5 Trending Myths of Baby Led Weaning


I recently joined some Facebook groups dedicated to Baby Led Weaning because I wanted to take part in the conversation, and I really enjoy seeing what mommas choose to feed their babies. I’ve found some great recipe inspiration, and have been truly surprised by the amount of creativity and effort put in to feeding baby! It’s fabulous! Not so fabulous? Lots of Baby Led Weaning myths are started and reinforced on these pages by the admins and fellow moms.
 
It really frustrates me when I see these non-truths posted in response to a mom’s plea for help. Sometimes I even see mom-shaming because she dared to spoon feed yogurt to her baby (!) or she let her baby eat on his own without having the same meal in tandem. I’m not sure where these ideas came from, but most are not true and I want to set the record straight so you can feel good about baby led weaning!
 
 
 

1. “Babies are more likely to choke when fed with the Baby Led Weaning approach”

I’ve heard this one again and again! Mostly from grandmothers and fellow moms who have never tried it. Debunk this baby led weaning myth by turning to the research!
 
Research has actually shown that Baby Led Weaning does NOT increase the risk of choking when compared to feeding baby pureed food. Allowing baby to discover real, solid food from the beginning actually teaches him to chew rather than suck his food. It also encourages baby to learn to move food around in his mouth.
 
After gagging a few times while practicing this skill, he might even master it faster than a puree-fed baby. That being said, choking is a real risk when feeding your child in any way, shape or form, and you should absolutely be prepared and practiced in infant CPR techniques. 
 
You might also want to read my post on dealing with doubters for some more ideas on how to rebut these folks in a positive but effective way.

2. “If I’m not eating it, I shouldn’t give it to my baby”

In an ideal world, you would sit down to every meal with your baby at the dinner table and have a lovely, leisurely time enjoying the food. But, let’s be real for a second. Being a parent is hard work. The time when baby is occupied with food might just be the only “free” minute you’ve had all day. Maybe you want to wash dishes while baby sits in the high chair next to you. Maybe you’re not hungry. Or maybe your diet just isn’t as healthy as you want your baby’s to be?

Some parents believe that in order to be successful with Baby Led Weaning, you have to model the eating behavior for them each and every time. I see the value in that. I agree that spending quality time at the dinner table is beneficial for developing proper eating habits throughout life. However, most adults aren’t eating an ideal diet suited for an infant. (One full of fruits and vegetables, low in sodium and sugar, and easily presented in french-fry shaped pieces).

Let’s clear up some baby led weaning myths right now:

It’s okay for you to offer baby avocado even if you don’t like it yourself.

It’s okay to feed them while you are completing another task next to them. (NEVER leave baby unattended while eating. Always be sure to pay attention to them throughout their meal!)

It is not dangerous or detrimental to their development to offer them foods you are not eating yourself. 

If you do want to eat as a family, I can help you! I have put together a whole month’s worth of original recipes and shopping lists to feed your baby led weaning baby AND the rest of the family. Cook once, feed everyone! 

Baby Led Weaning Meal Plan

3. “There is no place for puréed foods in Baby Led Weaning”

Certain foods that are nutritionally excellent for your baby might not suit themselves to self-feeding. Yogurt, oatmeal, and unsweetened applesauce are just a few examples.
 
If your baby is a bit older, you could offer them on a pre-loaded spoon and see how they handle it. But, be prepared for the mess
 
If you’re creative with your preparation, you can offer these foods in various forms (see my post on Baby Led Weaning Starter Foods). I like to fill raspberries with yogurt, for example. Or spread some pureed vegetables on toast (butternut squash or sweet potatoes are great for this!) I sometimes buy the pouches of baby food puree and use them as a super nutritious sauce on a pizza (savory flavors work best for this).
 
You can also spoon-feed your little one from time to time, but be sure to pay attention to hunger cues. Is baby reaching for more? Is she leaning toward you with her mouth open? She might even grab that spoon right out of your hand! 
 
Baby Mess
 

4. “If you spoon feed your baby but want to try Baby Led Weaning, you have to do a 2 week long ‘reset’ before offering them solid food”

I’m not sure where this idea came from, but it is not necessary to do any kind of “reset” before offering baby real food. I understand the theory – baby is probably used to eating purees because it is the only food they have been offered. Therefore, they may try to swallow solid food the same way – but I disagree.

No matter what first foods you offer your baby, they have lived their life knowing how to do one thing to take in nutrients – suckle. Offering them purees doesn’t really change this habit very much. They are still swallowing a liquid-type substance and are not required to chew. Therefore, taking a 2 week break from pureed food and offering only milk isn’t really doing much to change their approach to solid food.

 

Butternut Squash Puree Baby Food

I have done this transition myself without a break. With my first child, I started with pureed foods because of all of the resistance I encountered when I mentioned the BLW method. As a first time mom I was nervous and easily influenced by those who had “been there done that”. But, I quickly changed my mind and decided she could handle “real” food.

There was no break, no “reset”, I simply stopped offering purees and started offering other things. The transition was seamless and she never choked.

Long story short? If you want to try BLW, go for it! As long as your baby shows the signs of readiness for solids and you have chatted with your pediatrician, you are good to go.

5. “You can offer your baby anything you want, except for honey!” 

This baby led weaning myth is partially correct, but potentially dangerous as worded. Honey is absolutely off limits for children under 1 year of age. Honey can contain botulinum toxin which can cause botulism in infants. This can be extremely serious and even fatal. That being said, honey is NOT the only food that is off-limits for young infants!

  • Cow’s milk should never be offered to children under 1 year of age. However, yogurt and cheese made from cow’s milk are acceptable since the proteins in these food have been partially broken down.
  • Small, hard foods like whole nuts, popcorn and peanut butter (on its own) can all be serious choking hazards and should not be offered to infants.

You should also limit the following:

  • Bread (limit to one slice a day since it tends to be high in salt/sugar and may cause constipation)
  • Fish high in mercury content such as tuna, mackerel, or swordfish (limit to two servings per week to be safe)
  • Processed foods like potato chips, canned soups/sauces, condiments and fried foods tend to be loaded with salt & sugar and offer little to no nutritional value.

Proceed with caution:

  • If there is history of food allergy in your family you may want to introduce foods one at a time to be sure there is no adverse reaction.  Talk with your doctor before starting solids if you are concerned.
  • The following foods can be a choking hazard and should be sliced up before offering to baby: whole grapes, bony fish, fruits with pits (cherries, olives, etc.)

 

I hope this was helpful for you and that it eases your mind a bit while starting your Baby Led Weaning journey. The Facebook groups can be helpful, but be careful not to take everything people say as fact. A lot of people are misinformed or looking to put other moms down.

Do your own research, and make your own decisions for your family. Don’t fall for these baby led weaning myths! It’s important to trust your instincts as a parent and try to have some fun! 

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