What is Baby Led Weaning? Intro to: BLW
Updated: Oct 1, 2022
*Disclaimer: I am Not a medical professional. Please consult your child's doctor before starting BLW*
Baby Led Weaning or BLW is an eating practice where the caretaker skips traditional spoon feeding/Puree's and lets their baby start discovering solid food on their own. Registered dietitian nutritionist, mom of three, and the author of "Simple and Safe Baby-Led Weaning" Malina Linkas Malkani, MS, RDN, CDN. Says that "BLW supports a baby's ability to self-nourish, self-feed, and self-regulate food intake, all of which helps establish the foundation for a lifelong healthy relationship with food." Starting at 6 months of age and when baby is showing all signs of readiness, you can serve your child the same food you're having for dinner! As long as it's cooked well done, your babe could be eating those yummy steak and potatoes that your hubby just cooked on the grill! I'm not kidding either!
Here are a few examples of plates that I fed my daughter starting at 6 months old!
Before starting your BLW Journey it is very important to make sure that your child is meeting ALL requirements needed to safely start eating solid food.
Signs Your Child is Ready for BLW (All Required)
Baby can sit in an upright position with minimal support
Baby MUST be at least 6 months old (Adjusted age if applicable)
Tongue Thrust reflex has gone away (This is the involuntary reflex that pushes foreign objects out of baby's mouth in order to prevent choking, it typically disappears between 4-6 months) You can easily tell if the reflex is still present by placing your finger on your baby's bottom lip. If their tongue pushes your finger away it is still present. If your child opens their mouth to let your finger in, that means that the reflex is no longer present.
Baby shows an interest in foods
Baby should be able to bring objects to mouth with ease
It's always a good idea to discuss BLW with your child's doctor
Once your child meets all requirements, you are ready for the BLW journey!
While it is exciting to start your BLW Journey, it's Important to remember that Breastmilk/formula is your child's #1 source of nutrients up until the age of 1. If your child starts decreasing their intake of breastmilk/formula before the age of 1 stop all solid meals and push more milk feedings. Before 12 months, it is okay if your child isn't eating all of their meals or if they aren't showing any interest in solid food! Every child is different and explores foods at their own pace. Tasting and licking foods still provides the essential minerals and nutrients your child needs. Most BLW babies won't eat a significant amount of food until about 8-12 months old!
*If your child is under the age of 1 Offer Breastmilk/Formula 30 minutes before mealtime. *
Palmar Grasp
Around 6 months of age your child will begin picking up objects with the palm of their hands. This is called the palmar grasp. It is recommended when your child uses the palmer grasp, that you offer soft textured finger shaped foods, longer than the baby's fist, that can also be easily mashed between your thumb and pointer finger. This is so that your baby can easily grasp their food while also having enough to munch on.
Pincher Grasp
The pincher grasp is when your child has the ability to use their thumb and pointer fingers to pick up objects. Small pieces can be hard for your child to pick up if they haven't figured out the pincher grasp yet. You can use peas or cheerios to help your child practice!
What to Stay Away From/Choking Hazards
While your child can eat a variety of food, there are some important foods to stay away from! First, if your child is under the age of 1 (adjusted age if applicable) do not offer any food with honey in it, cooked or not! All forms of honey should be avoided. It can be very dangerous and scary for your little ones! (This even includes medicine that has honey in it!)
The reasoning is that honey can contain a type of bacteria that can cause a serious form of infant botulism.
If your child has been exposed to honey, monitor them for up to 30 days and seek emergency help immediately if they show any of the following symptoms
Poor feeding or weak suckling
Weak cry
Loss of head control
Floppy limbs
Breathing that stops of slows
Saggy eyelids
Paralysis
Raspatory failure
Absence of gagging
Constipation
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It is also important to be able to identify choking hazards and do what you can to prevent choking.
To determine a choking hazard ask yourself these questions...
-Is it sticky, thick, or very chewy? If so, do not offer
-Is it round and hard? Cut it lengthwise
-Could it block the airways if swallowed whole? if so, cut it or do not offer
-Is it round but smaller than the airway and soft? If so, no need to modify
Tips to prevent choking
Always offer liquids to children while they're eating (under 1 year only 4-6 Oz of water is recommended a day)
Children should be sitting up straight for the entire duration of the meal
Child should be awake and alert before starting their meal.
Offer food in small amounts to prevent your child from stuffing too much food in their mouth at a time.
Do not offer food if child is walking around or in a car seat
Model safe eating habits in front of your child. Monkey see, Monkey do.
Never leave a child unattended while they are eating.
Not only should you be able to identify a choking hazard, but you should also be able to know the difference between gagging and choking. This will determine if you should intervene or not.
