Baby-led weaning

What is it?

Baby-led weaning (BLW) is a method of weaning that allows a baby to take control and self-feed solid food from the beginning of weaning. It’s usually at this time that a baby’s fine motor skills have developed enough to self-feed.

The logic behind this method is that BLW works best for breastfed babies. Reasons for this include breastfed babies are able to feed at their own pace and self regulate the quantity of each feed; Breastfeeding helps a baby to chew due to the action of the jaw; As well, they are already exposed to different tastes through breastmilk. Therefore self-feeding solid food should be a more natural and logical approach to weaning for breastfed babies. Although this might be the case, many parents of bottle-fed babies have used BLW successfully.

When to start?

A baby is usually weaned between 4-6 months old when it’s digestive system is matured enough (though still maturing), and when it shows signs of readiness i.e. the baby is able to sit upright, has good control of head and neck, wants to put things in his/her mouth, has the ability to suck pureed food from a spoon, has an interest in food, and is not satisfied with the breast or bottle alone.

It’s from around 6 months that a baby requires more nutrients than breastmilk or formula alone can offer. Therefore, solid food is introduced to complement ongoing milk feeds, which lasts for the first 12 months. Introduction of solid foods also help to develop fine motor skills i.e. oral motor skills (suck, bite, chew and lick) and hand-eye coordination, which is important for finger foods, and using a spoon and a cup.

How to start?

Ideally this method of weaning works better with finger foods rather than purees. When babies hold finger foods in their fists, as the pincer grip is not yet developed, they are practising the hand-eye coordination. At first babies explore textures and tastes by licking and sucking. Then as the baby becomes more experienced with self-feeding, more food is chewed and swallowed. At around 4-6 months, babies have better jaw and lip control, with the ability to move their tongue up and down which makes it easier to suck, chew and move food to the back of the mouth to be swallowed. With BLW, there is less chance of a baby choking because babies can’t move food to the back of the mouth until they can chew, which can be done with their gums.

Very little food maybe ingested in the early stages of self-feeding, therefore milk feeds should be kept up in between feeds whilst a baby is learning to eat, and eventually decreased as more solids are eaten. Small amounts of water should be offered in a cup during meal times to ensure sufficient fluid intake.

According to Gill Rapley, the UK midwife who first introduced this concept, babies can be offered a variety of healthy foods right from the beginning of weaning, other then those known to cause an allergy (due to family allergies), food intolerance or digestive problems, as well as choking i.e. whole nuts and whole grapes. And never leave your baby unattended whilst eating.

The best time to offer your baby solids is when the rest of the family are eating and your baby is not too tired. Research shows that babies and children eat more when others are eating too. Offer food that is baby fist sized and similar to yours, but in finger food form and chip-shaped for easy handling.

Advantages

The advantages to BLW include:

• Fine motor skills are exercised from an early age which is important for development i.e. hand-eye coordination.
• Oral motor skills are given a good workout early on, which is important for speech development.
• Baby is able to control how much to eat, as well as what to eat, therefore should be able to broaden its range of foods more quickly.
• Baby is able to cope quickly with different textures and tastes therefore less chance of becoming fussy later on.
• Babies are generally happier when they are able to do things themselves.
• It can save you time in the kitchen by not having to prepare a separate meal or purees.
• Plenty of anecdotal evidence by parents that BLW works.
• Can be easier for parents with two or more children, especially as babies usually want to copy their siblings.

 

Disadvantages

The disadvantages to BLW include:

• Mealtimes can prove to be very messy and frustrating with most food ending up on the floor rather than in your baby’s belly. This is usually always the case with any baby learning to self-feed.
• Feeding can take a long time as a baby can’t be hurried and you shouldn’t be tempted to help your baby feed faster.
• Babies can have problems chewing some finger foods i.e. meat, unless it’s minced.
• This method of weaning lacks scientific research.
• It can lead to nutritional problems in babies who develop more slowly than others, according to a recent study.
• It’s not to be used for pre-term babies (before 37 weeks).

 

Further information

If you are unsure about BLW, talk to your child health nurse or GP to see if this method of weaning is suitable for you and your baby.

By Cherie Lyden – Nutritionist and Mother – www.lydenvitality.com