The FORBIDDEN baby-led weaning

Typically the boomer generation is reading this going "baby what?" BLW was first discovered by Gill Rapley in 2005. BLW is an alternative method of infant feeding which promotes infant self-feeding from 5-6 months of age instead of conventional parent spoon-feeding.

REWIND to 2018 and i was at the BEST point in my carreer; full time in an infant room. I learned so much about babies being in that room from sleep scheudles, feeding schedules, milestones, activites you name it. One of the more touchy subjects with parents is feeding. First it starts with the milllion dollar question..."are you Breast feeding or Bottle/formula feeding?"

Then moves on to the judgyness of "you are Breast feeding in public? you know brest is best right?"

Then we get to the ever so passive agressive-great aunty/uncle knows best

"oh hes bstill hungry just throw some baby cereal (pablum as boomers call it)in their bottle"

"Why havent they had any apple juice yet ( 6 month old) they have to eat baby puree's"

CUE - the baby led weaning

DISCLAIMER i am not a doctor/ pediatriction or health care professional, i am completely going off of my experence as an ECE and a mom. When liam was about 5 months old our docotr (whos opinion i value SO much) said that if Liam is able to sit up enough to support his head and neck in his high chair than it is safe to start on solid foods. I remmeber i was alone in my BLW journey for a longgggggggggggg time. It freaked everyone out, my mom, my husband etc. I think the thing that got them on board was the confidence i had while doing it. I remember i started on some softer foods, berries, bananas, avacados etc. not mashed up mind you , sliced length wise or on a silicone utensil that baby can hold and manouver themselves. The goal for BLW is for children to be incontrol of what they eat and how much of it they eat and take knowing their gage reflex, the side of their mouths and tounges etc. Once i saw how much liam loved his food it made my journey that much better and more fun at expirementing what i could give him. By 7- 8 months old there was nothing that he wasnt eating. Everything we made for dinner/ breakfast he ate it. From the beginning he was an excellent eater, nothing that he didnt like, enjoyed all fruits, veggies, meat, pastas etc. Mind you this was just my expereicne with this.

I felt as though my background and my expereice with first aid and CPR really helped my diffentrate between gagging and choking. Once my familiy and husband saw my confidence that i had in liam and saw first hand how much he enjoyed it and how well he was doing , they hopped right on the band wagon and understaood lol .

In October of 2022 when Liam was 8 months old, i posted some photos of his first thanksgiving with family. The amount of messages and backlash i recieved about parenting my child properly and providing him the correct food, and it was too dangerous what i was doing etc etc was uncanny. That was when i decided to take matters into my own hands and do some research. I found this amazing article that i now share with every parent that i see starting to introduce BLW, becuse there will always always ALWAYS be someone out there that thinks their opinion is worth all your time and stress in the world and i am HAPPY to pass it along here.

1. Baby food was invented. And it was originally made for babies, women, and the elderly with “sensitive digestive systems.” Before the 1920s, there was no such thing as baby food. Babies ate modified versions of whatever the family ate. There is an entire book on the subject called Inventing Baby Food if you are curious.

2. The research shows that the most optimal time to introduce textured food is 6-9 months old. If textured food isn’t introduced during this window, there’s increased likelihood of texture aversion, chewing issues, and picky eating.

 3. Healthcare professionals today encourage offering fresh whole foods over processed foods. Plus, research shows that baby food has traceable levels of heavy metals, including arsenic,In fact, the FDA even issued a warning about rice cereal last year.

 4. The research shows that baby-led weaning is just as safe as starting with purées. In fact, there’s no research that suggests spoon-feeding is necessary. And many infant swallowing specialists today believe the early introduction of finger food may actually help baby learn to be a safer eater, sooner.

5. Spoon-feeding purées does little for oral-motor development and can perpetuate a suck-to-swallow oral-motor pattern that isn’t safe for managing chewable foods. Purees don’t trigger the chew reflex. Babies know how to suck and swallow but they need to learn how to move food to the side of their mouth and chew it. Research shows that allowing 6-12-month-old babies practice with developmentally appropriate foods that require chewing is safe and necessary for advancing oral-motor skills.

6. Between 6-9 months, babies have strong protective reflexes against choking but these reflexes begin fading after 9 months of age. Which means it’s actually safer and easier for baby start on finger foods from 6 to 9 months than it is for a toddler later on.

