Baby-Led Weaning or Purees?

April 16, 2021

Of course food is important nutrient for the body, but it is also a way to connect, make memories, and feel loved. Being able to share your love of food with your little one is a major milestone and one of the many joys of parenthood! 

With this milestone comes decisions. You may be asking yourself, do I start with the traditional method of spoon-feeding purees or the more modern approach of baby-led weaning where the baby skips purees and goes right to finger foods?

We are going to get into the details of both so you can make your own decisions. It’s important to remember that whatever works for you and your baby is best. YOU DO YOU MAMA!  

Your child probably already acts like he or she is in charge, and with baby-led weaning they can be! Wondering if you should skip purees and try the baby-led weaning trend? Here are some benefits for baby-led weaning and purees that will hopefully set you up for success depending on which direction you decide to go. 

Benefits of baby-led weaning:

• Time-saver: you don’t have to steam, puree, and mix different ingredients.
• Teaches independence: they set the pace and are in control of how much and what they decide to eat.
• Sensory development: allows them to explore textures, colors, smells and tastes through a varity of foods. It also helps develop hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and chewing skills.
• Family time: by giving your little one smaller and modified versions of what everyone else is eating, it allows everyone to eat together as a family instead of spoon-feeding them something different. 

Benefits of purees:

• Peace of mind: with pureed foods, you aren’t concerned about gagging or choking hazrds that may come with baby-led weaning.
• Control over amount: you are able to see and control the amount of food that is consumed.
• Less mess: with you in control of the spoon, you can cut down on the extra clean-up!
• Variety: your baby is more likely to consume more variety of foods and be exposed to different flavors earlier.

There is no right or wrong way to start your baby on solids. Knowing the benefits and challenges of each can help you decide what method is right for you and your family.

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Try to worry less and enjoy this exciting feeding milestone so you can capture these special moments of your baby’s fist tastes of food!

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