Feeding

In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in the way we approach infant feeding, with baby-led weaning emerging as a scientifically supported alternative to traditional purees and rice cereal. Baby-led weaning, rooted in the principles of responsive feeding and infant self-regulation, advocates for introducing solid foods directly to infants, allowing them to explore and feed themselves from the family table. This approach not only promotes healthy eating habits but also fosters the development of crucial motor skills and autonomy in infants.

Why baby led weaning over commercial baby food?

Baby-led weaning aligns with infants' natural developmental milestones, empowering them to explore food textures, flavors, and shapes at their own pace. Unlike purees, which bypass the chewing process, self-feeding encourages oral motor development, jaw strength, and hand-eye coordination. Research suggests that infants who engage in baby-led weaning are more likely to have advanced oral motor skills, leading to reduced feeding difficulties and a decreased risk of picky eating later in life.

By skipping purees and rice cereal and instead offering infants the same nourishing foods consumed by the family, baby-led weaning promotes a diverse and nutrient-rich diet from the onset of solid feeding. Concerns about heavy metals in baby food have raised alarms among caregivers and health experts alike. Studies have shown that certain baby foods, particularly those containing rice, may contain elevated levels of heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium, which can pose long-term health risks to infants. They are also often in plastic containers (exposure to phthalates at an early age) and often unbalanced meals. 

First food suggestions:

  • Homemade liver pate

  • Avocado, mashed

  • Egg yolk, soft cooked

  • Pasture-raised meat, especially those on the bone 

  • Banana, mashed

As baby grows you can add:

  • Pureed or stewed fruits with grass-fed butter

  • Scrambled egg yolks in grass-fed butter

  • Whatever the family is eating, cut appropriately!

Self-Regulation and Satiation

One of the fundamental principles of baby-led weaning is allowing infants to self-regulate their food intake, promoting the development of hunger and satiety cues. Unlike spoon-feeding, where caregivers determine the quantity and pace of feeding, self-feeding empowers infants to control their eating, reducing the risk of overeating and obesity in later childhood. Studies have shown that infants who practice baby-led weaning are more adept at recognizing their fullness cues and are less likely to consume excessive calories compared to those fed via traditional methods.

But what about choking?

Contrary to common misconceptions, baby-led weaning does not increase the risk of choking in infants. By offering foods in manageable sizes and shapes, caregivers can minimize choking hazards while allowing infants to explore and manipulate food safely. Research indicates that infants engaging in baby-led weaning develop effective chewing and swallowing skills, leading to a lower incidence of choking incidents compared to spoon-fed counterparts.