Experiences and opinions towards baby-led weaning by healthcare professionals. A qualitative study (2024)

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See Also
Baby-led weaning (BLW): A complete guide to first foods Baby-led weaning: pros and cons | Baby & toddler, Feeding articles & support | NCT Is My Baby Eating Enough With Baby Led Weaning?Is Baby-Led Weaning Right for Your Baby?
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Experiences and opinions towards baby-led weaning by healthcare professionals. A qualitative study (2024)

FAQs

Is there any science behind baby-led weaning? ›

Studies have found that families practicing baby-led weaning tend to eat more often together. They also find mealtimes calmer and less stressful. Meanwhile, mothers who do BLW say they feel less pressure and worry around weaning than those who traditionally wean.

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How do pediatricians feel about baby-led weaning? ›

Most of healthcare professionals reflected a positive attitude to BLW as a method of solid food introduction. They considered that BLW is equally valid as the traditional method based on mashed foods.

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Is baby-led weaning recommended? ›

Baby-led weaning often exposes babies to a wider variety of foods, textures, and flavors [1], which may help to reduce picky eating behaviors later on: a huge win! Greater exposure usually leads to greater acceptance of foods in toddlerhood and beyond.

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What are the disadvantages of baby-led weaning? ›

What are the negatives of baby-led weaning?

Some parents worry that baby-led weaning is more likely to cause their baby to choke than spoon-feeding. ...
Baby-led weaning can be messier than spoon-feeding. ...
One concern is whether baby led-weaning provides a varied and nutritious enough diet.

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Why do pediatricians not like baby-led weaning? ›

Indeed, one of the main reasons healthcare providers are reluctant to fully endorse BLW is the perceived risk of choking. About 35% of babies choke while starting foods, most often because they were offered food that was a hazard.

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What is the baby-led weaning theory? ›

Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) is a safe and effective alternative to the traditional method as it introduces solid foods in a way that respects an infant's autonomy, provides supplemental nutrition, and promotes healthy weight and eating behaviors (Rapley 2015).

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Is BLW better than complementary feeding? ›

The Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) method is defined as an alternative approach to feeding that encourages baby and mother to feed and allows the baby to enjoy feeding time, unlike traditional complementary feeding (Kurtuncu et al., 2018; World Health Organization, 2009).

What are the developmental benefits of baby-led weaning? ›

Benefits of Letting Your Baby Self-Feed

Independence: Baby learns to eat independently and is in total control. Development: Baby practices critical motor and oral skills. Appetite Control: Baby is in charge of how much to eat and learns to stop when full. Ease: Baby (mostly) eats what you eat.

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Is the baby-led weaning approach an effective choice for introducing first foods? ›

Infants with BLW may have a higher risk for iron deficiency because the texture of cereals makes them hard to chew and to feed to BLW infants. BLW is useful for making infants independent using a self-feeding process. They can taste foods better and have better self-regulation control while eating than TSF infants.

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When did baby-led weaning become popular in America? ›

When Did Baby Led Weaning Become Popular? Though Rapley began discussing her approach as early as 2001, it wasn't until an official change in feeding recommendations between 2002-2003 that BLW really began to take off.

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Is baby-led weaning safer than puree? ›

Overall, it's up to parents to choose whichever method you are most comfortable with, purées and spoon-feeding, baby-led weaning or a combination are all safe and healthy ways to introduce solids.

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Why is baby-led weaning a controversial method? ›

The greatest concerns from health care providers surrounding BLW include the risk of choking and potential inadequate calorie/energy intake and inadequate nutrients mostly focusing on iron.

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of weaning? ›

Starting your baby on solid foods can be both exciting and trying. It's fun to experience new tastes and textures with your baby. But it can also be a little stressful, especially if it isn't going well. Eating solid foods is a skill that needs to be learned, and this takes time.

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How do babies not choke with baby-led weaning? ›

Advocates of BLW suggest that choking is no more likely than in spoon-fed infants, providing basic safety rules are followed (eg, infant is seated in an upright position and in control of what is put in his or her mouth), although gagging may be more common.

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Does baby-led weaning prevent picky eating? ›

Using a low-pressure approach and exposing your baby to different textures may help reduce pickiness. Families who use baby-led weaning are more likely to eat together, but it may not improve overall nutrition.