Gagging is the body's natural anti choking mechanism. Intervening while a child is gagging could then put the child at greater risk of choking. Your child's body needs to gag in order to prevent choking. Remember this saying "Gagging and coughing let me be, Wheezing not breathing please help me" It is recommended that all parents take an infant CPR course!
*Vomiting after a gag is completely normal. If your child isn't bothered after vomiting, it is okay to continue with the meal. *
Gagging
Sputtering and coughing
face may look bright red
Baby's mouth will open, and their tongue will thrust forward
*Do NOT interfere as it may lead to choking*
Choking
Wheezing or the inability to produce sounds
Weak, Ineffective coughing
Discoloration in the face (Going blue, Grey, or chalky)
*Intervention is needed*
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Lastly, it is important to know about the coin test! Always cut rounded food in at least half in order to get rid of the round shape! This is important since anything smaller than a quarter and rounded can easily get stuck in your child's airways! If you're ever unsure, cut it anyways!
Food Allergies
When offering foods that are part of the top food allergens, it is important to only serve one allergen at a time, and in small amounts. If you child is high risk for an allergen talk to your child's doctor before offering! Monitor your child for up to two hours after offering allergen's. If a reaction occurs, determine whether it is mild or severe.
Mild:
Itching
Skin redness
Slight swelling
Runny nose, Stuffy
Sneezing
Itchy, Watery eyes
Red bumps (Hives) Anywhere on the body
Severe:
Swelling of the mouth or tongue
Trouble swallowing or speaking
Wheezing or trouble breathing
Belly pain, Nausea, Vomiting, Or diarrhea
Dizziness or Fainting
-If you think your child is suffering from a severe allergic reaction, call 911 and seek medical help immediately!
- If the reaction is mild, the proper dose of Benadryl should work! (Ask doctor about dosage)
-If your child has an allergic reaction that is more than mild or concerns you, please contact your doctor!
Top Food Allergens
Eggs
Wheat
Milk Products
Peanuts
Tree Nuts
Seafood
Sesame
Soy
Nutrient Rich Foods
In the last few months before your child is born, they accumulate enough Iron stores to last them only 4-6 months. Because of this, it is important to choose iron rich foods when starting solids to help maximize the nutrition in every bite of food! Offer Vitamin C rich foods to help with iron absorption
Iron-Rich Protein Foods
Beans and Legumes
Tofu
Chicken and Turkey
Beef
Fish
Eggs
Seeds: Ground flaxseed, Hemp, Chia, Sesame
Corn meal
Liver
Collards
Kale
Prune
Vitamin C Foods
Mango
Kiwi
Orange
Guava
Red/Green peppers
Strawberries
Brussel Sprouts
Pineapple
Cauliflower
Peas
Kale
Parsley
Papaya
Grapefruit
Broccoli
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Meat provides a great source of protein and minerals (including Iron) for your little ones. With that being said, Littles under the age of 5 have an increased risk to food borne illnesses. So, it is important to make sure the meats that you are offering are safely cooked! All Beef should be offered well done.
It is absolutely okay to offer meats on the bone. Just make sure to look out for small bones, gristles, or splinters that could cause a choking hazard. You can also offer meats in finger length strips, bite sized pieces for more advanced eaters or you can shred the meat! When first beginning BLW your child may just suck the juices out of the meat you serve and that is okay! (The juice still gives them the meats nutrients)
Organ meats provide a great source of Vitamin A and iron! Due to the high concentration of minerals in Organ meat, it is recommended to limit offering such meats to once a week.
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Along with Iron, Zinc and Choline both are notable nutrients for your child's health. Zinc is an essential mineral that has an important role in overall infant growth and your child's immune function. Choline plays its part by helping with brain cell function, Brain development, and Cell membrane structure.
Zinc Rich Foods
Beef
Beans
Eggs
Fortified breakfast cereals
Nuts
Pork
Shellfish
Poultry
Choline Rich Foods
Fish
Soybeans
Eggs
Beans
Beef
Below is the mg per day recommendations
Join a community
Lastly, I believe it is a great idea to join some sort of BLW group where you can talk with other moms who are experts when it comes to BLW. When my daughter first started her journey, I looked to a group of moms on Facebook who were always there to help tell me how to safely serve my daughters meals. It truly felt good to be a part of a community of people going through exactly what I was!
I hope this helped kickstart your BLW journey! I have some great BLW friendly recipes I can't wait to share with you!! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via Email or Facebook.
Have a splendid weekend everyone! <3
~Emmy xoxo
Malkani, Malina Linkas. Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning. Rockridge Press, 2020.
Canada, Health. “Safe Food Handling for Children Ages 5 and Under.” Safe Food Handling for Children Under 5 , 2015, https://www.gov.nl.ca/hcs/files/publichealth-envhealth-food-safety-children.pdf.
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