Looking to wean baby, but don't know where to begin? Getting the support you need has never been easier. Just join the conversation! Led by Registered Dietitian and Certified Pediatric Specialist, Vanessa Thornton.
I am thinking about starting solids with my 5-month-old. I have read about Baby-Led Weaning but don't know how to begin if I am not using purees. How do you recommend starting with this approach?
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Janel F.
Baby led weaning skips the purees and lets little ones self feed as soon as they start solids. Your baby should be able to sit up unassisted, have lost the tongue thrust reflex and should be able to grasp and hold onto foods. Long, easy-to-grasp pieces of soft raw fruits like banana, peaches, very ripe pears, melon, and avocado are great options. A soft omelet cut into strips or a soft piece of toast with butter cut into strips are good options as well. Generally, the baby will be provided with any soft, texture appropriate foods the family is eating! |
My 6.5 month old has begun BLW, gnawing on foods and exploring textures and she enjoys it! She is still breastfeeding as often as before, but at what point can I expect her to actually consume more of the foods offered? Ive given avocado, roasted carrot, apple, pear, banana, sweet potato, etc but she’s either sucking on the foods OR managing to break off a much too large piece, gagging, and then spitting it back out. I’ve also recently noticed her becoming frustrated with the process (perhaps bc she’s had a few purrees in the past or maybe it’s just her current mood?). I will look into the resources you posted earlier, but I would love any links that include videos or discussion of BLW throughout the process rather than just the start/end. Thanks in advance!
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Janel F.
That's fantastic your little one is doing well with BLW so far! It sounds like she's doing everything right - sucking, spitting out pieces of food that are too big, etc.). At just 6.5 months, she still has a tiny tummy and I assume has only recently started BLW so don't expect her to be eating entire meals! In fact, I love the phrase "under 1, just for fun" to remind parents that until the age of 1, milk is still the primary source of calories/nutrients in a baby's diet and the amount of milk should not decrease, even as you introduce solids. This way, even if she only has a few licks here, sucks there, and bites along the way, she's still getting her primary source of nutrition from milk. The exposure you're providing with BLW (and yes, calories and nutrients too) will help her as there is a food/milk shift after her 1st birthday. Give her time, patience and practice as she's learning how to eat for the very first time! Even just touching, smelling and seeing food is important because it is exposing your baby to different foods, even more land on the floor or in her hair than in her tummy. Sometimes we forget that this is very new to babies, and while eating is a very normal and natural thing, she's exploring it just like she would a new toy or learning how to walk. |
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Christi Thank you! I appreciate your advice and support! |
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Janel F.
Hi Carina, I'd love more information on what you mean by your baby not liking baby food. Are you talking about purees? Food in general? How often are you feeding her solids, and is it before or after milk? At 13 months, there is a shift in milk versus solids. Before the age of 1, milk is still the primary source of nutrients and calories, but after the age of 1, whole, solid foods should make up the bulk of a baby's diet with milk still being important, but it should reduce as solid intake increases. |
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Carina She eats solids about 5 to 8 times a day. It’s always different. She does not care for purees, and never really did. She doesn’t like yogurts either. And it’s hard to say if it’s before or after eating when she nurses, it’s usually when she’s tired or rigt when she sees me from getting home from work. She does not like cows milk. I’ve even added a little of chocolate just to see if she’d like it more. |
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Janel F.
Hi Carina, |