For those who don’t do baby led weaning - June 2023 Babies | Forums | What to Expect (2024)

FAQs

Why do pediatricians not like baby-led weaning? ›

Indeed, one of the main reasons healthcare providers are reluctant to fully endorse BLW is the perceived risk of choking. About 35% of babies choke while starting foods, most often because they were offered food that was a hazard.

Some parents worry that baby-led weaning is more likely to cause their baby to choke than spoon-feeding. Emerging evidence suggests that baby-led weaning may result in more gagging as babies get used to swallowing but no increased likelihood of choking . Baby-led weaning can be messier than spoon-feeding.

BLW has some obvious downsides. The infant may not get enough energy, iron, zinc, vitamins, and other nutrients, or too much protein, saturated fat, salt, or sugar. The risk of choking, which must be distinguished from the physiological gagging reflex, has not been ruled out by scientific studies.

Spoon-feeding some of the time may help some parents better understand how much their baby is eating. It can also be a way to fill in any nutrition gaps that may be missing when serving food baby-led weaning style.

Studies have found that families practicing baby-led weaning tend to eat more often together. They also find mealtimes calmer and less stressful.

Potential benefits of baby led weaning:

Greater acceptance of foods* Baby has more control over how much they eat, listening to their hunger and fullness cues. More practice with oral motor and chewing skills. Independence with eating.

Giving babies certain foods before they've developed the needed oral motor skills to eat it could lead to gagging, vomiting and potentially choking. While gagging and coughing are both mechanisms to help prevent a baby from choking, these reflexes are both uncomfortable and scary for the baby.

Through delaying, proponents of BLW suggest that the child is more developmentally prepared to feed itself and consume solid foods. Current guidelines from the AAP recommend introducing iron-fortified cereals by spoon-feeding between ages 4 and 6 months.

There are not enough studies to prove that there are benefits of baby-led weaning over spoon-feeding purees/mashed foods. A study by the AAP determined babies are not at higher risk of choking from baby-led weaning when compared to traditional purees.

In Japan, babies are given rice, tofu, natto, seaweed, dashi, sweet potato, and other Japanese ingredients at an early stage. Parents then gradually incorporate more foods and dishes into a simplified Ichiju Sansai meal around two years old.

What is the difference between BLW and TW? ›

There are different ways of doing it – whether pureeing everything for traditional weaning (TW) or letting a baby learn to bite and chew from the get-go through baby led weaning (BLW). You might have heard of doing both at the same time, but in fact, that confuses your baby at the initial stage and is not recommended.

Baby-led weaning introduces babies to the idea of family mealtime, which offers positive social and developmental reinforcement. “Whenever possible, it's wonderful for families to eat together,” says Dr.

Among the many pieces of advice was not to bottle feed her baby as it could increase the risk of infections and eventually, tooth decay.

BLW may begin around 6 months, when the baby shows signs of readiness such as sitting up independently, loss of tongue thrust reflex, mouthing toys, and showing interest in table foods. To start BLW, ensure readiness and begin with one solid meal a day during family mealtime.