Extract from my book Feeding Little Tummies
In their informative book Baby-Led Weaning, authors Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett discuss the benefits of feeding babies solely on finger foods from the start (no earlier than 6 months). Babies are given a selection of finger foods and allowed to choose what and how much they wants to eat. The explained benefits include less time on food preparation, and more variety, which in turn may lead to more adventurous eaters who enjoy a wide range of foods throughout childhood. On the flip side, a baby left to her own devices with finger food can be a rather messy affair (a plastic sheet can help), and it can be difficult to gauge how much food is actually eaten. Choking on small pieces of food is also a concern, however, this is well explained in the book so to settle parents nerves around this matter.
Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) is not a new concept, and as any large family will attest, the youngest siblings are often given food straight from the table at 6 months, as it is the easier option when feeding a large family. Also, in a sense, BLW is similar to breast-feeding on demand where a baby can manage her milk, and therefore nutrient intake. With BLW a baby will regulate her food intake, choosing from the selection of foods offered, what and how much she wants to eat at each sitting.
Some familiar with this concept prefer to find a middle ground (this is how we introduced food to our daughter – see below), offering purees and finger foods to ensure a variety of textures (smooth, lumpy and firm) while helping to develop coordination and chewing. Whatever mode you choose, however, it is essential lumps and texture are gradually introduced as it has been found babies fed smooth purees only beyond 10 months can find it difficult transitioning to chunkier food and less open to try new foods later on.
If following BLW with your baby their are many recipes and ideas in Feeding Little Tummies. Points to keep in mind:
- Do not start BLW before 6 months (for premature born babies talk to your health provider first).
- The same applies for allergies and introducing one new food at a time over 2-4 days.
- Avoid sugar, salt, added fat, and other foods outlined in the first foods section of Feeding Little Tummies.
- Never leave a baby unattended while eating and always sit her in an upright position to lessen the risk of choking.
Further reading: Baby-Led Weaning – Helping Your Baby to Love Good Food; Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett; Vermilion 2008
Order Feeding Little Tummies here.
Our experience with Baby-Led-Weaning
While updating Feeding Little Tummies in 2010 I came across BLW. At the time I was introducing food to our daughter around 6 months and decided to give BLW a go. At first I found it quite frustrating as food was thrown on the ground and very little appeared to be eaten. And what was eaten was often choked on, well at least appeared to be, which was quite distressing for a first-time Mum. I was still breast-feeding so wasn’t entirely concerned about the food intake but she was quite small for her age, therefore we found a middle ground of purees and finger foods.
The day would start with homemade quinoa porridge mixed with homemade apple sauce and tahini and we let her guide the spoon to her mouth. Then a selection of finger foods during the day, and finished with pumpkin and zucchini/ broccoli puree which had been cooked with free-range chicken stock for an extra nutrient boost – again letting her guide the spoon to her mouth and stopping as soon as she lost interest. This way we could ensure we got nutritious food into our daughter (which she loved) and she could also explore new tastes and textures during the day. Finger foods included, steamed or roast root vegetables, fruit pieces, gluten-free pasta, omelette, rice crackers with goats cheese, pancake or fritter, cashew banana chew, and expanding as she got older. Her all time favourite was a finger of steak which she would ravishly suck out all the juices before throwing on the ground. Very entertaining!