Baby-led weaning means a baby feeds themselves instead of being fed pureed foods. It works for us because my baby has a strong preference for whatever his dad and I are eating.
We started with soft foods like avocado and banana when he was 6 months old. But just because the food is soft doesn’t mean there isn’t gagging, coughing and even choking. And as parents, we have had to learn the difference between each.
At meal times, we both anxiously watch his every move until he swallows blueberries I’ve cut into microscopic fourths.
The mess is unreal. Food winds up in his hair, under the high chair, somehow stuck to the dog … but watching him explore is worth it.
He has gotten really good at moving food around in his mouth, chewing and picking it up on his own. It’s impressive how fast kids can learn.
It’s messy, a little nerve-wracking, but also really fun to watch him figure it all out. Every gag, every splatter, every tiny fistful of food is him learning, and us learning right alongside him.
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Sharlene Birdsong is a new mom who is a little bit crunchy and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. You can reach her at sharlene.birdsong@mirrorindy.org.
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