A guide to baby-led weaning

Benefits of baby-led weaning

While the mess may not be ideal there are several benefits to allowing your baby to get hands-on at mealtimes:

• They learn to handle food in a safe manner.
• They learn to chew food from the start of weaning.
• They experience textures, tastes and a wide range of food which can lead to them being less fussy with foods later.
• They regulate the amount of food that they eat. Some underweight babies have shown an increase in weight through this style of weaning.

Signs that your baby is ready for child-led weaning

Before starting with baby-led weaning, there's a few things to look out for to see if your child is ready to start: Can they sit up unsupported?

• Have they lost the tongue-thrust reflex which makes them push food out of their mouths?
• Can they pick up food with their hands and fingers and put it in their mouth?
• Can they chew, even if they only have a few or no teeth?

If the answer is yes to all of these, you and your baby are ready to go.

Gag reflex vs choking

One of the main concerns parents have with baby-led weaning is the fear that their child will choke. It’s important to know that there is a difference between the gag reflex and choking (where the airway is blocked). Your child will gag from time to time as they practise moving food to the back of their throat. Don’t panic and just make sure you never leave your baby alone with food.

To prevent the risk of choking, make sure that grapes and cherry tomatoes are always cut in half and bananas are sliced lengthways rather than into discs.