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Baby-led WeaningBaby-led Weaning
Gill RapleyGill Rapley
- the best-kept secret- the best-kept secretof parentingof parenting
What do you see when What do you see when
you picture a babyyou picture a baby
starting solids?starting solids?
This?This?
(image from Dept of Health’s leaflet, Weaning)
Or this?Or this?
(picture of 6-month-old
feeding himself with a piece
of pineapple)
Baby-led weaning is . . .Baby-led weaning is . . .
. . . a way of introducing solid
foods that allows the baby to
play an ACTIVE role
Uses babies’ naturally developing skills
Lets the baby regulate his own appetite
Is a gradual progression – there are no ‘stages’
BBaby-led weaning:aby-led weaning:
Why wait till six months?Why wait till six months?
‘‘Convergence of maturation’Convergence of maturation’
At around six months, the baby’s:
digestive system
immune system
oral motor (chewing) skills
… are all mature enough to allow him to move on from milk
(Naylor and Morrow, 2001)
There is no good reason There is no good reason
to start earlierto start earlier
Why wait till six months?Why wait till six months?
At six months, these skills have also
matured:
Gross motor skills
Fine motor skills
Hand-eye co-ordination
Coincidence?Coincidence?
An efficient breastfeeder
Interested in the world around her
Keen to touch but cannot grasp
accurately
Not able to chew
At four months:At four months:
Conclusions?Conclusions?
1. Babies of four months cannot feed themselves with solid foods
2. They are still meant to have a liquid diet
3. There’s no ‘rush to mush’
From six months:From six months:
Sitting alone
Reaching and grasping accurately
Everything goes to the mouth
Able to chew
Conclusions?Conclusions?
1. Babies of six months can feed
themselves with pieces of food
2. They are ready for foods that
need chewing
3. There may not be any need for
‘mush’ at all
‘Good’ babies are passive
Active babies are ‘difficult’:– they grab the spoon
– they want to touch the food
– they refuse to eat
Baby-led weaning turns this on its
head!
Perceptions and labellingPerceptions and labelling
The baby is in control
The parents decide what to offer
The baby decides: when to start
what to eat
how much to eat
how quickly to eat
In baby-led weaningIn baby-led weaning
Reasons to start solids?Reasons to start solids?
Baby appears hungry– waking at night– watching parents eating
Weight gain slowing down
Big baby / small baby
Jars of baby food say ‘from 4 months’
Someone else’s advice
What are the baby’s What are the baby’s reasons?reasons?
Curiosity?
Wanting to mimic?
Wanting to explore?
Wanting to be independent?
NOT hunger!
Parents don’t decide when Parents don’t decide when their baby is ready to …their baby is ready to …
… crawlcrawl
… … or walkor walk
… … or talkor talk
The right timeThe right time
Babies show their parents when they
are ready to start solids by picking up
food and taking it to their mouths – as
long as they are given …
the opportunitythe opportunity
What makes eating enjoyable?What makes eating enjoyable?
Environment for eating
Anticipation of food
Senses: sight, smell, texture, taste
Control over starting, pacing, ordering, combining, stopping
Freedom to do your own thing
Which would YOU prefer?Which would YOU prefer? The BABY-LED approach
The opportunity to eat
Shared mealtimes
Same food as everyone else
Able to reach and touch
Different shapes, colours,
textures, tastes
Choosing each mouthful
You choose the pace
The CONVENTIONAL way
Being expected to eat
Solitary eating
Different food
Unable to reach or touch
Food that all looks the
same
Unexpected mouthfuls
Pace determined for you
What about choking?What about choking?
The risk of choking is increased by:
Using a sucking action to eat
Distraction/movement while eating
Small, hard objects
Ignoring normal safety rules
Basic safety while eatingBasic safety while eating
Baby must be upright
Baby must be in control of what, when and how fast to eat
Don’t give small hard foods, such as whole nuts
Never leave baby alone with food
How to do BLWHow to do BLW
Let your baby join in family meals
Forget eating – think ‘play’
Offer stick-shaped pieces
Let him take his time
Carry on giving milk feeds on demand
Remember basic safety rules
Benefits for familiesBenefits for families
No need for pureeing
Cheaper
No concerns about whatto give baby
The family can eat together - anywhere
The whole process is simpler
£90
Possible bonusesPossible bonuses
Happier families?
Better overall nutrition?
Less obesity?
Fewer eating disorders?
Improved co-ordination?
www.markittelevision.comwww.babyledweaningproductions.com
www.rapleyweaning.comwww.baby-led.com