by Christine G.

Created on: January 20, 2012

"Baby-led weaning" gives baby control over what s/he eats and how s/he eats it.  It eliminates the need for baby food and all the headaches that go with it.  Parents are freed from the chore of playing feeding-games.  Babies learn to chew before they swallow, because they have something to chew on.

After raising one child the traditional baby-food way, I accidentally discovered the baby-led way in 1978.  The La Leche Leage recommended breast milk only for a year, and I was determined to do it.  After the first seven months or so, my baby Elizabeth started refusing to nurse and crying until she was handed some real food.  Soon she was sitting at the table on her high chair, sharing whatever we were having.  In time, she got interested in the art of handling cutlery.  Her first experience with a bowl involved strawberry yoghourt and two spoons.  She had a wonderful time, and even managed to get some of the food into her mouth.

As Elizabeth ate more and more solid food and started drinking from a sippy cup, her interest in my breast waned.  Soon I was nursing her only once a day, first thing in the morning, because I could do that lying down instead of scurrying around making breakfast.  When her first two teeth came in, those sharp little edges convinced me that it was time to give up.  My breasts were sore for a couple of days, but Elizabeth didn't seem to notice anything different.  She had weaned herself at ten months, and never looked back.

When I mentioned to other parents that my daughter had survived infancy and toddlerhood without specially-prepared foods, they were dubious.  Nonetheless, other people must have made the same discovery.  Baby-led weaning is now a trend with its own website.

The basic principle is simple.  When baby starts reaching for food (at approximately 6 months of age), cut it into manageable pieces and hand it over.  Baby will figure out where to put it.  Nothing is out of bounds.  Diaper contents may contain an assortment of undigested bits, but not to worry.

If I had to do it again, I would introduce the foods one at a time, adding a new one every two or three days.  That would help me isolate any food sensitivities or allergies that baby might have.  Some food intolerances have distressing consequences, and it is best to be aware of them from the beginning.

Even if you decide not to go whole-heartedly into this unconventional method of weaning baby onto solid food, you may want to consider trying some of the suggestions.  Eating might become a lot more fun for both baby and you if you bypass trying to force-feed yucchy mush that both of you hate!

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