What is the difference between mother led and baby-led weaning?
The main difference between baby-led and spoon-fed weaning is the order babies learn their feeding skills. With traditional weaning, babies learn to spoon feed first (smooth mashed food) and chew later. With baby-led weaning, babies skip the smooth food phase and learn to manage lumps and chew from the beginning.
Is baby-led weaning really better?
While there have been unsubstantiated claims that this method can improve a baby’s dexterity and confidence, research has associated baby-led weaning with their ability to recognise when they are full and being less fussy with their food. This makes it an appealing choice for some parents.
Why do parents choose baby-led weaning?
Baby-led weaning can make it easier for parents to feed their babies and may promote good eating behaviors, protect your baby against excess weight gain, and reduce fussiness around food.
Can you do a combo of baby-led weaning and purees?
Spoon-feeding and baby-led weaning can be combined. The World Health Organisation and the UK Department of Health recommend that you introduce finger foods when you introduce solids in general. This means that you can offer your baby pureed foods on a spoon as well as finger foods in a more baby-led weaning approach.
At what age can you start baby-led weaning?
six months
The recommended age to start baby-led weaning is from six months onwards (NHS Choices, 2018). This is the same age as the alternative – spoon-feeding (Dodds 2013).
Is baby-led weaning better than spoon-feeding?
Some parents worry that baby-led weaning is more likely to cause their baby to choke than spoon-feeding. But there is no evidence for this. Baby-led weaning can be messier than spoon-feeding. Whether you’re spoon-feeding or baby-led weaning, you’re bound to have some mess at this age.
Can I do baby-led weaning and purees?
Nope… just choose responsive feeding! A combined approach that includes both finger foods for self-feeding and the spoon-feeding of purees is fine when babies are fed responsively, and there is no evidence that a combined approach is detrimental. A misconception about BLW is that purees should be avoided.
When should you not do baby-led weaning?
Baby Led Weaning is Not Safe for All Babies Babies younger than 6 months. Unresolved tongue or lip tie: babies need to be able to easily move food around in their mouth with their tongue.
Can I do baby-led weaning at 5 months?
So is it safe to start baby led weaning at 4 months or 5 months? This is not recommended. Expert Adele Stevenson, explains, “It’s very unlikely that a baby will reach these milestones and be ready for baby-led weaning, much before six months.
Can you spoon feed and baby-led weaning?
It is possible to mix baby-led weaning (BLW) with spoon-feeding, but it may make the introduction of solids a little more confusing for your baby. Keep the balance between spoon-feeding and finger food the same, so at each meal provide your baby with some finger foods as well as food that can be given from a spoon.
Can you switch from purees to baby-led weaning?
You can definitely choose to do baby led weaning after you have already started your baby on purees. In fact, this is often the easiest way to introduce your baby to solid foods.