I promised a few of you lovely readers that I would do a follow-up post on Baby Led Weaning...something both Kid and Bee were products of and something Miss Honey Girl will take part in as well.
Baby Led Weaning:
"Baby-led weaning is the practice of trusting your baby’s innate sense of hunger, of want, of self-knowledge and of self-limitation. Baby-led weaning offers parents and their children a natural, relaxed approach to the introduction of solid foods and the eventual cessation of breastfeeding. Instead of relying on prepared, commercial baby foods or even homemade purees, mothers and fathers simply introduce their babies to natural, wholesome real food from the start – relying on their babies to self-regulate and lead the way."
Our story:
As Kid was approaching the 6 month mark, we had already done research on sleep patterns, speech development, etc., but I had not done much research on baby food as I was breastfeeding and knew that it was best for my baby. At the time I actually did take Kid to the pediatrician for his baby-well check ups.
My pediatrician was suggesting that I start him on cereal and I do it soon. It caught me by surprise. Surely, in primal cultures they don't have fortified "cereal" powders that they feed their infants, do they? Is there a need for my baby to have extra iron and vitamins if he is getting everything that he needs through my milk? I asked the pediatrician a few of these questions and he responded with some mumbo jumbo about a growing baby, extra vitamins, etc... then I started my research and learned that they do not, in fact, need cereal, and it actually could be more harm than good by introducing these added vitamins and iron when it's not in it's natural state.
Vitamins are always better in their NATURAL state. I learned that the body actually only absorbs 7.8% of these fortified vitamins because it is not in it's natural form (much like how a multi-vitamin works for an adult). Now, at 6 months of age (roughly), a baby does start needing more nutrients than what a mother's milk can provide, but it doesn't mean that you have to go by protocol. I learned that through the philosophy of Baby Led Weaning. This is where you introduce baby to food in the most natural way, by letting him or her experience it, touch it, hold it, explore it, and eat it themselves. Not with you holding a spoon in a jar. It's our responsibility to give or children a strong foundation of health, so we should choose the most nutrient-rich foods to start them out with, right?
A few of my babies' first foods:
-avocados
-banana
-pear
-garbanzo beans (slightly squished down)
-steamed zucchini and yellow squash
-baked sweet potatoes
-steamed carrots
A few of my babies' first foods:
-avocados
-banana
-pear
-garbanzo beans (slightly squished down)
-steamed zucchini and yellow squash
-baked sweet potatoes
-steamed carrots
-steamed apple slices
-rice cakes (I often spread banana or avocado on it)
If you're concerned about the choke-factor, take a deep breath and trust your baby. Of course, take precautions with what type of foods you're giving and make sure they are of acceptable size...this doesn't mean break a piece of bread into minuscule pieces... simply give the baby a large enough piece to gnaw on. With most fruits and vegetables, you want to steam and cut them in fry-like shapes/sizes... if you cut a sweet potato in fries and steam or bake it to where it's soft enough, the baby can actually pick it up and hold it. He or she will work on gnawing on it.
-rice cakes (I often spread banana or avocado on it)
If you're concerned about the choke-factor, take a deep breath and trust your baby. Of course, take precautions with what type of foods you're giving and make sure they are of acceptable size...this doesn't mean break a piece of bread into minuscule pieces... simply give the baby a large enough piece to gnaw on. With most fruits and vegetables, you want to steam and cut them in fry-like shapes/sizes... if you cut a sweet potato in fries and steam or bake it to where it's soft enough, the baby can actually pick it up and hold it. He or she will work on gnawing on it.
Yes, occasionally they choke. In fact, Kid threw up a few times because of his choking, but instead of reacting in fear and freaking out, let the baby work it out... they will naturally throw things up if it gets that bad! Sounds scary, but it's not--it's, well,natural, they're learning how to eat!
Kid at seven months (I forgot how chubby he used to be, my little bean pole) eating avocado...avocado is hard for them to self-feed with, so I would put chunks on a spoon for him and let him play with the spoon in his mouth.
Bee eating his first food is posted here.
The beauty of BLW is that it is self-regulated, meaning baby will eat as much as he or she needs, not what a jar tells you or the "reccomended" amount, and because of that, baby takes more or less milk from mom and soon the process of weaning naturally takes place (and I'd like to say I'm doing my part in avoiding childhood obesity!).
Be prepared, if you're used to spoon-feeding, it's a bit messier from the get-go! But baby is learning so much and really entertained in the process.
There's also no food prepping...our babies usually just ate what we ate for meals, meat included.
I would love to hear any personal stories of BLW if you have done this as well (some moms naturally do it).
If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask.
Happy eating and exploring to all those babies out there!
*please remember that I am not nor do I proclaim to be a doctor...I don't know what's best for you or your family, this is strictly our way and interpretation of doing things!