Understanding Baby-lead Weaning
Baby-led weaning or BLW is the method of weaning a toddler by letting him or her reach out to eat (usually finger foods) without assistance. It is best done during mealtimes when the rest of the family is also eating. BLW lets a baby control the solid food intake.
This self-feeding normally involves picking up and licking food and is ideally done when the baby reaches six months old. Baby-led weaning is a well-intentioned process directed at complementing the baby’s personal development.
The World Health Organization advocates that if you choose to do baby-led weaning, then you should wait until your baby has reached six months of age. When to introduce solids to babies is recommended at this particular stage of development. The internal digestive system of humans matures during the period between four and six months old.
In baby-led weaning, purées and weaning spoons can be forgone because you are simply allowing your baby to feed himself. As a matter of fact, this process is done by parents without even thinking about it. Self-feeding readily supports the baby’s motor development on many important areas, such as hand-eye coordination and chewing abilities. It also encourages the child to be independent. Have you noticed that some babies refuse to eat when offered with a weaning spoon but helps themselves to eat finger food?
The best way to achieve BLW is by offering your baby a wide selection of nutritious finger foods. The foods, of course, must be suitable for the baby’s age. And the best time to do baby-led weaning is when the family is eating. Having the baby join during mealtimes is wonderful for fostering the family’s bond. Take note that the best finger foods for babies are those that are formed or shaped like chips. Those with some sort of a handle (like cooked broccoli spears) are easy for the baby to grasp.
The most important thing to remember about baby-led weaning is that you must never leave a baby alone when he or she is self-feeding. The risk of choking when self-feeding is minimal because babies who can already sit upright can also control and handle the amount of food that they put inside their mouths. Moreover, they can also already move the food back to their mouths, thereby reducing the instances of gagging or choking. But it does not mean that a self-feeding six-month old can be left alone.
|