7. When it comes to food sizes, we now know that bigger is safer for the youngest babies. A baby’s windpipe is about the size of a drinking straw—a large piece of chicken isn’t going to get stuck there, but a small green pea might. Plus, a baby’s brain is much more likely to feel and recognize that big piece of chicken rather than a tiny pea. Even if a small pea-sized bite breaks off the chicken, research shows that the body is primed to spit out or safely swallow that piece of food while actively engaged in chewing.

8. Infant feeding experts have observed that it’s easier to unintentionally overfeed a baby by spoon-feeding purées, which can cause constipation and an undesirable decrease in breast/human milk or formula feeds, which are nutritionally critical until 12 months of age.

9. A primary way to prevent picky eating early on is for baby to eat the same things as their caregivers. Research shows that when food is placed in the mouth by someone else other than the eater, the risk of choking increases.

If none of these points help convince the questioning family member, politely end with: “Well, this is what I’ve decided to do with my baby. I see the benefits and I hope you’ll support me in it one day.”

Allowing children to self-feed, especially through methods like Baby-Led Weaning (BLW), can offer several long-term benefits, including:

1. Development of Fine Motor Skills: Self-feeding encourages the use of hand-eye coordination and dexterity as children learn to grasp, maneuver, and bring food to their mouths.

2. Promotes Independence: By letting children choose what and how much to eat, they develop a sense of autonomy and confidence in their eating habits.

3. Encourages Healthy Eating Habits: Children who self-feed are often more in tune with their hunger cues and learn to listen to their bodies, which can lead to healthier eating patterns and reduced risk of overeating.

4. Exposure to a Variety of Foods: Self-feeding allows children to explore different textures, colors, and flavors, which can help them become more adventurous eaters and less picky as they grow.

5. Social Skills Development: Mealtime can be a social experience, and self-feeding encourages children to engage with others during meals, fostering communication and sharing.

6. Reduced Mealtime Anxiety: When children have control over their food choices, it can lessen the pressure and anxiety often associated with mealtimes, making eating a more enjoyable experience.

7. Better Digestive Health: Self-feeding allows children to chew their food properly, which can aid in digestion and help them learn how to manage different food textures.

8. Long-term Relationship with Food: By empowering children to make choices about their meals early on, they may develop a healthier relationship with food, leading to more mindful eating habits as they grow older. Overall, self-feeding can set the foundation for a positive and healthy approach to food that lasts a lifetime.

Implementing Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) can be a rewarding experience, but parents often encounter several challenges along the way. Here are some common challenges:

1. Parental Anxiety: Many parents worry about their baby choking on solid foods. This concern can create stress and hesitation around the self-feeding process.

2. Messiness: BLW can be quite messy, as babies explore their food. Parents may find the cleanup daunting and worry about the mess at mealtime.

3. Nutritional Balance: Ensuring that babies get a balanced diet can be challenging. Parents may struggle with how to provide a variety of nutrients while allowing their baby to self-feed.

4. Picky Eating: Some parents worry that allowing babies to choose their own foods might lead to selective eating later on, especially if the baby shows disinterest in certain foods.

5. Timing and Readiness: Determining the right time to start BLW can be confusing. Parents need to assess their baby's developmental readiness, which can vary widely.

6. Peer Pressure: Parents may face pressure from family or friends who prefer traditional spoon-feeding methods, leading to doubt about their chosen approach.

7. Inconsistent Eating: Babies may not eat as much during initial stages of BLW, which can be concerning for parents who want to ensure their child is getting enough nutrition.

8. Food Safety Concerns: Parents must be mindful of food safety, such as avoiding allergens and ensuring that food is prepared in a way that minimizes choking hazards.

9. Social Situations: Eating out or attending social gatherings can be challenging, as parents may feel unprepared to manage self-feeding in public or with unfamiliar foods.

10. Lack of Knowledge: Some parents may feel unsure about what foods are appropriate for BLW or how to prepare them safely for their baby. Despite these challenges, many parents find that with time, patience, and practice, they can successfully navigate the BLW journey and enjoy the benefits it offers both them and their child.

This was the thanksgiving dinner I received a lot of comments about

Overall i had a truly positive experience with BLW and Liam's journey into solid foods! I hope that sharing my research and findings with other parents will help you navigate similar challenges. It’s essential for parents to have access to reliable information and support as they make decisions about feeding their children and i hope i helped! Please feel free to leave comments or reach out and share your expereince.