STARTING SOLIDS
The thought of starting real foods with your little one for the first time can be super overwhelming for a new mom. I remember being completely freaked out when it was time for Ansley to try solids, especially since all she had swallowed up to that point was breastmilk.
WHAT IS BABY LED WEANING?
Baby led weaning is simply a term for letting your baby learn to feed herself right from the start. Since babies are still learning coordination at this age, it’s best to use foods that are easy to hold and soft enough to go down. This is a great way for babies to experiment with foods and learn intuitive eating.
WHEN TO START?
It is safe for babies to start solids typically when they have doubled their birth weight, can hold their head up, and start showing interest in your foods. This is usually around 4-6 months. We actually waited until 6 months to try any real foods because we were supposed to be leaving for a week-long trip without Ansley and didn’t want to disrupt her routine before we left. That trip was cancelled, of course, due to COVID, so we ended up introducing foods right at 6 months. Anywhere from 4-6 months is safe as long as your doctor approves, and you are comfortable.
FEEDING CHAIR
It is super important to have a good seat or highchair for your babe. We actually started using this Sit Me Up around 4 months to help Ansley learn to sit up tall and hold her head up. Until she got a bit stronger, we actually used this for feeding. Once Ansley really got stronger at holding her head and trunk up, we would use the Ingenuity 2 n 1 chair on the counter for feeding. This chair has remained one of my #1 favorite baby items of all times. We have gotten tons of use out of this, and it’s also perfect for traveling! We still use it now at almost 15 months.
Note: *Once your babe starts to get heavier, it is safest to use this on the floor or strapped into a chair. Never leave your baby unattended on the counter!
(We actually couldn’t decide on a highchair because we loved our Ingenuity 2 n 1 so much, but we did want to get one for Ansley’s first birthday party. Austin found this Asunflower, which was perfect for her smash cake. It does the job, but I am not a huge fan of this chair for everyday use, especially because of the straps. We are currently looking into getting either the Stokke or the Keekaroo, which both can be used up to 240-250lbs!)
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FOODS TO START
It can be hard to know which foods to choose when you first start. One thing that helped me when starting was to think of foods that would easily slide down or that would melt in her mouth. We also wanted to start with healthier foods, so Ansley learned to eat foods that were better for her before she got hooked on the junky snacks. Once you start foods, it is also a good time to introduce water. Not only does it help to get foods down, but it also keeps them regular ;). We have used a few sippy cups. The MAM sippy cup and Nuby Training Cup seemed to be the best for Ansley when she was first starting out. Over time she has also loved the 360 Trainer Cup and the Weighted Straw Sippy Cup.
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Note* it is usually recommended to try one food at a time for about 3 days before introducing something new to make sure your little one doesn’t have a reaction. Nut butters should also be introduced pretty early for that same reason. We liked to mix ours in with oatmeal.
The first food we tried was avocado. I figured this was a super safe bet, although it was messy, it was so fun (and funny) to watch Ansley experiment with something new. We then moved to sweet potatoes. Austin would peel and cut a sweet potato into slices like fries and cook them in the oven until they were soft. This made it easy for Ansley to hold and chew at her own pace. We also tried banana early on too. This is a great one since babies can hold it themselves. You can also cut it into smaller pieces and set them on your little’s tray to feed themselves. To minimize the mess, we used the Bella Tunno Bibs to catch all the leftover food from her hands and mouth. These stay on way better than any other bib catcher that we tried and also have the cutest sayings. They also have plates, bowls, spoons, teethers and more that we love!
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It is totally normal to be on edge when you are first starting to give your baby real foods. Trust me, I freaked out multiple times, because I wasn’t use to Ansley swallowing anything other than breastmilk. After trying a few foods for a couple days and weeks, we started to get more comfortable and began introducing even more foods.
One of the best parts about your baby eating real foods is that you can literally just give them what you are eating. Yes, in the beginning, we would give Ansley separate options as we were all learning. Plus, I didn’t want a banana for dinner ;), but now we usually just give her whatever is on our plate. It makes it super easy with less effort, less mess, and less wasted food.
