How to train your baby to eat by himself blw independent eating method

When babies enter the stage of eating complementary foods, mothers start to study which method is most suitable for their babies. In addition to the traditional 10-fold porridge, 7-fold porridge and food puree, "BLW (Baby-led weaning)" that advocates letting babies eat independently has become more and more well-known in recent years. But many mothers still have doubts: What is BLW? What are the advantages? Is it safe to let babies eat adult food? Is it suitable for my baby? In response to these common questions, Mommy Love specially invited professional doctors to answer them, hoping to let mothers understand BLW better and find the most suitable feeding method for themselves and their babies!

What is BLW

In recent years, the BLW (Baby-led weaning) feeding method has become popular. It is called "baby independent eating" in Chinese and advocates letting children try and choose the food they want to eat by themselves.

The BLW faction believes that children have their own right to learn and their own ideas. They may be interested in broccoli and grab it, put it in their mouth to lick, chew, and suck its juice. When they see the various foods on their parents' table, they will want to try a variety of foods.

What are the advantages of BLW?

Since the feeding method of BLW complementary food is to let children choose food freely and let them look for what they want to eat among the food on the table, it can train children's hand-eye coordination.

Furthermore, unlike traditional pureed foods that do not require chewing, regular foods may require some chewing, which can also help children's digestive system mature. Around one year old is also the period of language development for children. The chewing action can train the child's oral structure and help language development.

Is it safe for children to eat the same food as adults?

Some parents complain: "My usual food is too salty, too spicy, and too sweet for my children. How can I let my children eat the same food?" If the parents' food is unhealthy, it is certainly not suitable for children. What parents should do at this time is to adjust their own diet. When the parents' diet is healthy, the children will be able to eat it too.

When implementing BLW, please note:

Don’t make the food too hard: For example, hard foods such as peanuts and nuts cannot be softened by children in the complementary food stage with their upper and lower jaws, and may cause choking and suffocation.

Don’t make the food too big: For example, carrots can be cut into small pieces that are easy to eat but not choking, and let the child try a small amount

Don’t make it too hot: Pay attention to the temperature of the food when it is served. If the food is too hot, children may be at risk of burns when holding it.

Parental companionship: This is the most important point. When children are eating, parents must pay attention to them throughout the process and never let them eat alone to ensure safety.

How much is enough?

One of the ideas of the BLW eating method is that the child can decide how much to eat. Sometimes parents, grandparents chase their children just to eat up the remaining food, which is actually stressful for the children.

But if there is a table full of food, children can take whatever they want to eat, and it’s okay if they don’t want to eat, or stop when they are full. In a pleasant and pressure-free eating atmosphere, children may have a better appetite.

At what age can children start BLW feeding method?

When should we start the BLW feeding method? We recommend observing the baby's reaction to the parents eating. If the child starts to show interest and wants to try the food when sitting next to the parents, then we can consider starting to feed the baby complementary foods. Parents can also use a small spoon to try to feed a little bit of pureed food. If the child does not reject it and does not push it out, then we can start to feed the baby complementary foods.

Of course, we will also evaluate the child's development. Usually, when the child is six months old and can sit up, we can slowly try the BLW feeding method. Because each child's development is different, it is recommended to consult a doctor's professional advice when the child is vaccinated.

What types of food can be given priority to babies entering BLW

When the baby first starts to eat complementary foods, it is recommended to give him some softer foods, such as bananas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, avocados, carrots, etc., and put them on the table for the child to try in small amounts.

If the child is adapting well, you can choose slightly harder foods or foods that can suck juice, including pears, apples, cucumbers, guava, etc. Usually the child can find his preferences and interests from these foods, and then gradually increase the diversity of food to achieve the goal of eating with mom and dad.

Conclusion: BLW allows babies to choose food on their own, generate interest, and actively try it. It is helpful for oral structure and language ability. Mothers can evaluate the baby's condition and consider whether to implement it after consulting a professional doctor!