Baby Led Weaning
30 you see any signs of choking . It ’ s also good to recognize the difference between a natural gag reflex ( which is designed to naturally bring a too-large piece of food from the throat and back of the mouth forward to avoid choking ) and real choking .
When should you start baby-led weaning ?
Your child may start showing signs that it ’ s time to try around 6 months of age . Katja Leccisi , nutritionist behind the website leccisi . com and the soon-to-be-published book “ Questions and Answers About Your Baby ’ s First Foods ”, suggests that your baby is developmentally ready to start eating foods when she has fairly good head control , can more or less sit up and lean forward by herself , and can reach for things and bring them to her mouth . “ He may also show an interest in what is on your plate ,” she explains . “ For most babies , this will be when she is close to 6 months old , but some may be ready earlier .”
Leccisi also says that it helps to let your baby try and feed herself . “ Even if you are offering your baby foods by spoon feeding him , give him the opportunity to learn to feed himself . If your baby is six months old when you start introducing foods to him , he will probably be very happy to have some food on the tray in front of him to pick up and eventually eat . First foods are all about discovery , so give him plenty of opportunities to explore foods .”
Are there any tips to make babyled weaning more successful ?
Of course ! Here are some pointers to make baby-led weaning work for your family :
Start small , but not with the food .
Pick one food at a time and try it for a few days to keep an eye out for any allergy symptoms and get baby used to the new flavor . Only offer one piece at a time and place it right on their tray so that they focus on one thing at a time . While some advise giving baby smaller pieces , it ’ s actually easier for them to grasp at soft-cooked pieces of food that are about the length of your thumb .
Solid doesn ’ t mean HARD .
If a food is able to be smushed between two of your fingers , it ’ s most likely okay for your child to try eating . While some advise offering solid apples for baby to suck on , if you ’ re wary to try it , cook it down a bit and allow to cool before offering .
Expect a mess .
This is an area that parents often grow frustrated with regards to spoon-feeding . Yes , this method WILL be messy . Food will most likely end up in baby ’ s hair , on clothes , and on the floor . If this sort of thing gets you upset , try stripping baby down to her diaper and making sure that the highchair is on a smooth surface ( or throw a big tablecloth or shower curtain on the floor to make clean-up a bit easier ). Or , just embrace it and grab the camera !
Don ’ t be afraid of flavor .
We often offer super bland foods to babies . Why ?? As your child gets the hang of eating , sprinkle a little cinnamon on that apple chunk or some cumin in with their ground meat . Adventurous eating starts early , and the addition