I use your emails as a guide to help me find topics that interest you. baby led weaning is one of the topics that I am asked about most often. As parents, we care about our kids a lot. Many new mothers are concerned about the safety of their children when introducing solid food.
The gag reflex is more forward in the baby’s tongue at 6 months. It is a natural safeguard against choking as the baby will be more likely to gag and spit food out before it reaches the back of their throat. It is safer to introduce solids closer to the 6 month mark, when the baby’s gag reflex is still developing.
Even so, I still get many emails asking whether it’s OK to introduce solids in a blended way. The answer is No.
I’m kidding.
Answer: Do what is best for you and your child. For some mothers, this means a blend of traditional spoon-feeding with baby-led weaning.
Kaitlyn and Hailey were the first babies I introduced to a baby-led approach. We started with steamed broccoli florets and baked sweet potatoes. Kaitlyn, however, has already eaten with a spoon, having been fed yogurt several times and even tried some purees. Is it just me? I always keep pouches with me in my purse in case Kaitlyn wants a quick snack.
I don’t mind spoon-friendly food and think a blended method of introducing solids is a good idea if it makes mom and dad more comfortable.