When we speak of weaning, the scenario of fussing, coaxing, and attempting all ways imaginable to get your baby to open his mouth for his first taste of solid food comes to mind, not to mention a baby bowl of pureed fruit or vegetable.
On the other end of the scale, we have what’s known as baby-led weaning, which allows a baby to eat on his own. Yes, babies can do that!
Baby-led weaning isn’t something new to the world of baby care. It is a well-known and acknowledged method of introducing solid foods to babies. It’s the way our ancestors introduced to us our first solid foods! Somewhere along the line, we evolved to become a doting lot and we began to feel the need to spoon-feed our babies (and many carry on to be spoon-fed till their three or four years old, or older!).
A completely natural way for babies to wean
Baby-led weaning has always been around in every culture around the world until the invention of baby cereals and other conventional baby foods. The mass production of baby food, with the dizzying number of options and varieties, offered what the modern parents worldwide seemed to have wanted most – choices and convenience.
If you think about it, you can liken baby-led weaning to old-fashioned baby napkins, (which died off at first when disposable diapers took over the world), and then made a comeback with a vengeance in the shape of modern cloth diapers which are all the rage now. The more popular alternative to conventional baby foods was home-cooked baby food which parents still had to feed their young using baby spoons and a whole lot of cajoling! Quite like the cloth diapers, which made a comeback due to widespread awareness on doing our bit for the planet and a baby’s wellbeing, baby-led weaning has its own set of benefits too which include the inculcation of better eating habits from a very young age as well as the fine-tuning of motor development which will be useful throughout childhood and beyond.
What’s in it for a baby?
Why should you consider it for your baby, especially since everyone you know is introducing their baby’s first foods via spoon-feeding?
Well, firstly, your baby’s motor skills will benefit greatly from independent weaning. A baby who is weaned this way may be ahead of his peers in terms of eye-hand coordination, chewing skills, and dexterity too. They may also have ample opportunity to explore the tastes, textures, aromas, and colors of a variety of foods offered through this weaning method.
They’ll know their satiety signals
Babies who self feed also tend to learn how to self regulate, which is basically to stop eating when one is full. That’s not something a spoon-fed baby can do without having to fuss and turn away from mom, and many end up consuming more than they need for their bodies. With spoon-feeding, parents and caregivers tend to sneak in a couple more spoonfuls even when the baby is trying to indicate that he has eaten enough. Eventually, the baby gets used to eating more than he needs and stops regulating his intake efficiently.
Points to Ponder
Already, experts are recognising numerous potentials for baby-led weaning to have a lasting effect on a child’s food preferences, eating habits, and palates. If the concept of baby-led weaning is new to you, or if you’re willing to give it a try for your baby, here are some useful pointers.
Don’t rush to wean your baby. There is a suitable time for the baby to start on solid foods, so wait until your baby is ready. The little one should be able to sit in a high chair unassisted, have good neck strength, and be able to chew on soft foods. Most babies are found to be developmentally able to self-feed by the time they’re six months of age, but some may not have what it takes till they’re nine months old, so if you’re unsure, check with your pediatrician.
Resist discontinuing breastmilk or formula just yet. Although it’s called ‘weaning’ it should be done in stages. Breast milk or formula should continue to be a baby’s biggest source of nutrition until he or she is 10 to 12 months old.
Accompany your baby. Just because it’s a self-feeding method, it does not mean that baby should be left all alone to do so! There’s still lots to gain from being fully engaging at baby’s mealtime, so sit by your little one’s side, offer encouragement and keep an eye on what he’s doing.
Safety first: Stay away from choking hazards such as grapes, hot dogs, raisins, popcorn, raw vegetables, and sticky nut butter. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the infant-specific Heimlich maneuver.
Choose easy-to-manage weaning foods. Ripe fruits, cooked egg yolks, flaky fish, moist and shredded meats, puffed cereals, and cooked pasta and vegetables are all good options. Offering wholesome options for baby to choose from will help ensure that there will be something there that your little one will like.
Prep those foods for easy grasping. Cut fruits or cooked vegetables into long, thin strips to make it easier for baby to grasp and manage.
Consider nutrient intake. Make sure there are high-calorie foods and those with iron, zinc, protein, and healthy fats on the tray.
There will be messes, so bear with it. Your baby will have to have lots of practice to get this eating thing right, so do brace for the inevitable mess on your floor, on your baby’s high chair, on your clothes and baby’s, etc. Tip: consider a good, sleeved bib.
Sit baby down at the dining table. Allow the little one to eat at the table during family meals. Even better, let your baby try some of the (appropriate) ingredients from the family’s meal, e.g a piece of cooked broccoli, some cooked sweet potato, etc.
