Baby-led weaning: pros and cons | Baby & toddler, Feeding articles & support | NCT (2024)

FAQs

Why don't doctors recommend 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.

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.

Studies have found that families practicing baby-led weaning tend to eat more often together. They also find mealtimes calmer and less stressful. Meanwhile, mothers who do BLW say they feel less pressure and worry around weaning than those who traditionally wean.

Moreover, if giving solid foods too early, then the child's digestive system does not secrete enough mucus as well as enzymes to help break down protein and fat and lead to overworked organs. Early weaning puts children at high risk of digestive disorders, diarrhea or constipation due to the immature digestive system.

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.

Myth: All six-month-old babies are ready for baby-led weaning. Truth: While many babies are developmentally ready for baby-led weaning around six months of age, it's essential to assess your baby's individual readiness.

Baby-led weaning safety

There is no increased choking risk associated with baby-led weaning when compared to traditional spoon feeding. However, a CPR class can empower parents to act in case of an emergency. Parents should also learn the difference between gagging and choking.

The greatest concerns from health care providers surrounding BLW include the risk of choking and potential inadequate calorie/energy intake and inadequate nutrients mostly focusing on iron.

Traditional spoon-feeding or a combination of spoon-feeding and finger foods are alternative weaning techniques. This approach allows for more control over the baby's diet and may be preferred by parents who are cautious about potential choking hazards.

Baby-led weaning often exposes babies to a wider variety of foods, textures, and flavors [1], which may help to reduce picky eating behaviors later on: a huge win! Greater exposure usually leads to greater acceptance of foods in toddlerhood and beyond.

What's the difference between baby-led weaning and baby-led feeding? ›

Some people feel baby-led feeding is a less hard core approach than baby-led weaning. It's sometimes referred to as “modified baby-led weaning,” in which some smoother textures and purées are combined with larger pieces a baby can pick up on their own.

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.

Allowing babies to self-feed soft bites of table food from the very beginning can help establish independent eating and prevent picky eating.

The BLISS method is a baby-led weaning approach that minimizes choking risks and ensures good nutrient intake. Using a low-pressure approach and exposing your baby to different textures may help reduce pickiness.

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.

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.

You Might Be Surprised By Your Emotions

Even for those who are happy to be done breastfeeding or pumping, the days after weaning can be an emotional time. Some mamas feel tearful, sad or mildly depressed after their baby is done nursing. Others may feel irritable, anxious or moody.

The vomiting reflex, spitting food out of the mouth, and gagging, were more common among children fed by the BLW method. In contrast, choking occurred comparably often in both groups - in 5.4% of spoon-fed children and 6.9% of BLW-fed children.

Solid foods may be introduced in any order. However, puréed meats, poultry, beans and iron-fortified cereals are recommended as first foods, especially if your baby has been primarily breastfed, since they provide key nutrients. Only one new single-ingredient food should be introduced at a time.

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.

What do pediatricians think of baby-led weaning? ›

BLW is a safe method

Some healthcare professionals reported that until the first year of life the main food should be milk (preferably breast milk or artificial milk), so children will not be undernourished as their needs will be covered by milk.

Advantages of Spoon Feeding

Spoon feeding creates a lot less mess than baby-led weaning, it also results in less food waste. As you are assisting with feeding, food isn't getting thrown, smooshed or experimented with in the same way as self-feeding.

You may start baby-led weaning at around 6 months of age, which is also the age you would traditionally introduce complementary foods via spoon-feeding. At this age, your baby will most likely be able to sit unsupported, bring food to their mouth, and chew and swallow—all things that are important for self-feeding.

Introducing solids too early, particularly before seventeen weeks, may lead to your baby taking less milk. Breast or formula milk should be their main source of nutrition until after six months old. Babies weaned too early may gain excess weight, and may develop allergies and intolerances to some foods.

Overall, it's up to parents to choose whichever method you are most comfortable with, purées and spoon-feeding, baby-led weaning or a combination are all safe and healthy ways to introduce solids.

Choking occurs when the airway is blocked, and baby is unable to get the food out themselves. It's important to note, according to the research currently available, baby-led weaning does not increase the risk of a choking episode [1] when compared to a traditional or puree weaning style.

Because BLW does not include pureed foods, your baby's digestive system may have to work a little harder to break down the food that he eats. And it's not unusual for food to come out in a similar form that it entered! As a result, you may see bits of undigested foods, such as carrots or broccoli, in his poo at first.