Getting Started with Baby-Led Weaning- a Relaxed Approach

Getting started with baby-led weaning felt like a daunting task to me! Even after doing some research, I still felt overwhelmed about introducing ALL the foods, handling allergens, working in more than one food at a time, etc.

However, by the time she was a year old, I realized that baby led weaning was easily one of the best decisions we had made for our family so far and was something that I would be excited to try again with any future babies we might be blessed to have.  After going through this with our second baby, while I am definitely not an expert, I do feel like I have some helpful suggestions to offer. So here’s some tips for getting started with baby-led weaning- from a mom who tends to overanalyze everything.

(Just a short disclaimer before we dive in- by no means am I a registered, certified anything.  I’m not a dietician, not a pediatrician, not anything- just a mom who has read some books and tried her best to feed a couple of kids. You should absolutely consult your pediatrician and websites of authority when making decisions about your child’s health.)

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do Your Research for Baby-Led Weaning

The first step to baby-led weaning should be to educate yourself on the process.  Talk to your pediatrician about signs your baby is ready, safety measures that should be in place, and how to begin. Watch YouTube videos and read books from trusted sources. One website that our pediatrician has always recommended is from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Additionally, Solid Starts is a helpful tool for knowing how to introduce specific foods. They have an app, but also a website here.

Your baby absolutely needs to be 6 months old and able to sit up straight in their high chair. I also always checked with my pediatrician first. 

Additionally, I watched several videos on the difference between choking and gagging so that I would know how to react to either one. I also watched several videos on what to do if my baby was indeed choking. (So far- we’ve never had a choking incident with either one of our daughters, but I definitely wanted to be prepared.)

Gather Your Supplies

Get a few tools to help the process be easier.  These are certainly not requirements, but have definitely helped make food preparation a little easier:

1. A crinkle cutter.  In the beginning, babies are using the palmer grasp to pick up strips of food with their entire hands.  A crinkle cutting tool can help make the food easier to grab by providing ridges for the baby to grip.  I found this one on Amazon for really cheap.
2. A steamer basket.  Initially, I’m steaming or roasting almost every food my baby tries.  I often choose steaming because I can get the food soft enough without too much oversight.  A steamer basket makes this so much easier.
3. Avocado spray- this was great for roasting vegetables.  It helped me coat the vegetables pretty evenly without getting too oily.
4. You probably already have one, but a toaster oven.  If I’m roasting vegetables for the baby that night, I’ll just pop them in the toaster oven. It’s easier to keep an eye on them and I don’t have to heat up my entire oven.
5. Storage containers. Again, you probably already have a set of glass storage containers, but I like to meal prep some of the foods that are specifically for her. This saves me time at quick meals like lunch or on trips.  A few items I like to have on hand for her are oatmeal bars, sweet potato fritters, and zucchini fritters. 
6. Lastly, an Instant Pot.  I use my Instant Pot frequently for our family meals, but it’s especially helpful during baby-led weaning. It can cook meat that comes out incredibly tender and is easy for the baby to handle. It’s also great for batch cooking items like beans and oatmeal.

Make Your Schedule for Baby-Led Weaning

Pick a time to introduce new foods!  For us, it was easiest to introduce new foods in the morning.  That was always when our babies were in their best moods and most amenable to new experiences. (Mornings are also when I’m most caffeinated!) Gradually, once they got used to eating solid food, we felt comfortable introducing new foods at any meal of the day.

For allergens, I chose to introduce a new allergen every Monday.  This helped me keep track of how often I was introducing a potential allergen. I also knew my pediatrician’s office was open and would be for the next couple of days. Our pediatrician advised us to include allergens early and often, and “allergen Monday” helped us keep with this advice. (Again- absolutely check with your pediatrician and don’t just take my word for this!)

Make a plan each week based on what you’re already cooking for foods to let your baby try.  For instance, if I’m making minestrone soup that week, then I know I’m going to let my baby try steamed carrots and zucchini.  I try to keep the foods she’s eating consistent with the ingredients we’re already buying and preparing. This reduces the prep work on me and really helps encourage the idea of her fully participating in family meal times.

Have some easy backups on hand

Pick up some easy to prepare fruits and vegetables, along with some purees, whole grain bread, yogurt, and baby oatmeal.  I really like having avocados, pears, and bananas in the house just in case I don’t have time to steam or roast her something. I can easily slice up an avocado and spread it on some toast or serve her some baby oatmeal with a side of pears or bananas. 

Sometimes your meal or schedule just doesn’t lend itself well to baby led feeding, so it’s also nice to have a couple of purees or food you can take on the go every so often.  

We also like to prepare easy to eat foods like zucchini fritters and sweet potatoes to have on hand.

Embrace the Mess

Be ready for the mess and make your peace with it.  Baby led weaning is messy- there’s just no way around it.  While babies are learning to pick up their own food, they WILL get it everywhere.  They 100% will try and stick a toast strip in their ear. They will also look like they just finished sweeping a chimney after eating black beans. 

We honestly don’t even fool with bibs. We just let them eat in their diapers and then wipe (or hose) them down later!  However, the joy of watching them enjoy new foods, experience new textures and taste, and see the pride that they have in their ability to feed themselves is well worth the mess.

Also, babies at this age are using their senses to explore their world. Feeding themselves is the ultimate sensory experience!

Stay positive

Remember that it will get easier quickly.  Baby led weaning does feel like a lot of work upfront.  Instead of giving a puree, you’re preparing foods in a way that the baby can easily and safely handle.

At first it can feel like a lot of extra work and is sometimes overwhelming in the beginning stages (like when you realize that the pot you need to steam some vegetables in for the baby is also the pot you need to make rice for everyone else in). However, the goal of baby led weaning is that they are eventually participating in family meals and eating what everyone else is eating. After the first couple of months, they really are able to eat more and more of what is already being prepared.

The big payoff though is when they become a toddler- my oldest daughter is now a preschooler and eats every meal we eat.  I am not a short order cook making her special meals well into the preschool years.  She loves meals like Greek chicken, stir fry, and salad. She even requests meals like grilled chicken and vegetables! The ease of her enjoying the meals we cook for our family was well worth the initial effort of baby led weaning.

Have Fun!

Have fun with it.  While it is messy and can feel like a lot to keep track of, seeing your baby experience a whole new world of food and seeing them discover what they really love is so much fun and so rewarding.  What a gift to be able to give to your little one!

And if you’re curious about long term benefits of baby-led weaning, check out my post here on how it has continuously benefited my family.