Why We Chose to Baby-led Wean.

(John at 6 months old enjoying some apple & banana.)

It seemed like we'd just got the hang of things; breastfeeding, sleeping routines, the newborn nappies, and then six months approached. During our six month visit with our Health Visitor she questioned my thoughts on weaning, asking if we'd started and what route we were going to take.

"I love the idea of Baby-led Weaning."

In fact, I'd decided whilst still pregnant that we'd go down the route of Baby-led Weaning (BLW). To me it'd always made more sense than the 'conventional' ways of weaning with purées. Like all things in regards to parenting decisions I did vast research before deciding on my choice, looking at all the possible avenues and despite my initial apprehension I was amazed by the prospect of BLW - it just made so much sense!
The biggest statement that stood out to me was BLW teaches your baby to chew before they learn to swallow. Surely that makes sense to everyone & not just me?

Upon further research I found more sentiments, such as letting your child discover food for themselves, learning what's edible and how to hold & eat different textures of foods. It takes the stress out of feeding your baby because they're the one in control - you trust they know their own appetite and will eat when they're ready & actually hungry.

There was also the big factors of eating as a family and never needing to purchase baby food - & given my choice to breastfeed being based on cost, this was a big decider!
Of course, like all parenting choices that aren't the 'mainstream' I often find myself being challenged to defend my choice or encountering a lot of curious questioners...

(John at 7 months old self-feeding with porridge.)

What about choking? Babies can't handle solid foods, that's why you start with purées.
Ah yes, the most common question. Lets break it down a little.
When did purées become common practice? Well in actual fact they're the backlash of the elusive 4-hourly formula feeding that our Granny's will remember. Back in those days babies would start weaning at 4 months due to the fact they were starving from the regimented feeding schedules. And of course at 4 months a baby can't even sit up, never mind chew; cue puréed foods.
The reality is that babies don't 'eat' puréed foods, they simply suck them off the spoon; like they would if you put their milk on a spoon. So although you're filling your baby up, they're not really learning anything about eating.
Fast forward to the current day: Under current NHS guidelines, babies should start weaning at 6 months, once they can sit unaided. Being able to sit unaided straight away reduces the likelihood of choking. By also putting a baby in charge of what enters their mouth you also cut down the chances of choking as a baby's primal survival instinct (ie. the gag reflect) will protect them from forcefully choking themselves.
Some people - including BLW extraordinaire, Gill Rapley - believe that BLW is in fact less likely to result in a choking baby than if you feed purées.

How can a baby chew foods until they have teeth?
Ok, so this one really bothers me for a number of reasons.
1. The generalisation that babies should only be given chewable foods when they have teeth is nonsense: what about babies that are born with teeth (rare but it does happen)? And babies who cut their first teeth at only a few months old? Do you start them on solids before the six months guidelines?
2. Babies first teeth (incisors) are designed for biting, not chewing. Again, if you wait for these teeth to come through, when would you start weaning? Babies chewing teeth (molars) cut through at closer to 2 years old, so do you wait until then to move on from purées? Of course not.
3. It's not just babies that don't have teeth. I'm sure everyone has that grandparent who they'd visit and see their false teeth sitting in a glass of water. Elderly people do just fine chewing solid food without teeth so why would you expect that a baby can't?

Babies need more iron, nutrients, calories... etc. by 6 months. How can they get this if they're not eating lots of solids?
This question isn't so much to do with BLW but in fact is related to breastfeeding and formula propaganda.
Babies are born with a certain amount of iron stores that they build up whilst in the womb. These iron stores are designed to last a baby a minimum of 6 months, although some research suggests some babies iron stores will last through to their 1st Birthday. The whole idea of babies requiring more iron, alongside other additional nutrients, comes from formula companies adding extra 'benefits' to their product to try and convince parents their's is the best on the market. And seeing as most formula companies also sell baby food they continue this message on these products too.
BLW allows a baby to carry on getting the majority of their nutrients from their milk as per current NHS guidelines.

Babies can't eat X, Y & Z, can they?
Guidelines on what babies can and can't eat are always changing - this is to do with new research as opposed to confusing parents (although it often seems that way...). From peanuts, meat, certain fruits. The best advice I could give someone is to follow the current guidelines on this matter. The majority of the time these guidelines have been put in place to prevent allergies and do not reflect on what method of weaning you choose to undertake. Check with your Health Care Professional for more information.