Adventures in Baby Led Weaning

As a member of an online parenting forum the term "baby led weaning" was something that came up on occasion. I'd never heard of it, but there were some very passionate supporters always happy to put forward their views on it. I read through the basic theories behind it and thought it made sense and sounded like something that would suit me.

Put simply, it is a different way of introducing solids to a child - bypassing purees and going straight to finger food at 6 months (the age currently recommended by the World Health Organisation for starting solid food). 

I remember bringing this up in my council led parenting group, but the facilitator of the group had never heard of it and encouraged farex and purees as the first foods as per the usual guidelines. I listened, but in the back of my mind was the thought that I'd really like to try this "other" approach.

When my Maternal and Child Health Nurse advised we start Mason on solids prior to 6 months I resisted, as he was not yet sitting up strongly (one of the indicators of being ready for baby led weaning) and I had always planned to breastfeed exclusively to the magical 6 month mark.

Eventually I gave in and began Mason on farex (a tasteless rice cereal) at 5 and a half months. A very independent little boy, he would only eat it if I gave him the spoon to feed himself!

Soon after starting on farex we progressed to avocado and banana (because lazy mummy didn't want to cook!), but eventually I had to begin the hard work of steaming and blending vegetables - before I knew it we had a freezer full of ice cube trays and containers filled with frozen purees.

What all this led to was me feeling constantly anxious about Mason and his feeding. Was he eating enough? Was he eating too much? Was he getting enough variety? Will this pumpkin ever come out of his clothes?! (Ok, so the last one will forever be an ongoing battle!)

In the end I decided I'd had enough and gave him some finger food (banana and zucchini) at 6.5 months. He picked it up straight away and started eating. He clearly loved the independence (as he had demonstrated early on by his preference to spoon feed himself) and the ability to play with his food and explore it in his own time. 

Banana

Zucchini

One of the benefits put forward about this approach to solids is that having to learn early on how to chew the food and move it around the mouth helps develop speech. It was incredible how true this turned out to be - he suddenly became very vocal in the days after that first try of finger foods, as this video clearly demonstrates:

One of the other concerns about baby led weaning and giving finger foods so early is the worry about choking. The important thing to remember is that there is a big difference between choking and gagging. The gag reflex is further forward in a baby than it is in an adult, and, as the above video shows, a baby is very good at gagging and bringing back up any food that threatens to go down the wrong way. Mason simply brought it back up and went back to chewing as if nothing had happened!

Avocado on Toast

Lamb

Mason has now tried (and eaten) a whole range of foods. He absolutely loves his banana, and he takes after his dad with his love of bread. The summer fruits of watermelon, rockmelon and cantaloupe are devoured when put in front of him, and he will happily suck and "gum" pieces of meat (chicken in particular). I say gum as he still does not have teeth, but I can assure you that even without them his bite is pretty strong!!

The best part about this approach is that wherever we are there is usually something that we can feed him. There is no stress about packing up the mush and a spoon and finding somewhere to heat it up while we are out. Usually I will order something that I know he can eat and share it with him. This is actually what he loves the most - knowing that he is eating the same foods as us. We can no longer eat in front of him without him whinging and staring at the food as if to say, "I'd like some too!!"

I highly recommend Gill Rapley's book, Baby Led Weaning. It clearly explains the reasoning behind this approach and also sets out how to get started and which foods are good first foods. I can't wait to keep introducing new tastes and textures to Mason and to watch him explore. Sure, it's messy, but so worth it!

Oh, and if you were wondering - a good day on the line in the Melbourne sun will get the pumpkin out of clothes!!