Best foods to start baby-led weaning

Best foods to start baby-led weaning 

Are you thinking about starting your baby on solid foods? If you are about to start this beautiful and exciting journey with your baby, here are some of the best foods, tips, ideas and common questions that come up in regards to baby-led weaning that make it easier.

If you want to know which foods are frequently used in this method of complementary feeding go to the end of the post. There you can get some ideas to get started!

What is baby-led weaning?

Baby-led weaning is the process of feeding a baby in which we introduce solid foods into their diet that they can eat autonomously with their own hands.

Nowadays, families and professionals advocate this method of feeding that respects the baby's time and that will prevent the child from developing aversions to textures and flavors, since no one forces them to eat something they don't like. Baby-led weaning has many benefits!

When to start baby-led weaning?

Complementary feeding is recommended to start around 6 months of age. However, there are certain developmental signs that indicate that your baby is ready to start trying new foods. Especially if the infant shows interest when watching adults eat.

It is also always important to be advised by experts and to consult with qualified professionals on any questions you may have. 

How to start baby-led weaning?

Before starting, two main precautions should be taken: never leave the child eating alone and know which foods are dangerous in order to avoid any inconvenience at mealtime.

To begin with, it is essential to start with the simplest and most recommended foods, and gradually introduce new ones as we see the interest shown by the baby. In addition, it is important to remember that breastfeeding or formula feeding is really one of their main foods.

What are the best foods to start baby-led weaning?

One of the most recommended tips is to offer food in large, stick-shaped pieces that allow them to hold it in their fist and eat what sticks out. Later on, the baby will learn to pick up smaller and smaller pieces. These are some ideal foods to start with:

• Roasted or steamed broccoli florets: their shape is perfect for holding, so it is best to start with pieces big enough to hold them easily.
• Roasted sweet potato wedges: one of the foods that is perfect to introduce in the diet, since you can manage the way in which you cut the pieces to facilitate the handling of the food.
• Toast sticks: do not toast the bread too much and add something soft. For example, you can spread a little avocado.
• Banana with some peel: the peel acts as a cover to hold the food easily. In fact, it is perfect for introducing fruits in the baby's diet.
• Melon slices: you can cut the pieces as you see appropriate.It is also very healthy, as it contains a multitude of vitamins!

In general, foods should be soft enough to mash between the fingers, with the exception of big pieces of meat.

As a final tip after your little one explores with food, there are always a few stained things left behind. Usually they tend to stain the floor especially when they eat from the highchair, so we recommend you to put a carpet with a material that is easy to clean quickly.

Although if you have any doubts or would like to know more about baby-led weaning you can always look for more information about it. There are guides, books, podcasts and much more! If you are interested leave us your comment to continue adding information and benefits of baby led weaning.