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First Things First...
The hardest part with anything is getting started...
When introducing foods to baby using baby led weaning, many of the initial questions I get surround how to prepare food (cutting and cooking techniques) and how much to offer. Below is a very quick guide I have popped together to assist you, further, more in-depth information can be obtained from my workshops (dates to be released shortly!) or consults.
What you’ll need before the fun REALLY begins:
An appropriate highchair – I recommend something super easy to clean. Hard plastics rather than boutique wooden chairs (although it breaks my heart to say it!) with removable trays are the way to go. Due to space issues in our home, we use an Ingenuity chair (Target) that we clip to one of our dining chairs. From a baby led weaning perspective these are great and Evie has only ever been placed in this when she was able to sit on her own, if baby is unable to sit unassisted they aren't meeting the signs of readiness for solids. I have also heard rave reviews about the Ikea chair due to its durability and ease of cleaning.
- Cutlery – whilst fingers are going to be the main tool a baby will use to try and explore food, it is good to get them used to the idea of cutlery being present at mealtimes. I have purchased a little spoon and fork from a local coast boutique called Finn and Lulu, they were a recycled set that are BPA free (do try to find BPA free options). Evie finds it easy to hold the spoon and if we do any preloaded food (placed on the spoon for her) she is able to manoeuvre it easily in to her mouth with some guidance, it isn’t a deep spoon which I believe is part of the reason she has so much success getting the food off of it and in to her mouth.
- Cup – when commencing solids it is a good idea to start offering small amounts of water after a meal (breastfed babies may not need much but it is best to watch bowel motions to gauge). We only drink filtered water and I would encourage families to try to do the same where possible. Filters can be fitted to taps or you can buy jugs that both filter and alkalise. We give Evie a sippy cup with the top taken off it and assist her with taking small sips. Often it goes everywhere which is part of the fun for her!
As you can see you really don’t need much, bare basics actually, nothing fancy or expensive! Babies hands are the best asset to the whole process, as is your creativity and patience.
When cutting food for baby, think finger foods, things that are easy to hold = battens, wedges. strips. Even if vegetables or fruits are soft, babies really are crafty and will manage to get them in. Some great first whole-foods and “go to” foods are:
- Avocado sliced in long strips.
- A banana cut in half, I leave some skin on and peel the rest off – like a pop top! Less slimy and makes it easy for Evie to grip.
- Wedges of apple that have been thoroughly softened through sautéing in coconut oil (Evie LOVES this).
- Slices of watermelon, papaya and even strawberry have been a hit.
- Vegetables that have been softly cooked or steamed – Evie likes hanging on to broccoli and cauliflower with the stems left long, broccolini is a great one too, green beans, snow peas and strips of cucumber and capsicum, yes technically fruit I know.
- Roasted veggie chips – sweet potato, carrot and potato cut into wedges.
Be cautious giving foods that are a round shape that have a higher risk of choking associated, I would recommend avoiding all together or mashing or quartering things like grapes and cherry tomatoes.
Be aware that there will probably be gagging when your baby commences baby led weaning, or any weaning for that matter. It is all such a new experience for them, new tastes and textures. It is important to be aware and to make sure you can identify the difference between choking and gagging. I would encourage everyone, parent or not to be up to date with a first aid certificate, of course you’d hope you never need to use it, but it helps to create another level of calm and confidence (which babies and children most definitely can pick up on) with mealtimes.
With regards to how much to offer, that is always an interesting one and completely individual! Just like older children or adults, we all have different appetites, watch your baby and be guided by them. Unlike purees, where you are able to quickly and easily gauge how much your baby consumes, and you are largely in control, baby led weaning leaves how much to consume up to baby. An example of what I offer Evie for a meal: stirfry - an assortment of vegetables all cut in to strips (capsicum, snow pea, bean, broccoli) and a meat or protein - usually one or two strips, seasoned with whatever herbs and spices we desire, I tend not to offer many grains at the moment but will also pop some rice on her tray just so she can practice her coordination, again it is just as much about learning these skills. I always want to emphasise that vegetables should make up the majority of her meal so we have started this from day one. Do you think Evie really eats all of that? No way, not yet anyway. She gives it a good solid go and often eats more of one thing that takes her fancy than another. Just like other aspects of her life, we watch her for signs that she is full/had enough. I notice when Evie is filling up her attention is turned to playing with her food and often pushing it off her highchair, when this happens, I simply ask her if her stomach is feeling full and if she enjoyed her meal. This will have more meaning to her as she gets older, but it is important to create those healthy habits around mealtime.
Don't overthink things, keep it simple and have fun!
Finally, a reminder...
Anything that requires cooking should be cooked well, no rare meats or runny eggs just yet.
Whilst you are able to offer anything you are having, as discussed in earlier posts it is important to avoid certain risk foods as per current guidelines.