Purees are also totally acceptable and fine when starting real foods. It can be a heated topic, but in our experience, we did a mix of both purees and real foods, and Ansley didn’t have any confusion. It also exposes your baby to new textures. Ansley learned when to swallow purees versus when to “chew” solids. Purees are also great and sometimes needed when your baby gets stopped up. We use prunes and pears mostly to keep her regular. If you want your baby to learn to feed herself with purees, try preloading her spoon (we use these) and handing it to her to put in her own mouth. This allows your little one to still have control over what goes in her mouth.
HOW TO KNOW WHEN MY BABY IS FINISHED?
Babies are intuitive eaters. This is also one of my favorite parts of BLW. Your baby will tell you when she’s full or doesn’t want any more banana.
If your baby is refusing one food, maybe try something new or different before you stop all together. There are many times when I try to give Ansley one thing, and she fusses until I give her what she wants. On that note, just because your baby refuses eggs today doesn’t mean she hates them. Try again tomorrow or in a few days. Most likely, she will come around.
I'M SCARED OF CHOKING
This is a totally normal concern. I think most moms have had this concern at some point or another. I know I did. It is important to know the difference between choking and gagging. Babies have a gag reflex just like us. Most of the time, it’s a sign that your baby is moving food around in her mouth to either get it out or mush it up before swallowing.
Note* at this stage, babies don’t really use their teeth to chew. They use their gums to mush up food before swallowing.
There have been multiple times when Ansley has taken too big of a bite and after moving it around in her mouth, she ends up spitting it out. Trust me, this is a skill you want your baby to have. This has actually prevented Ansley from swallowing things she isn’t supposed to eat, because she learns what she can chew and what is not editable, like toys or dog food. One tip that has helped us when she has something in her mouth that she shouldn’t is to put my hand out and say “spit it out”. Usually, she will take it out of her mouth if it’s not food, it’s something she doesn’t want, or if the bite was just too big.
MY BABY ISN'T EATING MUCH
The goal of real food, until around age one, is mostly just for experimental purposes. Yes, your baby is soaking up all the nutrients, but this is not her main source of nutrition right now. Breastmilk and formula should still be regular in your little one’s diet until she turns one.
Baby feeding goes in waves. Ansley started off eating super healthy foods and as she’s gotten older, we’ve noticed she is becoming selective with what she wants at certain times.
We started offering puffs (we use Happy Baby Puffs, Gerber Puffs, and Happy Baby Lil’ Crunchies), Happy Baby Teething Wafers, and Gerber Bars around 8-10 months. These are great convenient options, but we try to limit these snacks for when we are out of the house or on the go. (We use these snack cups for the puffs.) This helps her get meals in verses just eating snacks all day long.
Be consistent with your toddler’s meals, and she will learn when it’s meal time versus snack time.
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FOODS TO START
These are all great options to start:
Avocados
Bananas (peel on helps for holding)
Sweet Potatoes (cut like fries helps for holding)
Eggs
Watermelon
Raspberries
Cooked Carrots
Cooked Cauliflower
Cooked Broccoli (soft)
Bread cut into slices
Frozen waffles
Cooked Apples (soft)
Rotisserie Chicken
Meat on a bone to chew or suck
FOODS TO AVOID WHEN STARTING
Anything hard, crunchy, or sticky
Honey
Cows Milk
Added salt
Added sugar
HELPFUL TIPS:
-Cut foods long enough where your babe couldn’t fit the entire piece in their mouth (long, thin sweet potato)
-Leave the peels on, when you can, to avoid slippery food and make it easier to hold (bananas, avocados, etc)
-Mix nut butters into oatmeal or yogurt instead of serving alone (too sticky)
-Give baby 1-3 pieces at a time to avoid putting too much in her mouth or throwing on the ground
-Stay calm
-Always stay with your baby when feeding
-Have fun!:)
Introducing food to your little one can be overwhelming, but it is also such a fun time. We have had many laughs watching Ansley learn to eat and experiment with different foods. Enjoy this new milestone and have fun with it!
I hope this has been helpful for you in your feeding journey!
If you have any specific questions on this topic, leave them in the comments below.
*Note: Baby led weaning is not for everyone. I am not a healthcare professional. I am just sharing our experience and what has worked well for our family. As always, please consult a healthcare professional if you have medical questions or concerns.
