For those unfamiliar with BLW, what is it? And how does it differ from traditional feeding?
Purées can be introduced earlier, whereas BLW focuses on a baby’s biological readiness, when their body and jaw have sufficiently developed in order to handle pieces of food, usually at around 6 months.That’s when babies can start feeding themselves. This approach looks at whether a baby has good posture, enough muscle tone, can sit upright in their seat and shows an interest in food. With purées, they’re a bit more passive, given that they are fed. With BLW, the baby feeds themselves.That said, purées remain a perfectly appropriate way to introduce food to many babies.
What foods should be prioritized?
A six-month-old baby has different nutritional needs than an adult. Iron-rich and calorie-dense foods, including healthy fats like avocado and salmon, should be prioritized to ensure optimal growth. These should be paired with vitamin C to help with iron absorption. Salt should be avoided and refined sugar limited, as both are inappropriate for babies.
What are your tips for getting started?
It’s important to be well informed and understand what type of food piece to offer and how to serve it. BLW also requires a lot of letting go on the parent’s part. You won’t be able to control how much your child eats; you simply control the quality, whereas your baby controls the quantity. There’s also the fear of choking. It can be scary, but it’s very rare. When you give your baby food that’s the appropriate size and texture, and when you are able to distinguish between the gag reflex and choking, you’ll know whether to intervene.
How can one provide the safest environment?
As a general rule, follow the recommended sizes and textures for each age. Also, with BLW, it’s imperative that the baby feeds themselves, placing the food into their own mouth. If you’re giving purées, feed them to your baby. But you shouldn’t put solid pieces of food directly into their mouth, as they need to bring food to their mouth themselves. Some parents may combine both approaches, like when introducing allergens, for example. There are different situations where both methods can be used.
If a child isn’t really eating, what should a parent check to make sure they’re on the right track?
It can take up to 20 meals before a baby takes their first real bites and you start seeing something in their diaper. Before that, it’s mostly exploration. If they’re still not eating, check their posture to ensure it’s stable and balanced. If their high chair is too big, a baby may wiggle and struggle to focus on eating. A footrest may help if there isn’t one already. Keep offering food and possibly purées alongside, gradually reducing the purées over time. If your baby refuses textures, you may consider consulting to see whether oral occupational therapy could be of assistance.
Want to introduce BLW to your baby? Here are a few recipes to help incorporate it into their meals:
