What is Baby Led Weaning?

BLW is a nutritional and parenting approach that originated in Great Britain. Translated into German, Baby Led Weaning roughly means: 'baby-led introduction of complementary foods.'

This means that the baby is not passively fed purée, but from the start participates independently in family meals. That of course does not work with purée, but with so-called finger food: vegetables, fruit, pasta or meat are cooked and cut into small portions so that the baby can feed itself.

The trend was made known by theBritish nurse Gill Rapley.She described Baby Led Weaning methodically and published a guide together with Tracey Murkett that also contains recipes for the BLW method.

Complementary feeding on demand

Complementary feeding with BLW is nevertheless not entirely new. Many parents experience that their child rejects purée and would rather try what the parents or older siblings are eating.

A little BLW, for example in the form of small banana pieces or cooked pasta, has therefore long been common in many families.Usually the self-directed introduction of complementary foods is seen as the'natural continuation of breastfeeding on demand': A baby that eats independently can also determine when it is full and will not be 'overfed'.

Eating without teeth: How does BLW work?

At the time of introducing complementary foods most babies have only a few teeth. Can they already eat solid food independently?

According to the BLW approach this works without problems as long as the offeredfood is not too hard or too large.Soft-cooked potatoes, carrots or zucchini can be licked and mashed with the jaw; the same applies to cooked pasta, rice or small pieces of soft bread.

Important prerequisites for Baby Led Weaning:

• Your baby should be able to sit upright alone in its baby chairso that it can participate in meals without help.

• Stable, child-appropriate seating, cutlery and crockery:Optimal are a high chair with a high backrest and tilt protection,plates and bowls made of melamine as well as adrinking cupwith a lid and a plastic spoon.

• Parents, be patient:Independent eating takes a long time especially at the beginning and makes quite a mess. Gradually the children become more skillful, but naturally they will still play with and experiment with their food for a long time.

How it works: Tips for complementary feeding with the BLW method

Getting used to foods before complementary feeding:

Even before the first complementary foods are due, you can give your baby some soft fruit or steamed vegetables to hold so that it can playfully have first experiences with food. However, you should always be nearby to intervene in case your child chokes.

BLW plus breastfeeding:

The BLW method goes hand in hand with breastfeeding or feeding on demand. In the first weeks your baby will not become full from independent eating. The transition to solid foods with BLW usually takes longer overall, but the shared meals are more relaxed and babies who eat 'with the grown-ups' are often more independent and self-confident.

BLW recipes:

To consistently implement Baby Led Weaning you also need ideas about what you can offer your baby within BLW. Soft fruit, steamed vegetables, cooked pasta or potato cubes are very suitable. In general food should be easily portionable into small pieces, easy to grasp with the hands and not too firm.

Expect mess:

When babies start to eat, it rarely happens without smearing and spreading. This applies to purée as well as to finger food. Besides a secure high chair and unbreakable baby tableware, the most important item for Baby Led Weaning is therefore a large bib, preferably with sleeves.

Relaxed shared meals:

BLW allows you as parents to calmly eat together with your child and focus on each other. At the same time the children decide how much they want to eat themselves, so feeding frustration is avoided. With the necessary patience and consideration this leads to relaxed family meals.