I know for sure that I am not the only parent here who got so excited when my baby was about to turn six months because it meant she will start to eat solid food already. Since my first born grew up with his grandparents, I didn't get to have first-hand experience of feeding an infant until my second child was born. Because of this, I felt nervous, so I read and researched more about introducing solid foods to babies. I even joined groups on Facebook and this is where I came across the idea of baby-led weaning. 


What is Baby-Led Weaning? 

The Baby-Led Weaning approach has recently become popular not just in the UK and US, but almost all over the world. It was coined by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett in their 2005 publication. It is where infant self-feed as oppose to spoon-feeding. It is also where cut and sliced foods are given rather than purees. Babies in this method are more in control of the food that enters their mouth compared to the traditional approach where parents decides how much can be eaten and when to stop feeding. 


Is your baby ready to eat? 

Learning about this made me more excited and at the same time nervous of Danira's solid food journey. Before jumping onto it, I have also learned that we cannot just simply offer food as soon as they turn six months. WHO recommends feeding at this stage, however, in this method, it is important to watch for other signs of readiness of the baby. 

Here are the signs your baby is ready: 

1. Baby is 6 months old 

2. Baby can sit unassisted for a minute or two 

3. Baby has lost tongue thrust reflex

4. Baby can bring objects to mouth 

5. Baby shows interest in food 


If one or more signs are not yet met, I suggest to not risk offering food because it might pose a problem in the long run. 


Gear Guide 

Aside from waiting for the signs that the baby is ready to eat, I have also prepared other essentials such as the feeding tools. Prior to my baby turning six months, I have been browsing online shopping sites to get the best deals. 

Here is the must-have equipment for your BLW journey:

  • High chair 
  • Silicone suction plate 
  • Silicone suction bowl 
  • Pre-loaded spoon 
  • Open cup
  • Pocket bib
  • Coverall bib
  • Crinkle cut knife  
You can choose to buy them all or not depending on how much your budget will allow. Honestly, the most useful accessories I've used during Danira's meal time are the high chair, suction plate, open cup and bib. All other things, I regret buying as they have no use after a month or two of our BLW journey. 

Gagging vs Choking

When I introduced this method to my relatives, it raised them alarm and threw a lot of statements against it such as "it may choke your baby", "her digestive system is not yet ready", "she cannot chew because doesn't have teeth yet", among others. I don't blame them because the first time I have heard it, I also had the same concern. And as I read about it more especially the studies regarding it, I have been confident that I was on the right path of our complimentary feeding. 

One concern highlighted here is choking. It is very much important that before you start the BLW approach, you need to learn about the difference between gagging and choking as it may pose potential risk if not identified early on. 

Gagging is normal for babies especially when they start eating solid foods. It is a protective reflex in defense to potential choking. This usually happens when a baby put too much food in the mouth or if the food goes to far before chewed and broken down sufficiently. Of course, it is our natural instinct as parents to be worried and jump off our seats just to stop the distress but there is no need to panic. The first thing that you need to do is identify the current situation. If any of the signs of choking is manifested, immediately do the Heimlich maneuver if you know it or call for help. 


Photo from SR Nutrition


Why Baby-Led Weaning? 

Even before we started with this approach, I have already been fascinated by the benefits of baby-led weaning. As parents, we would always want what is best for them. And as we started with this journey, the way Danira shows the enthusiasm with her meals made me realize that I chose the best decision of introducing BLW to her. 

Here are some of the benefits of baby-led weaning: 

1. Helps oral development through chewing.

2. Better developed hand-eye coordination and strong pincer grasp while exploring the foods and their textures.

3. Enjoys meal time together with family. 

4. Gains independence and confidence while eating on their own.

5. Low chance of being picky eaters as they grow older. 

6. Less pressure on food preparation as can eat what the family eats. 

7. Baby is in control of the food which pose less risk to choking compared to spoon-feeding. 

These are some of the few benefits of BLW. 

In our journey, the only disadvantage we encountered so far is the MESS and people's negative comments. But nonetheless, we have managed and is now enjoying the benefits of this method. 


I hope this will help you in deciding how to introduce solid foods to your little ones.