Baby-led weaning is when you offer your baby food that they can pick up and eat themselves. This is instead of spoon feeding them.
To do this, your baby needs to be able to:
- sit upright
- have good head control
- pick up and hold food
- bring food to their mouth
Most babies develop these skills at around 6 months old.
Baby-led weaning can work well along with spoon feeding. It usually means they get all the nutrients they need.
Good feeding practices
Good feeding practices help children learn healthy eating habits.
Involve your baby at meal times
Offer your baby similar foods to the rest of the family from an early age.
Try to give them a version of the meal you have prepared for the rest of the family - even if it's puréed.
Avoid salt and sauces
Avoid adding salt, jars of sauce or gravies that come in packets.
Give tastes on a spoon
Giving your baby a taste of food on a spoon is a good way for many babies to practise gripping spoons. They will also start to get energy and nutrients from foods other than milk.
Offer finger foods
Offer your baby suitable finger foods. For example, a finger of toast or plain rice cake.
Never leave you child alone with food. They could choke.
Food choking risks for babies and children
Your baby's needs
With baby-led weaning, it's important to offer your baby a varied and balanced diet. Your baby needs enough energy to keep pace with their rapid growth. Make sure they are getting the important vitamins and minerals they need.
Your baby’s birth weight doubles by 6 months and triples by age 1. This rapid growth and development are not repeated at any other time in their life.
Breast or formula milk will give your baby all the nutrients they need until they are 6 about months old.
From about 6 months, they will begin to need more iron and nutrients than they can get from milk only.