Baby Led Weaning is becoming an increasingly preferred way for parents to introduce solid foods to their babies once they reach 6 months of age. Still, many parents worry that using this method where the baby feeds themselves can mean that their baby is not eating enough. How can you tell if your baby is geeting enough food through baby led weaning? Watch the video eblow or keep reading to find out.
An excellent way to check if your baby is on track is to check their weight. Even if your baby is not due to be weighed, you can always get in touch with your health visitor to book in an extra weigh in. I’d always recommend asking your health visitor to weigh your baby rather than relying on scales that you have at home that may not be as accurate.
You health visitor will plot your baby’s weight in their “red book” (if you are in the UK). As long as your baby is following the line of the centile that they are currently on when plotted on the chart, your baby is probably getting enough food for what they need.
Are they weeing and pooping?
A great way to check that your baby is getting enough of what they need is simply by checking their nappies. If they are having plenty of wet nappies, plus regular soiled ones, they are on the right track.
Your baby’s poop will also tell a story that you might not be aware of. Remember when in Jurassic Park they checks the dinosaur’s poop to see what he had been eating? Same goes for your baby.
Every time that I have been baby led weaning and absolutely convinced that my baby had done nothing more than squash their food, wipe in in their hair and then throw it on the floor, their nappies would tell me otherwise. Every time they had in fact been swallowing bits of their food which I only knew about because I could see the evidence in their dirty nappies.
Are they still having plenty of milk?
Remember that “food before one is just for fun” and babies age 6-12 months will still get much of what they need from their milk.
I found that timing of milk compared to meal times was key. A baby that was too hungry was too fractious to practice the skills that baby led weaning required. A baby that was full to the eyeballs had no interest in food.
The best balance, in my experience, was a small feed to take the edge off their hunger shortly before their meal.
Are they sleeping well?
How is your baby’s sleep? Are they sleeping well? If so, they are probably getting enough food and milk because they are not hungry at night. If your baby’s sleep has regressed and they are suddenly wanting night feeds that they did not want before, they many not be getting enough caloreis during the day.
The main thing to remember
You are the baby’s parent and you know best. Trust your gut and if you have concerns, speak to your doctor or health visitor, that’s what they are there for. Don’t worry about “wasting their time”, as they will always be keen to help with any worries that you have.
A great way to check that your baby is getting enough of what they need is simply by checking their nappies. If they are having plenty of wet nappies, plus regular soiled ones, they are on the right track. Your baby's poop will also tell a story that you might not be aware of.
Another concern is that self-feeding babies may not eat enough, or get enough of the nutrients they need. One observational study found that BLW infants were more likely to be underweight. In contrast, the New Zealand RCT – which told parents to offer high-energy food at each meal – did not.
When working out how much food to give your baby, aim for portions the same size as their fist, with one fistful of protein, one fistful of carbohydrates and two fistfuls of vegetables or fruits. Your baby will enjoy sitting and eating with you and your family, so share family mealtimes with them as much as possible.
Tips for encouraging your baby to eat during baby led weaning: Offer a variety of healthy foods at each meal. Encourage your baby to explore the food with their hands and mouth. Make mealtime a positive and relaxed experience.
Offer 1-2 pieces of finger food and 1-2 tablespoons of each mashed food. Offer more if your baby is showing signs that they want more. Offering large portions at mealtimes can either overwhelm your baby or lead them to eat more than they need.
BLW has some obvious downsides. The infant may not get enough energy, iron, zinc, vitamins, and other nutrients, or too much protein, saturated fat, salt, or sugar.
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.
Emerging evidence suggests that baby-led weaning may result in more gagging as babies get used to swallowing but no increased likelihood of choking . Baby-led weaning can be messier than spoon-feeding.
Perhaps one of the most obvious signs of your baby being underfed is that they are gaining weight very slowly. Having thin arms or limbs is normal for every baby, even healthy babies have them at some point too. However, you might need to be more vigilant if their limbs or legs are still skinny as they grow.
You can hear and see your baby swallowing. Your baby's cheeks stay rounded, not hollow, during sucking. They seem calm and relaxed during feeds. Your baby comes off the breast on their own at the end of feeds.
Women who engage in disordered eating behaviors while pregnant, such as caloric restriction, extreme exercising, or dieting behaviors, risk consequences for their developing baby, such as birth defects, prematurity, congenital malformations and even prenatal death.
Spoon-feeding provides an opportunity for infants to develop oral skills necessary for safe management of solids and may facilitate intake of iron-rich foods at weaning, whilst baby-led weaning promotes greater participation in family meals and exposure to family foods.
To start with, your baby only needs a small amount of solid food, once a day, at a time that suits you both. Start weaning with vegetables that aren't so sweet, such as broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
Pediatric experts now recommend starting solid foods at 6 months. Most 6-month-old infants can grasp food, bring it to their mouth, chew and swallow. These skills mean babies can more independently feed themselves while weaning from human milk or formula nutrition.
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