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If you’re here, it’s probably because you want to start baby-led weaning, but you’re not completely sure yet. You might have some concerns or fears, but you’re ready to take the next step when it comes to your baby’s feeding journey.

As a mom, I totally understand. I was scared too, but I promise you, it’s really okay and much less intense than you might think.

If your baby is around 5 to 6 months old, this may be the right time to start. I started with my son when he was 5 months old, and I have absolutely no regrets. In this post, I’m going to explain the pros and cons to help you see things more clearly.

To start, let me explain why I love baby-led weaning.

It encourages independence and decision-making.

Unlike spoon-feeding, your role is mainly to prepare your baby’s plate. For example, you might offer small pieces of banana, cheese, and eggs, giving your baby the freedom to choose what they want to eat.

It’s a great way to transition to self-feeding

With baby-led weaning, there’s no need to start with different flavors of pureed baby food or cereals if you don’t want to. Your baby can move straight to the next stage, with a few important safety rules, of course. But honestly, I promise you, it can be such a rewarding experience.

Healthy choices for you and your baby

When you’re putting together your baby’s meal, you’ll naturally want to choose healthy options. It becomes easier to make better food choices when they’re connected to your child.

The upside is that, without even realizing it, you may end up making the same lunch for yourself or eating some of your baby’s leftovers. In my opinion, this is also a great way for you to eat well.

It helps with sensory skills and play.

Picking up food with their hands, bringing it to their mouth, opening their mouth, and chewing are all actions that help support your baby’s sensory development.

Now, let me talk to you about the more difficult parts.

The fear that your baby might choke

This is a fear many moms have, and it’s completely understandable. But if you follow the right safety guidelines, everything will be okay.

Try not to panic too much, but also be mindful. For example, don’t give your baby hard raw carrots. I also suggest taking a baby-led weaning class before you start. I really recommend it, so you can have a stronger foundation than just reading a blog post from some girl online sharing her experience.

Allergens

If you want to introduce allergenic foods like peanut butter, eggs, or salmon, I recommend doing it when your pediatrician’s office is open, not during the weekend.

Also, I’d like to point out that there are three big “no’s” before age 1:

No honey
No added salt
No highly processed foods

The third challenge is that it can get extremely messy

Combine play with the discovery of new foods your child has never seen before, and yes, it can get messy.

I’m certainly not going to lie to you. There will be times when your baby plays with the food on their plate. Even if it gets messy, I recommend not cleaning up right away or showing that it bothers you.

If you’re really unsure, I’ve put together a quick example below.

Between 6 and 8 months: soft, easy-to-eat foods

Offer soft foods that are easy for your baby to squish between their fingers.

Some of the best textures are:

Avocado
Banana
Sweet potato wedges
Cooked broccoli
Toast strips

Serving idea: finger-length soft pieces.

Between 8 and 10 months: soft chunks and more variety

Between 8 and 10 months, I recommend offering foods like scrambled eggs, pasta, tender non-dry chicken, oatmeal, zucchini, and shredded cheese.

Offer a variety of foods to help increase exposure.

Between 10 and 12 months: chopped soft foods and simple family foods

I recommend:

Rice balls
Soft beans
Pancakes
Tofu
Soft fruits
Cooked vegetables

Serving idea: bite-sized pieces and mixed meals to help your baby practise chewing and independent eating.

I also recommend always supervising your baby while they eat.

Baby-led weaning can feel scary at first, especially when you’re a first-time mom or you’ve never done it before. But once you understand the basics, follow the safety rules, and take it one step at a time, it becomes a lot less intimidating.

For me, baby-led weaning was such a positive experience. It helped my son discover food in his own way, build confidence, and slowly become more independent during meals.

Of course, it won’t always be clean or perfect. There will be messes, food on the floor, and moments where you wonder if your baby actually ate anything. But that’s part of the process.

Start slowly, trust your baby, and always supervise them while they eat. You don’t have to do everything perfectly. You just have to make sure your baby is safe, supported, and free to explore food at their own pace.

-Plume