Dear Dr. Debbie,
Our seven-month-old is sitting up nicely without support so we’re thinking of getting him used to the high chair soon. So far, beyond breastmilk, we’ve spoon-fed him milky oatmeal (on a parent’s lap). Is “baby-led feeding” a good strategy? We wouldn’t expect him to eat oatmeal on his own until he can manage a spoon. How exactly does he “lead” the process of feeding himself? What if he doesn’t lead himself to eating a balanced diet out of what’s in the kitchen?
Who’s In Charge Here?
Dear W.I.C.H,
By “baby-led” we’re still putting the grown-ups in charge of what’s offered on the high chair tray. In the research this is sometimes referred to as “Baby Led Weaning” (BLW) since the tactic is to take the baby from a 100% breastmilk (or formula) diet to a well-rounded diet resembling what the rest of the family is eating. At some point breastfeeding or bottled formula can end. The main idea with BLW is that you offer foods he can pick up with his little fist and you let him decide how much he wants to eat.
Mushy Foods
Soft, single ingredient foods are the best to start with. Your pediatric office will advise you to start with one food for several days to be sure there’s no diarrhea, rash, or vomiting, then add the next food for the next trial. Some good raw choices are: banana, avocado, papaya, or ripe pear pieces (no skin). Cooked fruits and veggies to try are: mashed squash, baked potato (no skin), applesauce, and mashed carrot.
A mesh feeder or silicone feeder gives your baby something to press his gums against as his first teeth begin to work their way to the surface. These devices give you the option to present foods to his taste buds that are juicy but would have too much fiber to be swallowed without being chewed. Some examples are: peach, watermelon, or strawberries. Cooked veggies, such as broccoli and cauliflower, work well in these feeders, too. As a bonus, still frozen fruits and frozen cooked veggies are soothing to his sore gums during teething.
As the first teeth come in, add foods your little one can shred but that are still somewhat soft. Try: cucumber, peas, tomato, pieces of cooked carrot, and blueberries.
With less milk in it, oatmeal becomes more of a finger food. (See notes on mess below.) Other grains that mush up nicely as a hot cereal are: quinoa, barley, buckwheat, and rice. Incidentally, rice cereal has come into disfavor since, although it is rarely an allergen for anyone, rice absorbs arsenic more readily than other grains do.
Round out your offerings with some protein foods: scrambled egg, mashed beans, cottage cheese, or pureed meats and fish. With his choppers ready to help, you can add foods he can bite into such as whole grain noodles, steamed broccoli, steamed squash, meatballs – maybe formed like a fish stick so it’s easy for him to hold. Look for crunchy foods that soften with saliva – crackers, cold cereal, puffs – that only add one or two ingredients that you haven’t yet tested for an allergic reaction. You can make teething biscuits yourself with mashed banana and oatmeal in roughly equal proportions. Add a little sunflower or safflower oil. Shape into logs. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, then flip over for another 10 minutes.
Don’t Stress on the Mess
Be ready for mess with babies and food. Get everything ready before the baby goes into the high chair so the experience is easy for both of you. A large beach towel can go under the chair. Prepare the baby’s chest with an absorbent bib or the kind with a curved bottom ready to catch the drips. If the room is warm enough, strip him down to his diaper. (I also recommend having a dog that likes whatever you are serving the baby!)
One of the main reasons to have a baby-led feeding time is for eating to be a pleasant activity. Grab a warm, wet washcloth to take care of sticky fingers and cheeks when the meal is over. The cleanup may be better tolerated if it’s short and accompanied with a rhyme or a song. And follow the last meal of the day with a bath.
Baby in Charge
The evidence on BLW suggests that this method of getting food into the baby is more pleasant for everyone. Instead of a parent fighting with him for control of the spoon, the baby is in charge of what he will pick up off his high chair tray to put into his mouth. Parents are free to feed themselves!
Advocates for BLW believe this experience promotes a baby’s sense of independence by relying on his own fine motor skills for getting his food into his mouth. These skills develop quickly with the motivation to eat! He also decides what he wants to eat and when he is finished. When a baby is free to pay attention to when his body says, “that’s enough for now” this may prevent obesity. His own appetite calls the shots.
Grown Ups in Charge
Parents make the overall decisions about what foods are offered. After all, you’re the ones doing the shopping and prepping. Glazed doughnuts are not on the menu. The basics of good nutrition are: fruits and veggies, whole grains, and protein. When he starts eating solid foods, and drinking less milk, your baby can also start to drink water. Gradually you’ll replace the quantity of calcium and protein he gets from milk by offering other sources. Leafy greens and dairy products provide calcium. Meat, fish, dairy products, and legumes provide protein.
With BLW your role is to offer a variety of flavors and textures so he gets used to a well-rounded diet that he can enjoy with the rest of the family. With some modifications at first, until his teeth work better, family mealtimes can be an enjoyable part of family life.
Dr. Debbie
Write your question to Dr. Debbie! Please include age(s) of your child(ren) and other details about the situation or concern.
Deborah Wood, Ph.D. is a child development specialist and founding director of Chesapeake Children’s Museum, located at 25 Silopanna Road in Annapolis. Online reservations are available or call: 410-990-1993. Walk-ins are welcome. Art and Story Time with Mrs. Spears and Puppy the Puppet is on Mondays at 10:30 am. There is a Nature Walk on Thursdays at 10:30 am.
