What is Baby Led Weaning
Date Added: June 20, 2008 05:20:27 AM
Baby-led weaning is also known as BLW and is a weaning method that enables the baby to go from a milk diet to a solid diet. This may sound like any other weaning method, but it does differ in one area. Your child will go from drinking milk to eating finger foods and will miss out the puree stage altogether.
Healthcare providers do not recommend you miss out the puree stage claiming that the baby will miss out on a number of different tastes and nutrients.
If you decide to go down the baby-led weaning method of weaning your baby, there are a few things you need to know first!
Your baby will be self feeding rather than you feeding him what you have pureed. This means that your baby may not get any food whatsoever in the first few tries. Your baby may reject certain foods at first or he may grasp it right away. The food pieces are not cut up into small chunks, but rather given in large handheld pieces. Broccoli florets, cauliflower batons are all good for BLW.
The reason the pieces are given in large chunks is to lower the risk of choking. Babies instinctively know that what you have given them goes in the mouth. They may not be as aware that they can nibble on the food rather than try to get it all in at once! Never leave your baby alone when you start BLW as they can choke at any time.
Your baby may gag a few times when he first starts to try to eat himself. This is perfectly normal and shouldn’t be a cause for concern. However, if your baby starts to choke, take the food away and take out whatever is in the mouth.
Baby-led weaning has its advantages and its disadvantages. Only you and your baby know if it is right for you. You can always give your baby pureed food as well as handheld food at the same time. You will soon find a routine and a weaning method that is perfect for the both of you. What is needed though, is patience, perseverance and a lot of tasty food!
