Solids before the first YEAR of life is 100% about practice and in no way should replace nursing or formula as a source of nutrition. The role of solid foods is to introduce your baby to varying flavors, aromas and textures of food. With that in mind it seemed silly to me to “teach” Harper about foods by feeding her mashed/pureed foods. I don’t eat foods like that, so why should she? It also lets her control how much food she wants…no forcing more bites because she “needs to finish this jar”. Baby-led weaning just sounded like a more interesting way to introduce food to her. Plus if I’m to be honest BLWing is easier and I love that I don’t have to buy special foods or prepare them certain ways (just call me lazy!). Another bonus is it makes Dan & I think about what we will be eating as a family so fast food runs are being replaced with healthy fresh meals at the dinner table!
While most BLW parents start around the 6 month mark it is important to watch for true signs of readiness. Here is a good guideline:
- Your baby shows interest in food and family meal times.
- Your baby can sit without support. (Very important!)
- Your baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex (pushing solid foods out of the front of the mouth).
- Your baby is ready and willing to chew (though he or she may not have many teeth).
- Your baby has begun to pick up items with the thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp) as opposed to using the whole hand (palmar grasp).
While some babies might be ready at 5+ months (though we are waiting until at least 6 months for digestive maturity), other kiddos are not ready until 7+ months. As with any other milestone they will reach them when they are ready!
The key to baby-led weaning is to enjoy a relaxed approach – know that your baby will receive adequate nutrition through nursing. Simply prepare real food from wholesome natural ingredients and serve them to your family – baby included. Let your baby pick up, mash, taste, sample and explore the foods your family would normally eat during regular meal times. At the beginning most babies will simply play with the food (be ready for a mess!) and ingest very little…but over time the amount increases! Make mealtimes a family event since babies learn through observation. Also don’t be afraid to try non-kid foods! I have friends whose 8 month old loves spicy curry, roasted chicken and brussel sprouts! We plan on sticking to simple one ingredient foods for the first few weeks (to watch for any allergy and help her digestive system get used to foods), but after that we plan on giving her exactly what we are eating that night. I figure some foods will be a hit and some will be a miss…but we won’t know until we try! 🙂 For her first meal we plan on giving her broccoli spears, baked sweet potato fries, and cucumber spears. Other fun foods we plan on trying is: baked oatmeal, scrambled eggs, french toast sticks with pureed fruit for dipping, avocado on toast, apple slices, butternut squash chunks, carrots, etc.
Won’t she choke? That seems to be the most common question we get asked when we try to explain BLWing to others. Actually babies that are BLW have a lower incident of choking since they control what goes in and out of their mouth. When spooning purees into an infants mouth they have no control and often gag/choke more! One thing to remember is that gagging does not equal choking! It is normal for babies to gag when beginning to eat…it is how they learn! The gag reflex is our natural protection against choking. At 6 months, the gag reflex is further forward in the mouth than it is at 1 year. That means a 1 year old could get something further back in his mouth before gagging kicks in than a 6 month old. If gagging happens when the item is still forward in the mouth, it is far less likely to cause choking. BLW proponents would argue that you’ll have more gagging (and a greater risk of choking) if you delay the introduction of finger foods. Always remember gagging = sound (ok), choking = no sound (not ok). 🙂 It is always recommended for parents to take infant CPR before introducing solids (puree or BLW).
Another thing to note is that with BLWing you do NOT offer small foods! While 6 month olds have learned the pincer grasp they have not learned how to purposely let go of something into their mouth. This means they will be able to pick up the small bite of food…but be unable to “drop” it into their mouth! Instead offer finger shaped chunks that they can hold in their fist and bite off of. Things cut into a chip shape are perfect for little ones since they can grasp it with their palms and naw on either end sticking out! A good rule of thumb is to make the bites about the size/width of your thumb/index finger.
Basic Tips for BLW:
- Do NOT serve small, tiny pieces of food
- Serve large chunks that can be easily grasped
- Make sure baby is capable of sitting upright on their own and is well-supported
- Offer baby the same foods you are eating so baby is included in mealtime
- Know that your baby may not eat any of the food presented. BLW is about exploration and he/she will eventually learn to eat
- Give foods when you are not in a hurry or rush! Baby should be allowed to explore/play/eat food without being rushed
- Offer wholesome natural foods (start a healthy diet lifestyle early!)
- It will be messy, be prepared and go with the flow!
- Steer away from foods that clearly dangerous for young babies (peanuts, popcorn, honey
Though I’m sad to see her grow so fast I do love watching each amazing step. Even the simplest thing (like food!) becomes so much more fun with her! 🙂
Passports & Prams 