Similar to national recommendations, baby-led weaning (BLW) is a way of introducing solid foods to babies in which babies are offered family foods at about six months. The difference is that with the BLW approach, babies feed themselves only finger foods and skip spoon-feeding.
BLW has become a popular way to introduce solid foods to babies in recent years. Many of the BLW recommendations are similar to those from Health Canada. Unfortunately, some of the BLW recommendations may be risky for your baby. Below are some common questions related to BLW.
| Did you know? In Canada and the United States the word “weaning” usually means the time when breastfeeding stops. In the United Kingdom, where the phrase “Baby-Led Weaning” was first used, “weaning” is the time when infants start eating solid foods. Baby-led weaning does not mean stopping breastfeeding. |
| You may wonder… | |
| Is it true that food before one is just for fun? | Babies learn about new textures and tastes by playing with food, but first foods aren’t only about fun. Solid foods provide your baby with important nutrients like iron. Babies need these because they are growing so quickly. This is also the time that babies learn about being part of family meals and enjoying family foods. |
| Is it okay to start feeding with any foods you like? | First foods matter. Baby’s first foods should be iron-rich, like meats, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes (such as beans), tofu and iron-fortified infant cereals. Iron is really important for brain development. |
| Is it true that babies get iron from sucking on cooked meat? | While your baby may get a small amount of iron from sucking on cooked meats, they will not get as much as they would from actually eating iron-rich foods. |
| Is it true that babies don’t need to be spoon-fed? | When introducing solid foods, what works well for one baby might not work well for another. Not all babies pick up foods and feed themselves at six months. You can offer infant cereal and other soft, lumpy foods on a spoon. Also offer finger foods at six months, so your baby can learn to feed themselves with their fists or fingers at their own pace. |
| Does the size of food pieces matter? | Babies are at increased risk of choking on food because they are still learning how to chew and swallow solid foods. One concern is large pieces of food that are a shape and size that could block the airway of a baby, or large pieces that could break off into this size and shape. A large piece of food means the size of a grape, or bigger. To reduce the risk, cut large pieces of food into smaller pieces. |
Caution: BLW is not recommended if you have been told your baby is at risk for swallowing problems.