Baby-led WeaningBaby-led Weaning

Gill RapleyGill Rapley

- the best-kept secret- the best-kept secretof parentingof parenting

What do you see when What do you see when

you picture a babyyou picture a baby

starting solids?starting solids?

This?This?

(image from Dept of Health’s leaflet, Weaning)

Or this?Or this?

(picture of 6-month-old

feeding himself with a piece

of pineapple)

Baby-led weaning is . . .Baby-led weaning is . . .

. . . a way of introducing solid

foods that allows the baby to

play an ACTIVE role

Uses babies’ naturally developing skills

Lets the baby regulate his own appetite

Is a gradual progression – there are no ‘stages’

BBaby-led weaning:aby-led weaning:

Why wait till six months?Why wait till six months?

‘‘Convergence of maturation’Convergence of maturation’

At around six months, the baby’s:

digestive system

immune system

oral motor (chewing) skills

… are all mature enough to allow him to move on from milk

(Naylor and Morrow, 2001)

There is no good reason There is no good reason

to start earlierto start earlier

Why wait till six months?Why wait till six months?

At six months, these skills have also

matured:

Gross motor skills

Fine motor skills

Hand-eye co-ordination

Coincidence?Coincidence?

An efficient breastfeeder

Interested in the world around her

Keen to touch but cannot grasp

accurately

Not able to chew

At four months:At four months:

Conclusions?Conclusions?

1. Babies of four months cannot feed themselves with solid foods

2. They are still meant to have a liquid diet

3. There’s no ‘rush to mush’

From six months:From six months:

Sitting alone

Reaching and grasping accurately

Everything goes to the mouth

Able to chew

Conclusions?Conclusions?

1. Babies of six months can feed

themselves with pieces of food

2. They are ready for foods that

need chewing

3. There may not be any need for

‘mush’ at all

‘Good’ babies are passive

Active babies are ‘difficult’:– they grab the spoon

– they want to touch the food

– they refuse to eat

Baby-led weaning turns this on its

head!

Perceptions and labellingPerceptions and labelling

The baby is in control

The parents decide what to offer

The baby decides: when to start

what to eat

how much to eat

how quickly to eat

In baby-led weaningIn baby-led weaning

Reasons to start solids?Reasons to start solids?

Baby appears hungry– waking at night– watching parents eating

Weight gain slowing down

Big baby / small baby

Jars of baby food say ‘from 4 months’

Someone else’s advice

What are the baby’s What are the baby’s reasons?reasons?

Curiosity?

Wanting to mimic?

Wanting to explore?

Wanting to be independent?

NOT hunger!

Parents don’t decide when Parents don’t decide when their baby is ready to …their baby is ready to …

… crawlcrawl

… … or walkor walk

… … or talkor talk

The right timeThe right time

Babies show their parents when they

are ready to start solids by picking up

food and taking it to their mouths – as

long as they are given …

the opportunitythe opportunity

What makes eating enjoyable?What makes eating enjoyable?

Environment for eating

Anticipation of food

Senses: sight, smell, texture, taste

Control over starting, pacing, ordering, combining, stopping

Freedom to do your own thing

Which would YOU prefer?Which would YOU prefer? The BABY-LED approach

The opportunity to eat

Shared mealtimes

Same food as everyone else

Able to reach and touch

Different shapes, colours,

textures, tastes

Choosing each mouthful

You choose the pace

The CONVENTIONAL way

Being expected to eat

Solitary eating

Different food

Unable to reach or touch

Food that all looks the

same

Unexpected mouthfuls

Pace determined for you

What about choking?What about choking?

The risk of choking is increased by:

Using a sucking action to eat

Distraction/movement while eating

Small, hard objects

Ignoring normal safety rules

Basic safety while eatingBasic safety while eating

Baby must be upright

Baby must be in control of what, when and how fast to eat

Don’t give small hard foods, such as whole nuts

Never leave baby alone with food

How to do BLWHow to do BLW

Let your baby join in family meals

Forget eating – think ‘play’

Offer stick-shaped pieces

Let him take his time

Carry on giving milk feeds on demand

Remember basic safety rules

Benefits for familiesBenefits for families

No need for pureeing

Cheaper

No concerns about whatto give baby

The family can eat together - anywhere

The whole process is simpler

£90

Possible bonusesPossible bonuses

Happier families?

Better overall nutrition?

Less obesity?

Fewer eating disorders?

Improved co-ordination?

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